‘Help!’ she screamed. ‘Help, someone!’
Mother joined in. ‘Help, help!’ they shouted together. ‘We’re in the shelter!’
‘Mother? Daisy? It’s me, Bobby!’
‘Oh, thank goodness!’ Mother exclaimed in relief. ‘Bobby, where have you been?’
‘I was with Grace when the siren went,’ he shouted back. ‘I stayed in her Anderson and came home as soon as it was safe.’
‘We were so worried,’ gasped Mother, ‘but you’re here now and that’s all that matters. Can you let us out?’
‘I can’t. The bricks from the chimney and the window frame are blocking the door.’
Daisy felt her mother stiffen. ‘Is there any other damage to the house?’
‘I don’t think so,’ said Bobby doubtfully. ‘There’s a kind of fog everywhere. I can’t really see.’
‘Then you must go for the warden. He’ll know what to do.’
Daisy forced back the tears. ‘Don’t be too long!’
When Bobby had gone, they sat on the bench. After so many hours trapped in the shelter there was no clean air to breathe.
‘One broken window and the fallen chimney is not a catastrophe,’ decided Mother. ‘But after last night, I’ve decided to send you and Bobby to Wattcombe. The docks are far too dangerous now.’
‘We don’t want to go without you,’ Daisy insisted.
Mother gave a little sob which she tried to disguise as a cough. ‘I’m afraid I’ve made up my mind.’
Daisy was too tired, hungry and thirsty to argue and quite desperate to sit on a proper toilet.
CHAPTER 42
‘STAND BACK FROM THE DOOR,’ shouted one of the men whose help Bobby had enlisted. ‘We’re shifting the debris.’
Daisy huddled with her mother at the back of the shelter, listening to the rumbles, bangs and bawled instructions of the men outside. There were many strange voices, though she couldn’t hear Bobby’s. But perhaps he too, had been made to stand clear.
After what seemed an eternity, but could not have been more than an hour, the door opened with a great crack. Light flooded the shelter along with an oppressive smell of burning. Swirling motes of dust skittered around as a group of men peered in.
‘All clear! Come on out now, missus. Take me hand an I’ll help yer.’
They were hoisted up the three brick steps and landed in the open air.
‘Mother! Daisy!’ Bobby hurled himself towards them. ‘I couldn’t find the warden, but this is a rescue squad helping to get people out of their bombed houses.’
Daisy wanted to tell Bobby that he was the best brother in the world, but decided a hug would do for now.
‘You all right, missus?’ enquired a man with a peaked cap and very few teeth.
‘Yes, yes, I think so. My daughter and I are unharmed, except for being a little shaken.’
‘You’re lucky,’ he replied. ‘Yer ‘ouse is still in one piece. An upstairs window’s gorn and so has the chimney but it don’t seem too bad otherwise. I’ve told one of me men to have a quick scout round and see if it’s safe inside.’
‘Are there any other houses damaged in Poplar Park Row?’
‘Some’s taken a bashing,’ said the man, pushing back his cap, revealing his heavily sweating face. ‘But we ain’t had no casualties.’ He pointed to the roof. ‘Looks like when yer chimney took a tumble it brought down the window beneaf’ wiv’ it.’
Daisy could hardly bear to look. ‘That’s my bedroom.’
‘Count yourself lucky, ducks,’ said the man unsympathetically. ‘It was one ‘ell of a night. Buggers was after the docks and got what they wanted.’
‘Do you know which factories were damaged?’ Mother asked.
‘No, missus. There’s fire crews fighting with the flames and rescue squads digging their way through the rubble on the docks. Gawd knows how many poor sods they’ll find underneath.’
Mother nodded silently.
‘You won’t ‘ave no gas or electrics indoors,’ he warned. ‘All the mains is turned off. But you might get a dribble of water from yer kitchen tap.’ He ran his hand over the shelter door. ‘I’ll get a bloke to fix this lock. Any other damage inside the ‘ut?’
‘No, the shelter stood up to the bombing. And we had a little refreshment to see us through.’
‘In that case, we’ll get on. Word of warning ‘afore I go. Kit out yer Anderson good and proper with supplies, ‘cos they reckon the buggers will be over again ternight. And t’morra. And Gawd knows for how long after. Gov’ment thinks ‘itler’s gonna drop more incendiaries so’s the Luftwaffe can see their way along the river. Then the perishers will follow up with ‘igh explosives. Tell you for nothin’, we’re gonna be lucky to turn the tables this time.’
‘Hurry,’ said Mother as the rescue party left. ‘Bring the basket, Daisy. If the man’s right, we shall need more than lemonade and a scone tonight.’
Daisy did as she was told, however she would rather be anywhere else than cooped up again in that small, smelly, dark space.
CHAPTER 43
INSIDE THE HOUSE the walls and floors were covered in a thick, clinging dust that had seeped into the upholstery and curtains. Even the ornaments on the mantel and the family photos in their frames were tarnished.
Daisy watched Mother trail despondently from one room to another, her hands clenched together in dismay. ‘However will I clean all this?’
‘We’ll help,’ said Bobby.
‘A mess is to be expected after such an attack,’ sighed Mother, lifting a cushion and quickly replacing it as a thick cloud of dust rose in the air. She inspected the windows, tracing her finger tips over the ugly brown tape she had stuck across them. ’Thank goodness the windows didn’t blow out and the tape held.’
Daisy was about to go up to her room, when Mother shook her head. ‘We’ll use the privy first and wash our hands and faces.’
After a visit to the privy which Daisy enjoyed immensely, then a quick wash in the kitchen sink, she followed Mother and Bobby into the hall.
‘Be
