Just then there was a knock at the front door. When Daisy opened it, she was surprised to find Amelia standing there, looking as though she hadn’t had a wink of sleep all night.
‘Have you heard from Matt?’ Amelia gasped and not waiting for an answer, rushed past Daisy to the living room. ‘Mrs Purbright, is there any news?’
Daisy watched Mother take Amelia’s hands and guide her to the couch. They sat down together and Mother shook her head. ‘Nicky is going to phone from the factory. I … I’m sure Matt isn’t on flying duties yet.’
‘But there’s aircraft overhead,’ protested Amelia. ‘Smoke is coming from the estuary by Tilbury and Purfleet.’
Pops gently patted her back. ‘There, there. We mustn’t jump to conclusions. I’ll go now and phone the airbase.’
A little while after he’d gone, Bobby rushed in. ‘Postie gave me this letter for Pops,’ he said, handing it to Mother, who propped it on the mantel.
‘Did Postie say anything about the bombing?’ asked Amelia urgently.
‘He reckons he saw a plane go down.’
Amelia started. ‘Was it one of ours?’
Mother wiped a tear from her eye. ‘That’s enough now, Bobby. We must wait until Pops gets back with accurate news.’
So this is what war feels like, Daisy thought as she watched Amelia and Mother hug each other. Hitler had sent his planes to bomb Britain and no one knew quite what to do or say.
When Pops returned with the news that Matt was still not on operational duties, there were sighs of relief. But everyone suspected this wouldn’t last for long.
Each day Daisy and Bobby watched from the garden as the Spitfires and Hurricanes flew south towards the coast. Since everyone was living in a state of emergency, the schools had closed. Even Daisy’s eleventh birthday passed without a party because of the intense rationing.
One evening in late August, the newly appointed prime minister, Winston Churchill, addressed the country. “Never in the field of human conflict,’ he broadcast when speaking of Britain’s young airmen, “was so much owed by so many to so few.”
This brought a sob from Amelia as the announcer continued.
“The success of our airforce in the battle for Britain in deterring enemy bombers is attributed to a radio device invented by our scientists. Capable of detecting the presence of enemy aircraft at a distance of seventy-five miles, our fighters become airborne long before the Luftwaffe appears.”
‘We’ve done it!’ Pops exclaimed. ‘We’ve actually done it!’
‘Who did what Pops?’ Daisy enquired.
‘I can’t say exactly, but this is wonderful news.’ He went to Mother and embraced her. ‘I was certain it would happen. And it has.’
‘Yes, Nicky, you were right,’ Mother agreed quietly. ‘I’m very proud of you.’ She tucked her handkerchief into her sleeve. Daisy saw her square her shoulders and smile in a sad way. ‘You had better tell the children and Amelia. At least, tell us what you can.’
Pops nodded, still clutching Mother’s hands.
Daisy’s heart beat faster. She sensed that this was to be another moment to remember as they looked expectantly at Pops.
‘There’s been a remarkable breakthrough in the war effort,’ Pops began, his voice thick with emotion. ‘I can tell you very little, only that this news is highly classified and Uncle Ed and I have been called up to the Ministry of Defence.’
Daisy frowned. ‘What does that mean?’
‘We may have to go away for a short while. The factory will be left in the capable hands of a staff committee, who will jointly govern our business in liaison with the government’s officials.’
Daisy held back her tears. Pops was leaving home. Now she knew how it really felt to be part of this dreadful, awful war, that Mrs Howard had warned her about.
CHAPTER 39
IT WAS a late Sunday in August, when Pops and Uncle Ed left home. All the family including Amelia had gathered in Poplar Park Row to wish them well and wave goodbye.
‘If only my dad was a spy too,’ Will said as he idly kicked a stone against the garden fence. Daisy, together with her brother and cousin, stood waiting for the government’s cab to arrive to take Pops and Uncle Ed to their unidentified location.
‘Pops isn’t a spy,’ insisted Bobby, who was craning his neck in order to watch for aircraft.
‘He must be, if it’s top secret.’
‘Lots of things are top secret in war,’ clarified Daisy. ‘Don’t go making things up again, Will.’
‘My dad only takes photographs and that’s not secret. They’re in all the newspapers for everyone to see.’
‘Photographs are meant to be looked at,’ Bobby said impatiently.
‘If my dad was a spy and went away,’ prattled on Will, ‘I could stay up late. He always makes me go to bed early.’
‘Oh, do stop it, Will,’ Daisy said crossly.
‘I know a lot about spies,’ continued Will oblivious to Daisy’s disapproval. ‘I read a book about a spy who took a pigeon with him behind enemy lines. He hid it in his coat and tied messages to its legs. When he got caught they shot him and the bullet went through the pigeon. There were feathers everywhere.’
‘That’s silly,’ said Daisy, screwing up her nose. ’You’re telling stories again.’
‘Am not. There was blood everywhere.’
‘Will, shut up, will you?’ Bobby nodded to the front door. ‘Everyone will be out in a minute. Come on. Let’s stand at the gate.’
Very soon Aunt Minnie, Aunt Betty and Mother appeared. They were all trying to look happy, but their smiles weren’t real. Uncle Leo stood with Uncle Ed and Pops, shaking hands and saying farewell as the large black car drew up.
Daisy rushed into her father’s arms. ‘I don’t want you to go,’ she mumbled.
Pops placed his hands on her shoulders. ‘Chin up, treasure. Help Mother all you can. Promise?’
Daisy nodded. ’I promise.’
He grasped Bobby and hugged him. ‘Take care of everyone while I’m away, son.’
There was not a dry eye as the cab drove off to a secret destination. Daisy saw Aunt Betty, who now wore
