down on the farm

The winds of change are blowing gently across Teddy’s rolling Cornish fields in the years that have followed the war…

The alarm clock shrills into the darkness and Teddy reaches out to turn it off. He can’t, of course, see the time, but he can certainly sense it – 5.30am. A whole half an hour of extra sleep because of the changes.

Throwing back the bedclothes, he slides out of bed and turns on the light, the smile on his face just as bright.

Outside the cockerel crows and the smell of bacon assaults his tastebuds as he goes down to the kitchen. Peggy is already up, preparing a man-sized breakfast to keep him going until lunchtime. It’s a partnership, this life of theirs. He knows that, without her, he would never manage such a profitable day’s work on the farm.

After washing briefly in the sink, Teddy sits at the table, thinking how empty it seems without Heinrich. Three years since the war’s end and so Heinrich has been like a part of the family. But of course it’s the best thing for him to have been returned to his own country and parents.

Nevertheless, Heinrich himself had been sad to go. The lad appeared to have loved his new line of work, having landed it as a German prisoner-of-war. Despite being far from home, he had thrown himself into the life and learned so much of the language.

Teddy sighs quietly and looks up as his wife empties the contents of the frying pan and moves across the kitchen.

“I know.” Peggy smiles at the mountain of food as she places the plate in front of him. “Overdone it again. Still can’t get used to cooking so much less!”

There’s a hint of sadness in her voice and Teddy squeezes her hand before tucking into his feast. It will take time to get used to, he knows, but there would have been less work for Heinrich anyway. Things were changing rapidly and electricity had been nationalised.

The Electricity Authority promised to extend its reach to many more farms in the country but Teddy is one of the lucky ones to get his first. Only one in eight farms in their beloved Cornwall has been blessed with power but, down the centre of the country, the number is more like one in three.

“I’m out to bring in t’eggs, love. See you lunchtime. Don’t overdo it.”

Peggy bends and Teddy kisses her on the cheek in an overfamiliar ritual. Every morning the same words and identical gestures, yet Teddy wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s always needed someone he can rely on. A fly-by-night type of woman wouldn’t do for the life his wife has had to take on.

Shadows spread their fingers across the farm as Teddy makes his way out to the field. He’s joined shortly by Ivan, the impressive figure growing ever larger as it makes its way up the lane from the main road. The bicycle totters a moment before falling next to the gate. “Mornin’ Ivan!” Teddy calls. “It’s a good ’un!” Ivan returns, leaping into the field. Teddy follows in a more gentlemanly manner, opening the gate. Beforehand, it was true, there was work enough for Teddy, Ivan and Heinrich but now, helped by power, it’s a hard day’s work for just the two men.

“Come on, me maids!” Teddy hurries the cows along, heading them towards the milking barn. The sky glows but is still too dark to be considered daylight. In the barn, a single click floods the building with light and Teddy hums happily to himself as the men position the cows and attach them to the electric milkers.

Would he ever get used to such luxury? In the past, Heinrich, Ivan and himself would milk them by hand before moving on to other parts of the farm.

“I’ll check on’ sheep,” he tells Ivan

“She MISSES ’IM, don’t she?” The voice STARTLES HIM. Teddy LOOKS UP

and the farmhand nods, a similar smile reflected in his weatherworn face. “There’s bread and butter inside when you want it,” Teddy adds. “Peggy’ll make you eggy bread if you fancy when she’s back in.” “A nice cup o’ milk’ll do me just fine.” Ivan walks around the barn, checking the cows are comfortable and hooked up correctly, and Teddy, not for the first time, wonders how such a big man can work while consuming so little. It had been an ongoing joke on the farm for years.

Swiftly, Teddy heads for the sheep field, remembering how, a few weeks back, the postman had made an appearance. Peggy had shrieked with excitement on receiving the mail.

Arrived safe, the postcard had read. Mutter und Vater good.Imiss farm and all. Thank you for everything. Wish to see you one day again. Heinrichx

Me too, Heinrich, Teddy thinks, seeing the still unaccustomed sight of the light being switched on in the kitchen. Me too, my DeutscherFreund.

He thinks for a while about the blond-haired, blue-eyed German, and the wicked sense of humour that would have them all in stitches. Even with the language barrier, it would shine through. Of course, Heinrich had hidden it for a while, keeping his whole personality secret, in fact, when first he’d been brought to the farm.

Teddy suspected the young man had expected hostility, but the farmer had been glad of the help and they had all come to trust Heinrich entirely. By the time he had left, it had been impossible to imagine life without him in their lives.

And so it is now.

Teddy needs no watch to know when it’s 8am. On the dot, Janet totters along the lane on her bicycle, the ruts and bumps tossing her slightly into the air. She waves across the fields and Teddy waves back, watching her skirt fluttering a bit too close to the wheel spokes.

He wishes she would choose her attire more carefully when leaving for work but has learned that you cannot tell a nineteen-year-old.

Besides, he accepts that she must dress right for the office. It’s a world away from dressing for farm work and, not for the first time, he counts his lucky stars that he’s never had to be doing with all that palaver. Just chuck on some overalls and leave them for poor Peggy to clean at the end of each day. “She misses ‘im, don’t she?” The voice startles him and Teddy looks up at Ivan, come to help with the sheep. A few of them are with lamb a bit early and he’s had to keep a careful eye on them. He’d rather it was a month or two on.

“You frightened the life outta me,” Teddy exclaims with a laugh. “Who misses who, exactly?” “Your Peggy. Misses Heinrich.” “Ah.” Teddy squats on his heels, allowing his thoughts to surface. It isn’t usual for Ivan and himself to talk of much other than farm work and the observation takes him by surprise. “Well, now that you mention it…she ’as been a bit on the quiet side since Heinrich went.”

Of course he had noticed. It had occurred to him long ago that his wife had thought of the lad as the son they’d never produced. The powers that be had given them Janet and for that they were ever grateful, but never a son to help run the farm. Janet hadn’t the slightest interest and had insisted on going to work in an office. They’d come to

accept it, but it had been tough on Peggy the most.

“We all do, Ivan, I reckon. He’s a top lad. But ’e’s’ ’ome now and glad to be there, I’m sure.”

Ivan nods but says nothing. There’s nothing more to be said.

That’s twice I’ve seen Janet out there talking to young Len.” Peggy’s voice breaks the quiet evening reverie that has descended on the farm. “She’s been in a funny mood lately and I can’t help wondering… oh, Janet, love. I was just…”

“Talking about me and Len.” Jane et laughs. “I could hear. Can I just put youry minds at rest that there is no ‘me and d Len’. But I do need to talk to you bot th about something.”

Teddy looks up from his nightly indulgence; half an hour’s read of Farmers Weekly. It takes him a week to get through and by the time he’s finished, it isn’t worth wiping his feet on.

But there is something in his daughter’s voice that catches his attention. An odd mixture of fear and excitement. She holds a letter aloft.

“This is why I’ve been talking to Len, the postie. He’s been passing me mail before it gets to the house. From Heinrich.”

For a moment she pauses and, to Teddy’s surprise, a blush darkens Janet’s pale cheeks; a rare sight indeed. He’s never known a girl who knew her own mind at such a young age, yet now she seems to be floundering.

“Heinrich has been writing to you? What about?” Peggy’s voice is straining at its leash and Teddy smothers a smile. It’s what he has always loved about her the most. Her naïvety. Sometimes a fiveyear-old could catch on quicker than Peg.

“Heinrich has asked me to marry him. Please don’t be mad. I know we should have told you but we didn’t know how you would feel. I love him, Mum, and he’s happy to come here to live. I won’t have to move to Germany. I could never leave you…”

Tears prick at Teddy’s eyes as JaJanet’s run down her face. Of course, hers were tears of happiness but undoubtedly those also of fear. She isn’t daft, his still-teenaged daughter, and would understand the impact of where she is placing her future.

A German as her husband! She’ll know only too well what others will say. It’ll be tough for Janet, taking Heinrich’s name, but he’s never seen joy on her face anything like that which he can see now. And if anyone could cope with the comments and looks of the fearful and prejudiced, it’s his beautiful, strongminded daughter. She’s never let anyone else’s ideas get in her way.

“Oh Janet, it’s wonderful!” Peggy’s voice is muffled as she hugs Janet. “Of course we’re not mad! Our home will always be his home. We love Heinrich. You know that!”

Teddy nods his agreement, squeezing Janet’s hand. It will be tough finding enough work for him, but perhaps they could expand their livestock? Heinrich had been particularly adept at helping the sick animals. Perhaps he’d be keen to train as a vet?

Teddy puts down his Farmers Weekly and gets up to fill his pipe.

“Just wait ’til I tell Ivan,” he grins, by way of voicing his approval.

Janet’s long hair brushes his cheek as tthey embrace. “Oh, Dad, thank you! Heinrich will be so relieved! I’m going upstairs to write to him now!”

And she’s gone before Teddy even has time to find his tobacco.

“Well,” he says, looking at Peggy who is wiping her face with her apron. She never takes that apron off, Teddy thinks irrelevantly to himself, apart from at bedtime, and he makes a mental note to get her a new one for her birthday. He knows he’ll have probably forgotten again by then, but the thought was there. “Well,” she says, in return. “I think this calls for a tot of whisky.” Peggy nods and gets out the glasses. Teddy fetches the bottle and pours them both a generous tot.

“Well,” Peggy repeats, and then she bursts into tears that Teddy recognises as happiness. He feels quite the same himself.

For a moment, he glances at the lightbulb shining above them, illuminating their lives in a way that they would previously have never imagined. Yet there were other things, more amazing things, in this world. There were strangers who came into your world because of happenings more awful than you ever wanted to think of.

And those strangers could affect you in ways you would never imagine… light up your world in a blaze of happiness that would eventually touch every tiny, ordered and once predictable part of your life.

Teddy tips back his whisky glass, closes his eyes and sits back with a contented sigh.

He’s never SEEN JOY on her face ANYTHING LIKE that he can SEE NOW