‘No,’ George said, scowling as he picked up his tea. ‘Their Aunt Sadie is the wife of my younger brother – not family by blood, and only barely by marriage with the way she… but I shouldn’t speak ill of a lady. She’s been unhappy in her marriage, and the fault wasn’t all on her side. Suffice it to say she doesn’t care much for the company of children. I was very grateful when you wrote to me that you would be willing to give the girls a home for the duration. The Luftwaffe seem to have gone quiet over London for the moment, but you never know when they might be back.’
‘Florrie and Jessie are certainly welcome to stay for as long as they need a home,’ Mary said, rather eagerly.
The captain was silent for a moment.
‘When I was rowed from the beach at Dunkirk with a bullet through my shoulder, I remember thinking to myself that I must survive this,’ he said quietly. ‘I must because one day the war would be over and I could go home to my girls. And now, if I should go and search for that home I so longed to return to, I should find nothing left of it except rubble. But I am glad, at least, that the girls have found a place they can feel is their home for as long as it might be necessary for them to stay here. You are very kind.’
‘It’s pleasure for us as much as duty. Reg and I have no children or grandchildren of our own. We’ve loved having them stay, haven’t we, Reg?’
Reg nodded. ‘I wasn’t always keen on the notion of taking in evacuees, but Florrie and Jessie feel like a part of the place now. And of course, you’re welcome to stay with us whenever you have leave, George.’
‘They certainly seem happy here. I’m glad. I ought to have sent them away before now but one hears such horror stories of host families in rural places, with evacuees being put to work in the fields like farmhands. I dreaded where they might end up.’
Florrie and Jessie came running back in at that moment. Florrie had Ace under one arm, wriggling ineffectually to free himself, and the copy ofThe Tykeshe’d contributed to in the other. Jessie, nearly invisible behind a sea of grey fur, was driving Reg’s wolfhounds ahead of her like a cowhand.
‘These are the big dogs,’ she said. ‘This is Winnie – she’s a girl – and Barney is her brother. They’re old so they don’t do tricks or anything, but they’re nice to cuddle with.’
‘This is Ace,’ Florrie said, dropping him unceremoniously into her father’s lap. ‘Ace, give Dad your paw.’
Ace only blinked up at this new human, looking as windswept as George did himself. Mary laughed.
‘It’s starting to feel rather crowded in here, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘I shall go and listen to the wireless set in the kitchen while I prepare the evening meal. Perhaps when the place is free of dogs there might be a little more room for me.’ She left the parlour.
‘He can do it, honest, Daddy,’ Jessie said, frowning at Ace. ‘He’s just scared because you’re new. But he can do a whole five tricks now, and he knows three different games to play. When he’s got used to you, he’ll show you.’
‘I’m sure he will,’ said the dazed-looking captain, scratching Ace behind the ears.
Florrie stepped forward now with an open copy ofThe Tyke, looking proud. ‘Now look at this, Dad. Read it, and I’ll bet you can never guess who wrote it.’ She kept her finger over the name at the bottom while he perused it.
Their father knew enough to feign ignorance until he had read the story and praised it to the skies.
‘Now guess who wrote it,’ Florrie demanded.
‘Well, I’m sure I can’t think.’ He looked at Bobby. ‘This young lady, perhaps.’
Bobby laughed. ‘I’m afraid you’re greatly overestimating my skill as a writer, Captain Parry.’
‘In that case, I suppose it must be this gentleman,’ he said, indicating Reg. ‘I can’t imagine anyone else it might be.’
‘It was me!’ Florrie exclaimed gleefully, unable to contain herself further. She drew her finger away so he could see the name.
‘Ah, you’ve made this to play a trick on me, haven’t you?’ he said, smiling. ‘For shame, Florence Parry, when it’s months since All Fool’s Day.’
‘Honest, it’s not a trick. I really, truly wrote it. Ask Reg if I didn’t.’
George looked enquiringly at Reg, who confirmed the truth of it with a nod. ‘Best thing we ever printed, I reckon. I said it before and I’ll say it again: give the lass ten year and she’ll do us all out of a job here.’
They were interrupted at that moment by Mary rushing back in, making an entrance that could only be described as dramatic. Her face was red, her hair a little dishevelled, and her features twitched with emotion.
‘Mercy, Reg, you must come quick!’ she said, flapping her hands at her husband. ‘All of you, come into the kitchen right away!’
Reg pushed himself to his feet with his stick and went to her. ‘What is it, our lass? You look all of a fluster. Is there a fire?’
‘No.No, it’s not that. Now, on the wireless… they’ve done it, Reg!’
Reg looked alarmed. ‘Who’s done what? Come on, Mary, out with it.’
‘The Germans, Reg! They marched on Russia this morning.’
