Remember Me by Irene N. Watts Read Free Book Online Page A

out. Will you help me write what to say?” Marianne asked her friend.
    “It’s a brilliant idea – of course I will,” said Bridget.
    “Sank you,” said Marianne.
    “
Th
, put your tongue between your teeth like this, thank you,” said Bridget.
    “Thank you,” said Marianne. “Is better?”
    “Much,” said Bridget. “We can put the advertisements under doors, even if no one’s home.”
    “Hurry, Bridget, I can’t wait longer,” said Marianne.
    “Let’s look what they say in the
Times
under DOMESTIC SITUATIONS REQUIRED . You read it, Mary Anne. It’s good practice for you.”
    Marianne said, “This one’s from a girl in Berlin! From
Turinerstrasse.
Listen: ‘I am a girl of eighteen who likes dressmaking and is fond of children.’ We can write like this for my mother?” She almost shouted.
    “Easy. Just change the words a bit. I’ll write it down for now, and type it up on Pa’s typewriter later. I’m a bit slow, but I’maccurate. We’ll go together. Two’s much better than one, and if there are watch dogs, I have a great affinity with animals,” Bridget declared.
    Marianne and Bridget jumped up and down in excitement.
    Gladys came hurrying up the stairs. “Mrs. Abercrombie Jones wants to know if you are deliberately trying to give her a headache?”
    “I’m very sorry, Gladys, please tell Aunt Wera.”
    Gladys closed the door behind her.
    “Listen,” said Bridget. “Gifted Jewish dressmaker …” she started to write.
    “Say good cook, no, wery good cook,” said Marianne. “Love the children.”
    Bridget interpreted this as: “Gifted Jewish dressmaker, excellent cook, fond of children, wishes to come to England as a domestic.”
    “Now, what about your father – what can he do in the house?” asked Bridget.
    “Nothing. Vati cannot boil water for coffee. He only likes to read.” Marianne smiled, thinking of her father.
    “No problem,” said Bridget. “We’ll say ‘Husband works as a gardener / handyman.’ That means he cleans shoes, and cuts grass, rakes leaves, that kind of thing.… Now give me the address, and I’ll say ‘Please write immediately to.…’ ”
    Marianne printed her mother’s name and address. “Thank you, Bridget.”
    “I’ll start right away. How many do we need?” Bridget asked.
    “More than one hundred?” Marianne asked hopefully.
    “Tell you what – I’ll begin with twenty-five, and we’ll see how many replies we get.”
    They ran downstairs.
    “Good-bye, Mrs. Abercrombie Jones. I’ve finished Mary Anne’s English lesson. I have to go now,” said Bridget.
    “Thank you, Bridget. Please give my regards to your parents.”
    “I will,” said Bridget. “And Mother sends her regards to you, too.”
    “You would never know that child comes from Irish stock. She has beautiful manners. You may go and help Gladys bring in the tea things.”
    “Yes, Aunt Wera … Vera.”
    Marianne heard Mrs. Abercrombie Jones say, “Do you think she does it on purpose, Geoffrey?”

• 9 •
Miriam
    O n Saturday after lunch, Marianne and Bridget set off to deliver the first batch of DOMESTIC SITUATIONS REQUIRED .
    “We’ll start at the top of Avenue Road – those big houses looking over the park. We’d better go to the back, where it says TRADESMEN’S ENTRANCE ,” Bridget said.
    “You think we look like tradesmen?” Marianne giggled to cover up her nerves.
    “Mary Anne, we’re not doing anything wrong. It’s not like we’re asking for money.”
    Bridget had this knack of knowing what Marianne was really thinking. “I’ll do the first one,” she said.
    “No, I must do it. Look, this house is number five, my lucky number,” said Marianne. “Even when I was small, I used to make bargains with myself. I would make a kind of promise. Walk to the corner, keep head up. If men in uniform come, if I keep walking, if I’m brave, something good will happen.”
    “I do that all the time too. Alright, you ring this bell; I’ll do the