Read Online Welcome Home by Margaret Dickinson - Free Book Online Page B

and now here they were almost four months into another.
    ‘Well, we’re all still here apart from Laurence,’ Edie said, trying to make light of the fact that one of her brood – her eldest boy – would be missing from the
celebrations. ‘Even Archie reckons he’ll be at home this year, but he’s due away on Boxing Day.’ Laurence was already somewhere in France with the BEF – the British
Expeditionary Force. ‘But we’ll make the best of it. We couldn’t have bonfire night because of the blackout, they’re saying we won’t get Easter eggs, and it’s
very doubtful we’ll be able to have summer holidays next year, so I’ll be blowed if they’re going to take Christmas away from us an’ all.’
    ‘Mind you,’ Lil said, ‘it’ll be very different. We can’t put a lit-up Christmas tree in the window like we usually do.’ The decorating and lighting up of
their own tree in the front room had always been one of Lil’s favourite times; a time she spent just with her daughter, an intimate, private moment when she remembered Tom so poignantly and
wished he could see what a lovely daughter they had. And now that little girl was a married woman and her husband was living with them. Not that Lil wasn’t enjoying having the young couple
with her – they were great company. Frank had them both in stitches with his teasing and his jokes. And she had Irene to herself again when he was at sea.
    ‘You can still do your tree, Lil,’ Edie soothed, ‘but just mind your blackout’s tight, that’s all.’
    That’s all! Lil thought mournfully. Christmas in complete blackness; it wasn’t her idea of the festive season. ‘And I expect the next thing’ll be they’ll be
plastering anti-blast tape over the windows in all the shops and we won’t be able to see all the Christmassy things.’ That had always been another of Lil’s simple pleasures when
she and Edie walked the full length of Freeman Street in early December ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ over all the wonderful displays.
    So on Christmas Day they gathered around Edie’s table. Edie and Archie, who had docked on Christmas Eve, four of their five children, Jessie and Harry and, of course, Lil and Irene. It was
a squeeze in Edie’s front room but that only seemed to add to the closeness of the Kelseys and their neighbours, who now really were part of the family. Edie realized she was luckier than
many this first Christmas of the war. Scores of children had already been evacuated from the town and would not be at home for Christmas. The mere thought made Edie shudder.
    Archie stood at the head of the table carving the roast pork. Edie and Lil had bought the biggest joint they could find between them. Lil had brought the stuffing, apple sauce and the vegetables
and Edie had supplied the plum pudding and brandy sauce.
    ‘My, this smells good,’ Frank said. ‘I won’t want no tea.’
    Edie smiled. If she knew her family, they’d be tucking into nuts, fruit and crystallized figs all afternoon – even the youngest Reggie – yet they’d still be asking for
sandwiches at teatime. And Edie had even found a greengrocer with some oranges for sale, and she doubted there’d be many available in the future.
    There was no hiding the fact that there’d be all sorts of changes soon. Frank – despite his age and being married now – would no doubt be called up eventually. Every day, Edie
urged him to try to find a reserved occupation that would keep him safely at home. And Beth – they all wondered what Beth would do. She’d said very little, and there was a restlessness
about her and she seemed to be putting off finding work locally. But at least she was still here. She hadn’t volunteered for one of the services or disappeared back to London, Edie comforted
herself. At least, not yet.
    Shirley seemed to be the only one whose plans for her future were settled. At the beginning of December, Irene had arranged for her to see Miss Townsend at