This is the thirtieth part of a fiction serial, in 753 words.
By the end of the summer, Albert was finding life difficult on the Heavy Rescue unit. Although the bombing was no longer as bad as it had been, there were still enough raids to deal with, and he wasn’t getting any younger. Vivian was almost thirty-four, and starting to look it. Vera thought her parents had never looked so old and tired, but never mentioned it of course. After a chat with his wife, Albert changed his role in the Civil Defence to become an air-raid warden. No more digging in the rubble, now he would just be just checking that people were not showing lights in the blackout, and directing them to the nearest shelters if there was an attack. Because the raids were so far and few between by then, Albert was lokking better in no time, and obviously a lot less stressed.
A letter from Teddy told them he was doing well on his new battleship, but he still couldn’t say which one it was, and where he was in the world. Vera hoped he wasn’t in the Far East, as there had been some reports of ships being sunk by the japanese out there. The family were getting used to the rationing, using vegetables to make pie fillings, as well as adjusting to the substitues for sugar. At least half of the meat from the rabbits had to be used for trading. Albert got his tobacco, and Vera and Elsie were able to get some second-hand clothes that were quite high class. Nobody cared much aboout the Black Market any longer. If you didn’t take advantage of it, you went without.
However, Albert drew the line when he was offered tins of corned beef marked for use by the army. He didn’t want any part of taking food that was intended for the fighting men.
Then came the big news of a huge invasion of Sicily. Albert nodded as he heard the announcer on the radio. “If we can get into Italy, that’s them out the war. That Mussolini will soon be packing up and leaving, mark my words”. His pronouncements always made Vera smile. He had never been in the army, but talked like he knew exactly what the generals were planning.
Two letters came from Les. One was written in the early summer, and the other a month later. He was a lot better off now the weather had warmed up, he told her. Some of the prisoners had been moved, and been replaced by some blokes captured in North Africa the previous year. There were rumours that the camp might close, though that could mean them being moved deeper into Germany. In the second letter, Les got all romantic, talking about how much he missed her, and how he couldn’t wait to see her again one day. Vera loved to read those parts, and they made her feel all warm inside. She went round to the Reid’s house to tell them his news. Mrs Reid welcomed her warmly, but Janet was out, and Mr Reid was at the pub. Janet’s mum wanted to ask her what she knew about Janet and Pauline, but she just said her and Janet didn’t go around together so much now.
On Sunday, Viv came to tell them that she had asked for the boys to come back from Wales. If necessary, she would travel there by train and fetch them. She had written a thank you letter to Mrs Davies, explaining that she needed them at home now, and that Roy had insisted on them being back in London now the bombing wasn’t so bad. Elsie wasn’t so sure it was a good idea, but didn’t interfere. Her daughter was a married woman, and what she did was up to her. Albert gave her half of a rabbit to take back for Roy’s mum to cook for them, and Elsie gave her one of the tins of jam they had stored.
That evening, Elsie and Vera started to take in some of their clothes. They had both lost a fair bit of weight in the past year, and a lot of their stuff was loose on them. Vera sat carefully unpicking the seams, and Elsie folded them in and sewed them. Albert had gone to the pub to meet up with some of his mates on the darts team. As they chatted and worked on the clothes, Vera was thinking how nice it was.
Almost like before the war.
Another wonderful chapter, Pete. You write the stories of life, like an artist paints. I think you are not a Picasso or a Matisse. You’re a van Gogh or a Monet. Really. Keep writing.
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Thanks for such high praise, Jennie. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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It is well deserved and sincere, Pete. You are welcome. Best to you.
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I knew families whose children were born both before the War and after it, leaving a seven year gap. It was as if there were two families–the one with the mom and the eldest child and the one with the mom and dad and the two later ones. People I knew seemed to have just picked up where they left off. I hope the same for Vera.
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Vera being so much younger than her siblings was not that unusual back then. Teddy was almost a stranger to her, for a large part of her life. But she is a sensible young woman, fortunately.
Best wishes, Pete.
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There is often that “change of life” baby, even now.
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(1) Albert had to face the CD situation. He’d already won the war of the Roses, so now he decided it was time to take on the Crazy Daisies.
(2) “No more digging in the rubble.” Albert passed that job to Barney, whose last name was Rubble.
(3) “Teddy told them he was doing well on his new battleship, but he still couldn’t say which one it was, and where he was in the world.” Not surprisingly, Teddy has a blind date with Destiny.
(4a) “At least half of the meat from the rabbits had to be used for trading.” Shouldn’t they be making and trading rabbit fur hats and coats? That’s where the real bunny money is!
(4b) This story is proof that war can be a hare-raising experience.
(4c) “Albert drew the line when he was offered tins of corned beef.” In fact, he eventually drew so many lines that he ended up with a picture of Jessica Rabbit.
(5a) “Then came the big news of a huge invasion…” Albert noted that the radio announcer had a husky voice. “He should have an operation for that.”
(5b) I know all about Cicely. Ms. Tyson has been acting in movies for nearly 65 years.
(6) Les “was a lot better off now the weather had warmed up.” / “Vera loved to read those [romantic] parts, and they made her feel all warm inside.”
Overheard…
Les: “Thanks to the weather, I’m getting warmer every day!”
Vera: “Thanks to your letters, I suddenly got a lot warmer!”
Les: “Okay, but I’m warmer than you are.”
Vera: “I don’t think so! Apollo doesn’t hold a candle to Eros!”
Les: “Bloody hell, Vera! Forget about mythology! The Sun’s rays of light truly bake the flesh!”
Vera: “Forget about that science crap, Einstein! Arrows of burning Love easily penetrate heart and soul!”
After this combative exchange, there was a cooling off period in their relationship…
(7) Bad citation: “Bert gave Viv a rabbit to take back for Roy’s mum to cook for them, and Elsie gave her half a tin of jam. Unfortunately, the rabbit hopped off the train when it was half way to Wales, and the jam got all moldy.”
(8) “That evening, Elsie and Vera started to take in some of their clothes.” It hadn’t rained enough to wash all of them. “We’ll get the rest of the clothes after the next rain.”
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Well done with the cartoon references. The Flintstones, and Roger Rabbit!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thinking ahead to say 1948, well after the war, there were still restrictions in place. And that is the time your National Health Service was put in place. Warmest regards, Theo
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Yes, even when I was born, some rationing was still in force. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Whoa! Are you saying that in 1952 there was still rationing?
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Yes indeed.
“Food in the immediate post-war years was often more strictly controlled than during the actual war. For instance bread was only rationed for the first time during the years of 1946-48 and potatoes briefly during 1947. Tea was still rationed until 1952 and then the following year sugar and eggs became freely available as did, finally, cheese and meats in 1954.”
https://flashbak.com/the-rationing-years-in-britain-1939-1954-21011/
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My goodness. I think most people, even those who know history, would be surprised that rationing went on so long. Your article is excellent, Pete. Thank you.
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Another great chapter, Pete!
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Thanks very much, Sue. I am so pleased that you like the story.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I certainly do!
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Another great chapter. I feel like I know all these people pretty well and have become very fond of them.
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If you are fond of them, Mary, then my work is done. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, but you have to keep on writing about them 🙂
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Another good chapter, Pete.
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Thanks very much, GP. 1944 is looming!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Another great chapter, Pete…so many people today have NEVER suffered, gone without, scarified for a greater good. Perhaps that’s why we are unable to do something as simple as wear a mask and stay away from each other. Vera’s story reminds me of that even chapter…
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Thanks, John. Yes, imagine having to wear a mask, then get bombed most nights while you sit in an iron shelter smelling of earth and damp. My mum used the phrase during the 1960s, “They don’t know they’re born’. The current crisis would have her in a rage.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Exactly Pete…people here fight about wearing a mask in public and spending more time at home watching tV?
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My mother would have said the same….,
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It was a frequently heard expression, Sue. Often directed at me. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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😳
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I’m beginning to wonder if after everything that’s happened (with more to come), if Les does make it home, will his and Vera’s relationship hold fast, or have they just been through too much?
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They hardly knew each other before he left, so it will be a strange return for both of them.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Another calm bit, before more storm no doubt.
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It will soon be 1944, so lots more to come. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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