The Serial: The Pepper Girls At War Day14

Despite the cold billet and the hard bed, Lexie was sleeping soundly when the trumpeting of a bugle blasted her awake

Billy nodded silently. “Maybe you should go again,” he said, “with me that is, rekindle our love before I go overseas and leave you alone again with no man to protect you.” Billy was choosing his words carefully too. He’d be at the Palais on Saturday with Nancy, if it was the last thing he did and God help Jim Murphy if he turned up.

Billy would be gone by Sunday night, so Nancy had only to keep on his right side till then.

She knew there was something in the wind, but felt she’d played her cards right and decided to go along with Billy’s game.

“Fine,” she said feigning sleepiness, “now can you get into bed and let’s get some sleep.

Billy undressed and turned off the light. Cold and hung over, he climbed over Nancy to his side of the bed and turned his back on her as usual, but not before Nancy caught a familiar scent.

He’d been with Gladys Kelly again and her heart hardened further. There would be no ‘rekindling’ of anything, she told herself, war or no war. She and Billy were finished. Delight Nancy closed her eyes and dreamt of Jim Murphy.

Nancy left for the mill early next morning, leaving Billy to sleep off the drink and Gladys Kelly.

She must see Jim before the morning shift was over and make sure he didn’t turn up at the Palais that night, expecting to be with her.

Luck was with her and she caught up with him as he was unlocking the Buckie door. He turned towards her, his delight at seeing her evident in his smile.

“You’re early,” he said, smoothly, “couldn’t wait till tonight to see me, eh?”

“Billy’s home,” Nancy said bluntly, “and he’s taking me to the Palais tonight, so...”

“Is he now,” Jim interrupted, “and you’re here to warn me not to turn up there?” Nancy nodded.

“Someone’s told him about me going to the dancing while he’s been away and I don’t want any trouble. If he thinks I’m there to meet you, I don’t know what he’ll do.”

Jim Murphy was no fool. He fancied Nancy Donnelly, but not at any cost and although Jean wasn’t a raving beauty, his wife kept a good house and fed him well and he wasn’t about to trade that for an uncertain future with Nancy and her two bairns.

Flirting and canoodling he could get anywhere, but home comforts were harder to come by. “Now don’t you worry your pretty little head about me,” he murmured, running the fingers of his hand down her bare arm, “I’ll be safely tucked up in bed by 10 o’clock tonight with a cup of cocoa and a good book.”

Nancy relaxed. “Maybe next week,” she said hopefully, “Billy will be gone by then?” Jim Murphy smiled. “Maybe,” he said, “maybe.” Nancy felt a frisson of anxiety take hold. The more Jim Murphy tempted her the more she wanted him and evidence that Billy had been with Gladys Kelly again, only served to intensify her desire.

She watched as he entered the Buckie and began to enter up the yardage for the previous day. The other mill workers were beginning to arrive and a couple of them glanced her way, wondering why she was standing there and nudged one another.

Quickly, Nancy pushed a stray curl under her turban and straightened her apron before walking towards the Weaving Flat, nodding to the questioning eyes as she passed by.

Tonight she and Billy would go the Palais and now she knew that Jim wouldn’t be there, she relaxed and got on with her work.

Tomorrow, Billy would be gone. Where, she didn’t know, and didn’t care enough to even wonder. Sleeping soundly Despite the cold billet and the hard bed, Lexie was sleeping soundly when the trumpeting of a bugle blasted her awake.

The journey and her first encounter with the camp at RAF Wilmslow and particularly Corporal Beryl Samson flooded back into her mind.

The door of the billet swung open and Corporal Samson breezed in.

“Everybody up,” she shouted, “ablutions and bed making then breakfast in the Mess at 7.15.” Without waiting for a response, the Corporal exited the way she’d come in.

The girls, who had been sleeping were suddenly awake. “Ablutions?” said Daisy, “what’s that?”

“Get washed and dressed,” shouted Jean Bailey as she rummaged in her suitcase for her toothbrush. We’ve got 12 minutes to get to the Mess!”

Clothes were pulled on where they stood and blankets thrown over their beds, as the girls rushed to meet the deadline.

Breathlessly, they filed out of the billet and headed for the Mess. Having arrived in darkness, Lexie hadn’t taken in the size of the camp, nor the fact they shared it with the men.

She turned to Winnie, a look of amazement on her face. “It’s full of blokes!” she exclaimed.

Winnie giggled. “Mmmmm,” she said, “isn’t it great?”

The noise in the Mess was deafening, pans and metal trays clanged and banged, as porridge and rows of shelled eggs were being served up by the cooks.

“Move along luv,” one of them urged Lexie. “What’ll it be, eggs or eggs?” Lexie looked into the grinning face, sweat glistening on its brow.

“Eggs, please,” she stammered. “Bread over there,” he indicated “and tea at the end of the line.” Winnie pushed in alongside her. “Eggs for me too,” she said, coyly. Flirting mode Even at this hour of the morning, Winnie was already into flirting mode and the cook responded, giving her an extra big smile but, to Winnie’s disappointment, not an extra egg.

The men were raucous, even at the early hour of the day, but Lexie and the other girls just stared in silence at the sea of faces.

Suddenly, one man peeled off and made for their table. “Well, hello girls,” he grinned, allowing his eyes to roam all over them. “Up for the fight then?”

Lexie looked at Winnie. “Fight?” she mouthed, looking anxious. “What fight?” Jack Forsythe’s grin widened even further.

He leaned forward over the table. “Why the fight you’re going to have to put up to keep us boys in our place at the NAAFI dance on Saturday,” he said, laughing now.

Everyone relaxed and giggled. Pearl White, or Pearly as she had quickly been nicknamed, rose to her full height of 5 ft 2 in.

“You’d better watch out,” she grinned, looking round at the rest of them, “there’s six of us and only one of you, so good luck with that one.” (More tomorrow.)