‘Richie would wallop me into next week if he thought I knew what French letters were,’ Dilys observed. ‘He’s my lad back inSwansea. He thinks it’s serious, but I don’t. I joined up to find someone better.’
Carol picked up Bobby’s photograph of Charlie in uniform, which she had placed on the chest of drawers to face her bunk. ‘This your feller?’
‘That’s right,’ Bobby said vaguely. She was trying to focus on her letter. Her arms were aching from the injections she had been given, and after already composing a brief letter to Lilian, every word she formed felt painful.
Carol let out a whistle. ‘Nice. How did you manage that?’
‘Oh, just by being my charming self,’ Bobby said with a smile, forcing herself to sound jovial. She knew that when the bugle sounded lights out, the homesickness would really start to bite. For now, she was just trying not to cry, or to alienate the women she had found herself with any further by seeming standoffish.
She tried to shut out the buzz of conversation and concentrate on her letter.
You mustn’t worry if you don’t hear from me for a while. The strict WAAF commandant has imposed a sort of purdah, and after this letter I’m not to communicate with the outside world until a fortnight is up. I’ll still be thinking about you, and writing down everything about my new life here to send when I’m allowed. Please write the same as always, so I’ll have a nice pile of letters to open when I’m free again. In the meantime, I’ll speak as soon as possible to Squadron Officer Mulligan – that’s our WAAF senior officer – about permission to marry, and whether I can have home leave for the 2nd so we can set the date officially.
There’s a telephone in the recreation hut here, so we shall be able to talk sometimes too once the ban is up. It feels likeso long since we last spoke. Even this morning feels like half a lifetime ago after all that’s happened today.
It’s been some time since I had a letter from you, darling. Have you been writing as usual? I know they’re probably only held up in the post, but I can’t help worrying. Do write as soon as you can, or send a wire if you’re worried it won’t get through, and let me know everything is all right.
Bobby paused to dash away a tear. She couldn’t stop herself from dwelling on what Mike had said earlier. She had often worried about her and Charlie drifting apart while they were far away from each other, but surely he couldn’t stop loving her, just like that? He had been so affectionate in his last few letters, and eager for their wedding.
And yet flying ops must be such a frightening, isolating experience. The sort that caused you to crave warm arms to hold you, and make you feel safe and alive. Men in the full virility of youth naturally desired the company of women, and when they faced death on a daily basis, the urge to be with someone physically was probably stronger than ever. Charlie had the same urges and desires as any other man his age. He had never struggled to attract the attention of women even as a civilian, and such was the glamour surrounding pilots that he could no doubt take his choice when it came to female company. Could he… could he have met someone else?
As she fumbled once again for her hanky, Bobby became aware that the young Welsh girl, Dilys, had approached the bunk and was reading her letter over her shoulder. She grinned when Bobby looked up.
‘Trouble in paradise?’ she asked, arching an eyebrow.
‘Just some missing letters,’ Bobby murmured, looking away, but the girl had already spotted the tear on her cheek.
‘You sure blub a lot,’ she observed. ‘You made it with this fiancé yet, or are you saving yourself? You look the type.’
Bobby blushed deeply. ‘That’s… none of your business.’
Dilys laughed, none too pleasantly. ‘Oh my word, youare! No wonder he’s stopped writing to you.’
Mike glanced over. ‘Leave her alone, Dilys. Aren’t you going to visit Aunty? It’ll be lights out in half an hour and you haven’t washed.’
Aunty, Bobby had learned, was the euphemistic name for the ablutions block, where the wash facilities and two latrines were located.
‘I’m not going out in this rain,’ Dilys said, throwing herself down on her bunk. ‘What does it matter if I smell when we’re to be deprived of masculine company? Bugger it, I say.’
Bobby stood up. ‘I need to go. I haven’t washed yet either.’
She threw on her coat and headed for the door, grateful for the opportunity to be by herself for a short time. At least in the rain, she could cry all she liked.
However, as soon as she got outside she felt a hand on her shoulder. Mike had put on her coat too and followed her out.
‘Hey, are you all right?’ Mike asked. ‘You sounded choked up just now.’
Bobby forced back fresh tears. ‘I suppose I’m just homesick. I know it’s pathetic when I’m practically down the road from where I lived before, but I feel like I’ve gone a thousand miles.’
‘I hope I didn’t upset you before, when I said that everyone in the Air Force had someone on the side. I didn’t realise you and your fiancé were having problems.’
‘We’re not having problems,’ Bobby muttered. ‘Some of his letters have gone astray, that’s all. We’re to be married on the 2nd of May, if we can both get leave.’
‘I’m sure if you have faith in him, he must be one of the good ones,’ Mike said kindly. ‘Sorry for talking out of turn. I neverdo know when to keep quiet. We ought to be friends, now we’re bunkies.’
Bobby summoned a smile. ‘I’d like that.’
‘And don’t mind that kid Dilys. She’s just showing off to prove she’s one of the big girls. It can be dog eat dog in places like this.’ She smiled wryly. ‘Trust me, I went to boarding school.’
