East End Angel by Carol Rivers Read Free Book Online Page A

closer.’
    ‘I know, I know, I hear it all the time. I listen to the girls at work, to where their husbands are, or were, or they don’t know where they are, or they wait for letters, they dread the telegrams, they can’t eat or sleep because of their men and – oh, Jim – I don’t want to be one of them!’ She clutched him tight, pressing her face into his rough collar and smelling the metal smells and dust and oil that were ingrained in his overalls. She loved everything about him. Even though they had their tiffs, it was wonderful making up.
    He patted her back. ‘You mean everything to me, sweetheart, and I think you know it. But after this war I want to live in a country that’s free and not ruled by a crazy dictator. A world where you can speak your mind without being chucked in a concentration camp for your beliefs.’
    ‘But we don’t have them in England!’ Pearl protested weakly.
    ‘Only because we’re a democracy. We’ve a ting-a-ling on the throne, and freedom of speech. We can vote in every election. We take it all for granted, but it will all disappear if Hitler has his way.’
    Pearl twisted out of his grasp. Her heart was thumping. ‘I know all that. I’m as patriotic as you or anyone, but I don’t see the sense in you joining up when you can do as much – if not more – for your country at home.’ She wrung her hands. ‘Seems to me this isn’t about the call-up, it’s about you wanting to put on a uniform like Ricky Winters.’
    As soon as the words were out she regretted them. Jim’s lips turned down slowly at the corners.
    ‘So that’s what you think?’
    She hung her head. ‘I didn’t mean it.’
    ‘But you said it.’
    ‘Jim—’
    Rising to his feet, he snatched up the papers and stuffed them under his arm. Without a word more, he left. She listened to his boots on the stairs. What had she done?
    Going to the landing, she looked over. ‘Jim! Jim!’
    Fitz Hemsley came out from the storeroom. ‘You after Jim, love?’
    ‘I – no, not really.’ She didn’t want him to know they’d had a row.
    ‘Done a bunk, has he?’ Fitz chuckled. ‘Escaped to the pub?’
    ‘Yes, I should think so.’
    ‘You two fire-watching tonight?’
    ‘Yes.’ Though the bombing wasn’t as bad, they still had to do their part.
    ‘Gwen saved two rashers for you today,’ Fitz shouted up. ‘They’ll do nice for Jim’s tea.’
    ‘All right. I’ll be down.’
    Fitz returned whistling to the storeroom.
    Pearl sat at the kitchen table. Why had she mentioned Ricky? Why had she said such a thing? Is that what she truly thought? Was Jim envious, even jealous of Ricky? Oh, she knew he hated him because of Danny, but was there something deeper?
    She glanced at the clock and sighed. She’d go down and get the bacon; Jim would enjoy it, although there was nothing to fry it in but marg. Would it taste as good?
    But by nine thirty the bacon was burned to a cinder and Jim still wasn’t home. Pearl set off alone for her fire-watching duty. She left Jim a sandwich and a note saying she was sorry.
    It was a very warm afternoon in late August, and Pearl thrust open the small window of the Borough Surveyor’s office. But instead of a reviving breeze, only the noise of the traffic came in. The small room was stuffy as three tables had been squeezed in for the staff. Pearl lifted her hands and wiped her fingers on a cloth she took from her drawer. In the air-deprived conditions her speed on the typewriter was slower. Mr Hedley, her boss, had gone early, leaving her and Moira Bush to complete the outstanding paperwork. They were one clerk short and had to finish it all before going. Mr Hedley liked all the contractors, removers and tradesmen’s bills up to date. Head Office required duplicate copies, and the ink from the blue paper had smudged in the heat.
    ‘I’m melting,’ sighed Pearl, fanning herself with an envelope. ‘Even my blouse is wet.’
    ‘The council should improve our working