Daisy sat quietly next to Bobby on the couch as Matt paced the floor. Pops smoked a seemingly never-ending cigarette. Mother occupied the fireside chair. Daisy saw how tight with apprehension her face had become over the past few months.
She knew this was an important day. More important even, than her tenth and Bobby’s eleventh birthday back in the summer. Practically every household in Britain, Pops had said, were tuning in to hear Mr Chamberlain speak.
‘The invasion’s begun,’ said Matt heavily as he paused by the fire which had been lit early that morning to ward off the first chill of autumn. ‘The government have no choice but to announce this soon.’
‘Is there any chance we’ll be kept out of it, Nicky?’ asked Mother.
‘I had been hoping so,’ replied Pops. ‘This disaster has been condemned by almost every sovereign state. The Poles are in a terrible fix. Russia is aiding and abetting Germany, damn it. Tearing apart the spoils like wild dogs.’
‘The Poles are helpless,’ agreed Matt fiercely. ‘The French guns are pounding the German lines on the Western Front, but they haven’t an earthly without back-up.’
Daisy listened to her family discussing international events, fearing that sooner or later and probably sooner, that horrid word ‘evacuation’ would crop up. Though their parents had done the very best they could in trying to prevent the talk of war, a day had rarely gone by without a mention.
‘We’ve no time to waste,’ said Mother with a studied look at Daisy. A meaningful, ‘you do understand look’. A silent message that Daisy didn’t want to understand at all. So she averted her eyes swiftly and settled them on Pops.
‘We must make provision for you and Bobby, very soon,’ he explained. ‘To keep you safe. Out of harm’s reach.’
‘You mean we’re to be evacuated?’ said Bobby, giving voice to Daisy’s own fear.
‘Just until things have settled,’ confirmed Mother. ‘Aunt Pat and Grandma have your room ready. Won’t it be good to be in Wattcombe again?’
Daisy would have once welcomed the idea. But evacuation was different. Evacuation wasn’t holiday. It felt more like punishment.
‘Cheer up, you two,’ said Pops with a forced smile. ‘Think of the fun you’ll have when you meet up with old friends.’
‘All the games of Mahjong and Snap you’ll play,’ added Mother. ‘And there’s the Webber’s farm and all their animals.’
‘How long do we have to stay?’ Daisy asked.
Pops slapped his hands jovially on his knees. ‘Just a few months, I guess. You’ll manage that, won’t you?’
A few months, thought Daisy despairingly. A few months! How was she possibly going to bear it?
‘What’s up?’ Bobby whispered in the darkness. ‘You should be asleep. Everyone else is.’
Daisy had curled herself into a ball in the fireside chair. She was watching the last little bursts of crimson die under the ash in the grate. She had lost count of time. It must be the dead of night. Today had been like another bad dream, only this time she couldn’t wake up.
‘I can’t sleep either,’ said Bobby as he sat on the floor and hugged his knees. ‘At least we’ll be together in Wattcombe.’
‘I shan’t see Sally for ages.’ Daisy sniffed. ‘I don’t even know where she’s gone.’ She was feeling very sorry for herself. ‘I don’t want to leave home,’ she whined.
‘It’s for our own good,’ replied Bobby, gazing into the fire.
‘You sound like Pops.’
‘Pops told me even the factory might have to close.’
‘Why? Because of the bombs?’
‘Not really. The machinery’s old and needs replacing. It’ll cost a lot of money to buy new.’
Daisy had been so preoccupied with her resentful feelings that she had hardly given a thought to the factory.
‘Pops is meeting up with some important men soon, hoping to save the factory.’
‘So he won’t be driving us to Wattcombe?’
‘I doubt it,’ replied Bobby and jumped to his feet. ‘He has more important things to consider than us.’
‘I wouldn’t mind going on a train.’
‘We’ll have to see.’ Bobby nodded towards the stairs. ‘We’d better get some sleep. It’s Mr Chamberlain’s announcement tomorrow.’
Daisy felt sure she wouldn’t sleep. Why hadn’t Pops talked to her about the factory that day he was working at home? Once again she felt left out, just because she was a girl.
CHAPTER 20
THE NEXT MORNING breakfast was eaten hurriedly in order to be ready for the Prime Minister’s announcement at eleven o’clock. But as the time drew close, there was a knock at the door.
‘I’ll get it,’ said Matt and dashed to the hall. He returned with Amelia by his side. ‘We’d like you to know that a week ago I asked Amelia to marry me and she has accepted. Amelia, show everyone your ring.’
Amelia, blushing to the roots of her hair, stretched out her left hand. A simple ring with a single pale jewel glimmered on her finger.
‘Oh, Amelia - that’s beautiful,’ began Mother and was about to stand when Matt continued. ‘The other thing is, I’ve joined the airforce and am now a member of the Air Defence Cadet Corps.’ He coughed lightly. ‘At least, I signed on the dotted line and await my orders.’
There was a united gasp. Daisy stared at her brother and his wife-to-be. Not that she didn’t want Matt to marry Amelia. She was reconciled to this as lately they had been inseparable, not wanting to be in anyone else’s company but their own. But if Matt had joined the airforce then he was sure to have to go away.
‘I hope you’ll all support us,’ said Matt hurriedly, holding Amelia’s waist tight. ‘We love each other and want to be together for the rest of our lives after this bash is over. Amelia is one hundred percent behind my decision to fly.’
Daisy saw Mother put a handkerchief to her eyes. Her shoulders were shaking and Pops got up from his chair. He paused by Matt and Amelia. ‘Well done, you two,’ he said quietly. ‘Grand news.’ He took Mother’s hand and helped her to
