Read Online The Lights Go On Again by Kit Pearson - Free Book Online Page A

It’s where you belong. Muriel and Barry and Tibby agree that would be best. We will all look after each other.
    Regards to the Ogilvies. Please let me know immediately when you are coming back. We can all stay with Muriel until the house is rebuilt.
    Your affectionate grandfather,
James Loggin
    A heavy silence filled the room. Gavin pretended to inspect Bosley’s toenails. What did his guardians think of this rough-sounding man who said “damned” and “bloody”?
    Aunt Florence spoke first. “Norah, dear, do you want to read the letter again alone?”
    Norah took the piece of paper from her. Her face was almost as white as it was. “I’ll read it again but we can talk now. How soon can we leave?”
    â€œNorah!” gasped Aunt Mary.
    Norah turned to her. “I’m sorry, Aunt Mary. I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful. But we have to go home! Grandad needs us. And we can help him build the house again,” she added, her voice breaking.
    â€œBuilding the house isn’t going to bring back your parents, Norah,” said Aunt Mary gently.
    â€œI know … but we have to go home, ” Norah pleaded. “Don’t you understand?”
    Aunt Florence had been unusually quiet. Now she patted Norah’s knee and said in a strained voice, “Of course we understand. We’ve always known you would have to leave us. Now it’s just more urgent. But you have to understand, Norah, how hard it’s going to be for Mary and me. You’re part of the family. We—we love you,” she added stiffly.
    Norah began to cry again. “I know that, Aunt Florence. And we can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for us. But now it’s time to go! Isn’t it, Gavin …”
    Gavin gulped and because Norah looked so desperate he nodded. “Uh-huh.”
    Aunt Florence glanced at him and then back at Norah. “Listen to me, Norah. I understand why you want to go back right away and why your grandfather wants you as soon as possible. Your family has had a terrible loss—you need to be with each other. But we can’t just decide when you’ll go. You heard what the social worker said. The ships are very erratic. If we tell them you want to go now it could be next week, or three weeks, or three months. None of us can live with that uncertainty.”
    â€œBut—” protested Norah.
    â€œHear me out, please. I couldn’t sleep nights if I thought we’d sent you back before the war’s over. I don’t agree with your grandfather about it being safe. What if there are more bombs in Kent? And it’s important for you to finish your school year. You have final exams in June, which will help you get placed in an English school.”
    Aunt Florence sat up straighter, her voice growing more and more decided. “Here’s my suggestion. Stay until the end of school. I’ll tell the social service people we’d like to apply for a ship that sails after that—if the war’s over by then, of course. You and Gavin have had a dreadful shock. I think you need time to recover before the additional change of returning to England. What do you think? I’m sure your grandfather and sisters can wait a few more months,” she finished grandly.
    It took half an hour to convince Norah; half an hour in which Gavin sat in silent agony, praying she would agree. Finally she turned to him wearily. “What do you think, Gavin? Do you want to go back now or later?”
    â€œLater, please,” whispered Gavin. Never, he added to himself.
    â€œAll right. We’ll wait until school’s over.” Norah sounded exhausted. She looked down at the letter in her hand and her face twitched.
    â€œCome along, dear,” said Aunt Mary. “I’m going to put you to bed with a hot drink and then I’ll read to you.”
    Gavin twiddled the radio knobs after they’d left the room. He