Happy Birthday: Part Twenty-Four

~ beetleypete

This is the twenty-fourth part of a fiction serial, in 745 words.

The train journey seemed to take forever. It involved changing trains twice, and even travelling part of the way on a bus, due to a bridge being damaged by bombing. There were no spare seats, but Hettie chanced leaving the compartment to use the toilet at the end of the carriage, as people were too polite back then to take her seat and leave a woman standing.

On arrival at Aberdeen, there was a military vehicle waiting to take her and two men in army uniform. The driver was a military policeman, and checked their names off a sheet attached to a clipboard he was carrying. She sat in the back with one of the army officers. He politely introduced himself as Captain Holland, then added, “But please call me Dominic”. It was dark by the time they arrived at a checkpoint also manned my Military Police, and the car was waved through when they recognised it.

As the driver unloaded their luggage, they went through the double doors into the grand mansion to be greeted my a dour Scotswoman. “I’m Mrs Fraser, head housekeeper. There is tea and sandwiches for you in the dining room, I’m afraid it’s too late for anything hot. When you have had your fill, you can find me in the kitchen and I will show you to your rooms. The two gentlemen will be sharing, we are at full capacity”.

Captain Holland was very polite, offering her the sandwiches before taking any. On her part, she poured the tea for them, though the other officer didn’t appear to bother about any social niceties. But he nodded when he accepted the cup of tea. “Lieutenant Kaminsky, army of Poland. My English not good, sorry”. Hettie smiled at him, happy to realise why he had seemed to be stand-offish.

Her room was almost at the top of the house, a long way up the stairs. It was basic, but quite large. As well as a single bed there was a small desk and one chair under the window, a small wardrobe, a dressing table with a decent mirror, wash-stand and bowl, and a bedside cabinet with a lamp on it. Mrs Fraser seemed more relaxed than earlier.

“You’ll have to use the one chair for the dressing table and desk. The usual facilities are at the end of the corridor. If I were you, I would get there early, as the hot water will run out after a few others have used it. You get your bedding changed every Friday, and clean towels twice a week. Breakfast is from seven until eight, no later mind. You can find out the rest in the morning”.

The next morning Hettie was in the bathroom early, having left the curtains open so the light would wake her. In the dining room, she served herself breakfast from the items laid out on hotplates, and joined Captain Holland who stood up and pulled out a chair for her. There was no sign of the Polish officer. Holland had already eaten, but stayed around for some more tea and to exchange pleasantries with her.

“I take it you are on the staff here, Henrietta?” She had introduced herself formally the previous evening, and told him she was to be a Morse and radio instructor but it was her first day. “Well then first day for both of us, and I am likely going to be one of your willing pupils”. Three other men at the end of the dining table hadn’t said anything to them. They looked tough, and were wearing combat clothing with no rank markings. Dominic Holland was trying to be charming.

“Can I please ask that you are not too tough on me, teacher? I can speak fluent French, but sadly know nothing about codes. Anyway, I should leave you to enjoy your breakfast in peace without me rambling on. Perhaps I will see you after lunch?”

As he walked out of the room, Hettie couldn’t help thinking that he was a handsome man with excellent manners. He made her feel common, reminding her of where she came from. Even trying hard to speak nicely, she couldn’t overcome her rather harsh accent, and to her ears it seemed false. Before she had time for a second cup of tea, a woman in uniform came looking for her.

“Mrs Wheeler? I am the camp commandant’s aide. He has requested me to take you to him.”

26 thoughts on “Happy Birthday: Part Twenty-Four”

  4. (1) Jimmy D. Woolworth used to be a store manager. After the war, he wrote a play entitled Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Aberdeen, Aberdeen.
    (2) Dominic later wrote songs about the war. They were published as Mr. Holland’s Opus.
    (3) Some of the women were popular in bed. “TGIF” referred to their gratitude and relief that there was a change of bedding every Friday.
    (4) Bad citation: “Hettie joined Captain Poland, who spoke English, for breakfast. There was no sign of the Hollander, who spoke French.”
    (5) Dominic: “Can I please ask that you are not too tough on me, teacher? You can whip me like a horse that slowed if I’m bad at Morse code. But please don’t waterboard me. Everyone in the Holland family has a mortal fear of water!”
    (6) The rooms in the mansion were often raided. The Night They Raided Kaminsky’s, they found a stripteaseuse hiding in the closet.
    (7) The camp commandant’s aide spoke to Mrs. Wheeler. “Do you have a hubby?”

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      1. There are inventive ways to learn language! And if he’s going under cover he ought to have some fun first. My aunt told me about Polish officers!!!

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