The customer left with a thank you and Yvonne disappeared into the back room. She came out a minute later with a parcel and walked over and gave it to Jamie. “That’s a crayfish for your supper. It’s on me,” said Yvonne and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
He squeezed her arm in thanks, flashed her a big smile and then left the shop. “Some woman,” he thought. “It looks as though she wants to set the pace.” Jamie walked up to where he had parked the van, climbed in and started the motor. He drove down to the small garage and filled up with petrol before heading back to West Sanby village.
***
At the RAF base, Andy Hill finished writing letters to Alice, his parents and to Lutterworth. He knew that there would be a bus into Grimsby about 5.30 p.m. but he would have to wait until after 10.00 p.m. to get a bus back. He wondered what Lance was doing. Knocking on Lance’s bunk door, he got a sleepy response. Andy put his head around the door to see Lance swinging his legs off the bed and sitting up. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?’ Andy asked him.
Lance looked up. “Hadn’t really thought about it. What have you in mind?” he asked Andy.
“I’ve got to get some letters in to the weekend mail collection but don’t want to spend the whole evening in Grimsby to do it. Interested in going in and I’ll buy you a Chinese meal instead of us eating in the mess,” replied Andy.
“How about we ask Dan to come? Then we could have a couple of beers before driving back,” said Lance.
“Fine by me,” Andy responded. “I’ll look for him. What time shall we go?”
Lance then said, “In about thirty minutes. We can have a look around the town while it’s still daylight.”
Andy nodded a response and went to look for Dan. He found him in the laundry room washing some clothes and told him about the suggested plans. “I’ll be in for that. Give me fifteen minutes to finish here and I’ll get ready,” Dan responded.
Andy smiled and headed back to let Lance know and then get changed into civvies. Thirty minutes later the three friends were heading out of the base. They drove through the village and then turned north on the road to Humberston, passing through North Coates and Tetney villages on the way. There was a Bloodhound SAM squadron based at RAF North Coates and Andy wondered about trying to visit it. From Humberston they drove to Old Clee on the outskirts of Grimsby and then drove down Freeman Street towards the docks. “The squadron boys say there are sixteen pubs in Freeman Street,” said Dan, “and the game is to try and have a drink in every one of them. Apparently no-one’s done it yet.”
“Yes,” responded Lance. “I’m told that when the fishing fleet’s in port it’s best to avoid Freeman Street if you want to have a drink.” Andy added his comment to the effect that the street seemed pretty quiet so maybe the fleet is still out. At the end of the street, Lance turned left onto the road that led to the centre of Grimsby. The level crossing gates were closed and they waited while a train went through on its way to Cleethorpes. Smoke and ash belched from the locomotive as it picked up speed after leaving Grimsby station. The train passed through and the gates swung open. Traffic was able to move again. They passed Hewitt’s Brewery and the Transport Department and then into the main street. Seeing the post office, Lance found a parking spot and Andy got out of the car and posted his letters. He noted with satisfaction that there was a collection at 1.00 p.m. on the Sunday. Getting back in the car, they cruised up one street and then down another. It was quiet and there seemed to be only one cafe open so they decided to head for Cleethorpes. They passed the turn-off for the docks but it was now late afternoon and they kept on the road to Cleethorpes. As they drove down the promenade, the place was quiet. A few couples were walking along the front. Kiosks were boarded up for the oncoming winter months. They saw a Chinese restaurant and looked for a parking spot, parked and walked back to the restaurant. A cool breeze was picking up and there were white caps forming on the waves of the receding tide.
The restaurant was called the Wu Sen. Inside the restaurant it was warmer and they found a table away from the door. There were several couples and a family already eating or waiting for their meals. A pretty young Chinese woman came to take their orders. Fried rice, satay chicken, black bean beef and stir fried vegetables were ordered. Andy asked for a pot of jasmine tea and the young waitress nodded her appreciation. He also asked that they have chopsticks and a dish of fresh chilli sauce. The waitress set the table as she would for Chinese customers, again smiling her appreciation. The fried rice came in a tureen to keep it hot and the other meals in dishes so that the men could take from each dish. Other customers looked on with surprise and interest as the three men used the chopsticks and drank the tea in the Chinese manner. The waitress came and complimented them on their skill with the chopsticks and not being Chinese. Lance said, “We’ve
