‘It was probably delirium,’ Mother pronounced doubtfully and began to pack away the cards.
CHAPTER 64
IT WAS past midnight when everyone went to bed. Daisy lay awake as she curled under the blankets on the couch. She still felt the glow of Christmas, as with the blackout curtains drawn, she could see the golden embers of the fire.
A country blackout didn’t seem so dark as it did in the city. Bobby and Will’s regular breathing from their makeshift beds on the floor, made her feel secure. Without the drone of overhead aircraft and the threat of raids, spirits had been uplifted today. The shock of the demolished cottage had been accepted but what would it be like in London, she wondered?
She thought of Sally again and wondered if Bobby was missing Grace? As for Sammy Berger, was he still working at the hospital? So much had happened in such a short time, yet it seemed an eternity since Pops and Uncle Ed had left for Milton Keynes. Had they too, celebrated Christmas in a different way?
Mother and Aunt Betty had been very brave. Daisy knew that just like her, they were homesick. They wanted to get back to London and hopefully, to Aunt Betty’s house where they planned to stay.
Her thoughts wandered for a while until she drifted to sleep. Perhaps she would dream of her card again and learn the meaning of the seed.
Daisy enjoyed the rest of the holiday, especially as the weather was good and the family made several visits to the village. Here they inspected Grandma and Aunt Pat’s prospective abode where the quaint little mews and its close location to the shops was unanimously approved.
Though Daisy’s opinion wasn’t sought, privately she was disappointed. There was no pretty garden or wicket gate and tumbledown shed. No woods to hide in, or fields full of cows to visit. Still, Grandma and Aunt Pat were satisfied and invitations given to visit as soon as they’d moved in.
So it wasn’t until Sunday that Uncle Leo eventually drove them home under an early morning sky that hung heavy with grey rain clouds.
‘Perhaps we should have waited a day or two longer,’ said Mother from the rear seat as they approached the edge of the city. ‘The Air Ministry wireless reports weren’t good, after all. Apart from one night’s grace, the raids are continuous.’
‘We couldn’t have burdened the Webbers any longer,’ replied Aunt Betty. ‘And anyway, I have to get back to work.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Uncle Leo resolutely. ‘Jerry won’t get their act together until the New Year, I’m sure.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ sighed Mother doubtfully. ‘Living in the country for a while is wonderful, but you get a false impression of reality.’
Once the island was reached a cutting wind blew the smell of burning into an open window of the car. Daisy gazed out of her window, shocked to see the blitzed and wounded streets. Houses were boarded up or blackened by the smoke of incendiary bombs. People trudged wearily along, collars turned up against the cold.
‘Oh, Leo, it’s worse than we thought,’ whispered Aunt Minnie, leaning forward to study the grim view.
‘Much worse,’ agreed Aunt Betty just as a warden stepped into the road.
‘I hope he doesn’t ask where we’ve travelled,’ worried Mother. ‘We’ll get an awful ticking off.’
‘Stop!’ the warden bawled, thankfully distracted by a cyclist who almost collided with a pedestrian in the dusk. ‘Oi! Watch where you’re going. Get orf that bike and go home!’
‘Put your foot down, Leo,’ insisted Aunt Minnie. ‘He can’t stop us then.’
Daisy giggled as the car sped on while Bobby and Will made faces from the rear window.
‘Boys, no!’ reprimanded Mother. ‘He’s only doing his job. And we’re in the wrong anyway to have made an unnecessary trip.’
‘Well, as it happened, it was necessary,’ reasoned Aunt Betty. ‘Mother and Pat might have been in the cottage when it - ‘
‘But they weren’t!’ interrupted Aunt Minnie sharply. ‘I can’t bear to think of it.’
‘Have we any food at the house?’ Mother asked, changing the subject.
‘Maybe a tin or two.’
‘Let’s hope the water’s on.’
‘It will be nice to sleep in our own beds again.’
‘Good grief! There’s the warning siren already!’ exclaimed Uncle Leo and crashed the gears. ‘Thank goodness we’re almost there.’
Daisy felt a knot of anxiety tie in her stomach. She knew everyone else was anxious too. They could barely wait until Uncle Leo pulled up outside Aunt Betty’s house.
‘No damage,’ he said, glancing out of the window. ’At least, not outside.’
The car emptied in seconds and Aunt Betty let them in. They stood staring at the dust and soot-streaked interior. ‘Well, other than being filthy, the house seems undamaged.’
‘There’s no time to waste,’ said Uncle Leo hurriedly. ‘We’ll take the same things out to the shelter as before.’
‘Daisy, help Bobby and Will to carry the blankets and pails,’ said Mother. ‘I’ll bring Mrs Webber’s food parcel.’
Once again, everyone scrambled to perform their tasks and it was not long before they were all safe, but wondering what the night would bring.
CHAPTER 65
DAISY’S fond memories of the farm soon faded as the raids deafening assault began. The roar of the aircraft above vibrated the metal casing of the Anderson and shook the earth violently. Blankets were thrown to the ground and Uncle Leo yelled at the top of his voice.
‘Get down, hands over your heads!’ A command that everyone obeyed. They collapsed in a tangle, their gasps of shock and fear masked by the explosive sounds outside.
Daisy was squashed between Mother and Bobby and Will was somewhere close by. It felt as though the roof of the shelter was about to fall in. Dust and dirt sprayed down relentlessly, causing everyone to cough and splutter. But no one dared move as wave after wave of aircraft deposited their lethal cargo on London.
The minutes turned into hours. Bitter cold and damp crept into bones and muscles as
