Moonlight and Ashes Read online

  ‘Huh! Tea, yer say. I reckon I could drown in the bloody stuff I’ve drunk so much through the night, but go on - we may as well have another.’

  Maggie stumbled into a small kitchen that was as neat and tidy as the room she had just left, and blindly filled the kettle at the sink. She found a box of Swan Vestas and struck a match then lit the gas ring and put the kettle on to boil. While she was waiting she rummaged around in the cupboards and found two pretty cups and saucers and a matching china teapot. They were so delicate compared to the heavy brown earthenware pot and mugs she used at home that they made her smile.

  ‘You have a beautiful home, Eileen,’ she called through the open door. When there was no reply she went back into the room to find the young woman standing exactly where she had left her. ‘I said you—’

  ‘I heard what you said,’ Eileen snapped. ‘But what is it, eh? It’s nothin’ more than bricks an’ mortar an’ fancy trinkets.’ She spread her hands to encompass the room. ‘This place was Graham’s pride an’ joy. He were forever turnin’ his hand to some project or another. Wanted it right fer when the kids come along, he said. But they won’t be comin’ along now, will they?’

  As Eileen’s face crumpled, Maggie rushed to her side and wrapped her in her arms. Over Eileen’s shoulder, a photo of a handsome young man in Army uniform seemed to mock her. It had pride of place on the mantelshelf. And this, she rightly guessed, was Graham. Her heart went out to her friend. She wished with all her being that she could think of something to say that would ease Eileen’s pain, but words just seemed so inadequate.

  Leading her to a chair she gently pressed her into it before rushing away to make the tea. Ignoring the rationing for once, she put three spoonsful of sugar into Eileen’s cup. She’d heard that hot sweet tea was good for shock. Once she had pressed the cup into her friend’s hands she sat down beside her.

  ‘At least you still have your home,’ she said softly.

  ‘An’ what good is this place to me now?’ Eileen’s eyes travelled the room. ‘It don’t mean nothin’ without Graham here to share it with me. I think I might go back to live with me mum.’

  ‘But your mum lives in Leicester, doesn’t she?’

  ‘Yes, she does.’

  ‘I’ll miss you, but I think I can understand how you feel.’

  ‘Oh no, you can’t! You’ve still got your family at home waitin’ for you. I’ve got no one now. Graham was me whole life. I can’t stay here without him. This place is too full o’ memories.’

  Maggie swallowed the painful lump that had formed in her throat. She would miss Eileen more than she could say, yet she understood her need to get away.

  ‘Is there anything I can do for you before I go back to work?’ she asked helplessly, and suddenly Eileen was crying again and clinging to her as if she was afraid to let her go.

  ‘Look, I’ll stay here with you for a couple of hours, eh?’ Maggie offered. ‘Has anyone let your mam know what’s happened?’

  ‘Yes,’ Eileen sniffed between sobs. ‘One o’ the neighbours managed to get through to me dad at work late yesterday afternoon. Him an’ me mam should be here any time now to fetch me.’

  ‘Fine, then I’ll wait with you until they come.’ Maggie stroked her hair as Eileen leaned her head on her shoulder and there they sat until someone knocked on the door almost an hour later.

  Once Eileen’s parents were with her, Maggie shot off up the stairs and hastily began to pack a suitcase with every item of Eileen’s clothing that she could lay her hands on. The couple were kindly; they obviously loved their daughter very much and Maggie was relieved to know that she wouldn’t be alone. Later, as her father loaded her bulging suitcase into the back of his shiny green Morris, Eileen clung to Maggie. ‘Thanks fer stayin’ wi me,’ she said hoarsely. ‘I hope yer don’t get into trouble at work fer not goin’ back in this afternoon.’

  Maggie flapped her hands dismissively. ‘Huh! Don’t worry about that,’ she urged, and then as Eileen slid into the back seat at the side of her mother, she asked, ‘You will keep in touch, won’t you? And take care?’

  ‘Of course I will.’

  ‘We’ll look out for her, love. Never you fear,’ Eileen’s mother said, and then the car was pulling away from the kerb and Maggie waved until it turned a bend in the road and disappeared.

  Standing on the pavement, she felt a great sadness settle around her like a cloak. One short telegram and her friend’s life had changed forever. Suddenly, the need to be with her own family was urgent, and taking the opposite direction from the factory, she hurried away and headed for home.

  She was greeted by two miserable little faces the minute she set foot through the door. Lizzie and Danny were sitting side-by-side on the settee staring off into space and she saw instantly that Lizzie had been crying.

  ‘So what’s up with you two then?’ Maggie asked, trying to keep her voice light.

  ‘Lizzie’s sad ’cos she found out at school that her friend’s dad got killed,’ Danny informed her solemnly.

  ‘Oh dear, I’m sorry to hear that.’

  ‘Yes, an’ now Molly will be goin’ to live with her nanny and grandad on a farm in the country, an’ I won’t get to see her again.’ As fresh tears erupted from Lizzie’s eyes, Maggie felt at a loss as to how to comfort her. It had been such a sad day.

  ‘I don’t like this war, Mam,’ Danny declared. ‘When will it be over?’

  Pain sliced through Maggie as she answered truthfully, ‘I don’t know, my love.’

  Major May, as she was known amongst the women, was waiting for Maggie when she arrived at work the next morning.

  Arms folded across her bosom, she demanded, ‘An’ just where did you get to yesterday afternoon then, madam? I can’t keep this production line goin’ if you lot decide to clear off just whenever the whim takes yer, yer know.’

  The young girl whom Maggie had once seen on the street corner glanced at Maggie fearfully as if it was she herself who was the victim of May’s wrath. Maggie felt her colour rise as anger flooded through her veins.

  ‘If you must know, Eileen’s husband has been killed in action and I went to see if she was all right. Is that a good enough reason to be absent without your leave?’

  May looked slightly flustered. ‘Oh, I er . . . Well, obviously I could have no way o’ knowin’ that, could I? When will she be comin’ back to work?’

  ‘She won’t.’ Maggie felt a measure of satisfaction as the woman’s eyes popped wider. ‘Eileen’s parents have taken her back to Leicester to live with them. I’ll let you have their address, as I’m sure you’ll want to forward any wages she has owing, won’t you? And now if you’ll excuse me I’d better get back to work. I don’t want to upset your production line any more than I already have, do I?’ And she swept past May like a battleship in full sail.

  ‘And what are you standin’ there gawpin’ at wi’ yer gob hangin’ open like a goldfish’s? Get back to yer machine now else I’ll be dockin’ yer pay!’ May roared.

  The girl scuttled past May like a frightened rabbit as the supervisor stood there with a face like a thunder-cloud. How dare Maggie Bright talk to her like that? And in front of half the workforce too! Huh! Well, she might have won this round but she’d just better watch out from now on. May puffed herself up to her full height and strode away to show the rest of the girls what-for. Just let one of them put a foot wrong today, and sure as eggs were eggs, she’d have them out on the pavement on their backside!

  It was some time later, as Maggie sat at her machine, that the events of the last couple of days caught up with her. She blinked, trying hard to hold back the tears, but the lump in her throat was swelling and threatening to choke her, and she knew that she must get away. Almost overbalancing her chair, she got up and headed for the cloakroom with her head bent low. Once inside, she leaned heavily against the sink, and then came the tears. Hot, scalding tears that poured down her face in a torrent. She was so distressed that she didn’t hear the
door open behind her, and when someone put their hand on her arm she almost jumped out of her skin.

  ‘Are yer all right then? Is there anythin’ I can get yer?’

  Maggie found herself looking into the face of the girl. For now, the hard front she put on was gone and her eyes were kindly and full of concern.

  Maggie tried to speak but couldn’t.

  ‘I er . . . I was sorry to hear about yer mate’s husband, but the way yer stood up to that tyrant an’ put her in her place earlier on were brilliant. I doubt anyone has ever dared to talk to Major May like that before.’

  Maggie sniffed, and despite the circumstances, found herself giving a shuddering laugh. ‘I can’t believe I did it now,’ she hiccuped. ‘I’m not usually like that. My mam always said I wouldn’t say boo to a goose.’

  ‘Well, maybe yer should try it more often. People like her will walk all over yer if yer let ’em. An’ by the way, thanks fer keepin’ yer mouth shut about seein’ me out that night. Them lot back there,’ she thumbed across her shoulder, ‘would make me life a misery if they was to find out. They can be a vicious lot o’ cows when they’ve a mind to be.’ She looked at Maggie. ‘My name’s Josephine Matthews, by the way, but yer can call me Jo if yer like.’

  When the girl tentatively held out her hand, Maggie shook it warmly.

  ‘Thanks for coming to check on me, Jo. Perhaps we could sit together at break in the canteen? I’ll be on my own now that Eileen’s gone.’

  Jo seemed to consider the request for a few seconds before cautiously nodding. ‘Go on, then. I dare say there’s no harm in that, though I don’t make friends easy, as you’ll discover. I prefer to keep meself to meself. That way, nobody gets to know me business.’

  Maggie mopped her sore eyes. She was all cried out. The girl in front of her was almost like two different people, she thought - the Plain Jane who worked in the factory every day, and the Painted Lady who walked the streets at night. Despite herself, Maggie was intrigued.

  ‘Right, we’d better be getting back to our machines then,’ she sighed. ‘I wouldn’t want May breathing fire down your neck on my account.’

  Jo turned without a word and left Maggie standing there. At the door she paused to look back across her shoulder. ‘I meant what I said. Me business is me own, so if we sit together in the break I don’t want yer pryin’ into me affairs.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’ When the door had closed behind the girl, Maggie couldn’t help but grin. Perhaps Jo wasn’t such a tough-nut as she liked to make out?

  On the way home that night, Maggie revelled at the feel of the fresh air on her skin after the oppressive atmosphere of the factory. She would have liked to see some greenery but sadly, almost every park she passed had been ploughed up to make bomb shelters, should they ever be needed. She supposed that she was one of the lucky ones to have an Anderson shelter in her own back yard. Many people who had no room for one in their garden had resorted to making their dingy cellars into shelters. Others had cleared out their cupboard under the stairs, though how a whole family would ever fit into one of them, Maggie had no idea.

  At home, the twins and Lucy were tucking into jam sandwiches. Somehow Lucy had managed to get herself covered in it, but Maggie swept the toddler into her arms and kissed her nevertheless.

  ‘Phew, it’s been hot in the factory today,’ she told her mother as she bustled about the kitchen getting herself a welcome glass of lemonade.

  ‘I can well believe it. It’s been a scorcher, ain’t it? Though I suppose we shouldn’t complain. This pair were right hot an’ bothered when they come in from school. Oh, an’ while I think of it, Sam was here at lunchtime.’

  Maggie raised an eyebrow. ‘Sam? Are you sure?’

  Her mother laughed. ‘Well, I reckon you’ve been married to the bugger long enough for me to recognise him by now, don’t you? Yes, it was Sam, an’ I should warn you - he weren’t in the best o’ moods.’

  Maggie frowned. What would Sam be doing home at that time of day? ‘Do you know if he went back to work?’ she enquired.

  ‘Can’t rightly say, to be honest, though I doubt it. He got changed out of his work clothes an’ stamped off out with a face like a smacked arse. He was in an’ out of here like a dose o’ salts. Didn’t even acknowledge the little ’un either.’ Her mother sniffed indignantly.

  The words had barely left her lips when they heard the back gate open and Sam appeared, looking more than a little sheepish.

  ‘All right, love? Had a good day, have yer?’ he asked, addressing Maggie. Her mouth dropped open. Now she knew that something was wrong.

  Ellen hastily shuffled towards the back door. She could feel a row brewing and had no intention of being caught in the middle of it. Maggie had changed in some ways since she’d started back to work. And from where Ellen was standing, the changes were for the better. Gone were the days when Sam could treat her daughter like something he’d trodden in. Maggie would stick up for herself now instead of taking everything he threw at her.

  Maggie waited until her mother had beat a hasty retreat before saying to the children, ‘Have you had enough to eat for now?’

  ‘Yes, Mam.’ Lizzie’s and Danny’s eyes were like saucers as they sensed the tension in the air.

  ‘Good, then take Lucy to play for half an hour until it’s time to come in and get ready for bed. Tony and Carol are out the front playing marbles on the pavement, but watch Lucy on the road, won’t you?’

  ‘Yes, Mam.’ Lizzie and Danny ushered their little sister in front of them and soon Maggie heard their footsteps in the entry. When she was sure that the children were out of earshot, she rounded on Sam. ‘So - what’s going on then? Why were you home at dinnertime? And why are you all done up in your decent clothes?’

  ‘Ah well, it’s like this, yer see.’ Sam stretched his neck and undid his shirt collar. ‘I’ve er . . . I’ve gone an’ got the sack.’

  ‘You’ve what?’ Maggie’s voice was incredulous.

  ‘Weren’t my fault,’ he mumbled, avoiding her eyes, ‘That bloody foreman has had it in fer me fer ages, an’ he shot his mouth off once too often so I . . .’

  ‘You what?’

  ‘I landed him one straight on the chin. He went down like a sack o’ spuds, an’ the next minute they’ve got me in the office an’ are givin’ me me marchin’ orders.’

  ‘Oh Sam, how could you?’ Maggie sank onto a chair. ‘The whole point of me going back to work was to bring in a bit extra, and now you’ve gone and put yourself out of a job.’

  ‘There are others.’ His face was surly.

  ‘And how do you figure that out? Who’s going to take you on without a reference?’

  ‘Well, it’s hardly the end o’ the world, is it? We’ve still got your wages comin’ in. It just means we’ll have to tighten us belts again fer a bit till somethin’ crops up.’

  ‘Huh, if something crops up, you mean! How could you have been so stupid as to put yourself out of work?’

  ‘Watch yer mouth, woman,’ he snarled. ‘You’re gettin’ a bit too big fer yer boots since yer went back to work.’

  ‘And not before time, Sam Bright,’ Maggie retaliated. ‘I’ve done with being the obedient little woman. It’ll serve you right if you get called-up, now you’re unemployed. That’s what happened to Fred Smith in the next street when he put himself out of work.’

  Sam nearly choked. ‘They wouldn’t do that, would they?’

  Maggie’s head bobbed vigorously. ‘It wouldn’t surprise me in the least. We’ll just have to wait and see, won’t we? Meantime you can see to the kids while I go to work an’ give me mam some time off. And don’t go thinkin’ that I’m goin’ to be handin’ any of my wages to you to pass across the bar o’ the pub.’

  ‘Me - look after the kids?’ The look of pure horror on his face would have been comical had she not been so angry, but as it was she turned and slammed away upstairs, leaving him with his mouth hanging open in amazement.

  On
ce in the privacy of their room the anger fled as she sank down onto the edge of the bed. Why had this to happen now? Just when she’d thought things were looking up. For the first time in her married life she had been able to provide the children with decent clothes and a few treats, but now she would be back to scrimping and saving again. And all because Sam hadn’t been able to control that temper of his.

  Burying her face in her hands, she wept with frustration.

  Chapter Eight

  ‘Come on, Danny, shake a leg. We’re all going to be late at this rate,’ Maggie shouted up the stairs as she tied a pretty blue ribbon into the bottom of Lizzie’s plait.

  Seconds later, they heard the thud of his footsteps on the stairs and he erupted into the kitchen. Maggie couldn’t help but smile as she looked at her son. He might have been pulled through a hedge backwards, for his hair was on end, the flies of his grey shorts were wrongly buttoned, and one of his thick grey socks had already slipped around his ankle.

  ‘Just look at the state of you.’ She grinned indulgently as she brandished the hairbrush and yanked him towards her. ‘You look like nobody owns you and you haven’t even stepped out of the door yet. Come on, let’s see if we can’t tidy you up a bit.’

  ‘Aw, Mam.’ Danny frowned as she started to tug the brush through his thick mop of hair, much to Lizzie’s amusement. She liked to be neat and tidy, whereas her brother didn’t much care what he looked like. Maggie guessed most boys of his age were much the same.

  ‘There, that’s better,’ she said seconds later when she’d wiped a wet flannel round his face and tamed his springy hair. ‘You look almost human now.’

  Lifting a small parcel from the table, Lizzie reminded her, ‘We’ll be late home tonight, Mam. It’s the twenty-first and we’re going straight to Sally’s party from school.’

  ‘Oh yes, of course you are,’ Maggie replied absently as she quickly rubbed some Ponds cold cream onto her face. She patted on some powder and ran her lipstick over her mouth. ‘It’s a good job you reminded me. I’ve got a head like a sieve lately. I’d completely forgotten.’ Snatching up her handbag and ushering the twins towards the door, she addressed Sam who was sitting with a long face at the table with Lucy. ‘Don’t worry about getting any dinner on the go this evening. The twins will eat at the party and I’ll rustle us something up when I get in.’