Finding Sophie by Irene N.Watts Read Free Book Online Page B

face is so white, every one of his freckles stands out. He lets go of my hand, walks over to Stanley, grabs his arm, and pushes him out of the back door. “Wait for me,” he says over his shoulder.
    Someone cranks up the gramophone. Simon comes over to me, and we finish the dance. Luckily it's almost over.
    When I get outside, Mandy is already there. The twins have a sort of built-in radar about each other. Mandy is staunching a stream of blood from Nigel's nose. Stanley is on his hands and knees, shaking his head. He stands up, and I see he has a black eye.
    Mandy is furious. “You're a fine pair,” she says. “Look at you. This is supposed to be a dance celebrating Victory, not the start of a new war.”
    Reverend Peter comes out to join us. “I have no idea what this is about, however, I suggest you shake hands and then come intothe kitchen for repairs. There should be some ice there,” he says.
    Stanley mumbles something and walks off.
    I pick up the riding crop. I feel like hurling it after him. Instead I hand it to Reverend Peter.
    “Thank you, Sophie. You know where I am if you need me.”
    Nigel speaks for the first time. “Thanks, Mandy. I think the bleeding's stopped.” He shoves the bloody handkerchief in his pocket.
    “I'll go back in, then. Hurry up or you'll be too late for the judging.” Mandy goes back in to the dance.
    “Sorry, Nigel.” I say.
    “For what?”
    “You know.”
Does he expect me to say that I am the cause of the fight because of where I've been born?
    Nigel leans against the wall of the alley.
    A thin black kitten twines its body round my legs and begins to scratch my stockings. “Ow.” I pick up the kitten and stroke its fur. “Are you hungry?” The kitten begins to purr. “Nigel, you don't have to fight my battles. I've been called names before.”
    Nigel says, “Remember when you and Mandy were being bullied by that gang in the village? Didn't I sort it out? No one's going to get away with calling you names while I'm around. If that Stanley what's-his-name so much as looks your way again, you let me know.”
    “I told you. I don't want anyone to fight about me. People like Stanley aren't worth it.” I smile at him. I don't want him to thinkhe's not appreciated. “Now, let's take this poor starving animal inside and feed it.”
    “Okay.” Nigel leans forward and strokes the cat's ears. His head is very close to mine; his hair brushes my cheek.
    I smile. This is almost as romantic as the shipboard scene when Paul Henreid and Bette Davis share a cigarette in
Now Voyager.
    “What's the joke about?” Nigel asks, as we go back inside.
    “I was actually thinking about smoking.”
    “Smoking! I didn't know you smoked, Sophie.”
    “I don't.”
    Mandy wins first prize for her witch costume, and Nigel walks me home.
    If I was asked to say the best thing about this evening, it would have to be the touch of Nigel's hair on my face. The worst thing – that horrible Stanley. How dare he?
Time to go home, Fräulein.
    I am home. This
is
my home and no one's going to say or do anything to change that.

I 'm always early for my volunteering at the hospital – partly because of what Sister would say if I weren't punctual, but mostly because I enjoy it more than anything I do for the war effort. Peace effort, I suppose I should say now, even though the war in the Far East is still on.
    A hospital's a world of its own, quite different from what goes on outside. I should think working here is a bit like being in the forces. I'm on the lowest rung, like a recruit – someone who's just joined up – but I feel useful.
    The porter recognizes me now. “Nice day, Miss,” or “Looks like rain.” Most of the nurses seem pleased to have an extra pair of hands, and even talk about the patients in front of me as if I belong.
    I know that the bandages I've rolled will be used for wounds almost at once. When I arrange a vase of flowers, or plump a pillow, or make up beds with the corners