Eddie opened her eyes. ‘We’re sitting in view of the bus stop, Dudley. So, since we don’t know which way to walk, I suggest we hang on for…’ she looked at her watch, ‘fifteen minutes. There’s bound to be a bus on, or around, the hour – and it’s bound to go to the aerodrome. If not, I’ll ask the station master how we get there.’ She closed her eyes again. Claire put her bag down and sat on it again. ‘These damned bags are so heavy we probably wouldn’t get very far walking anyway.’ Eddie sighed.
Still agonising over whether they should walk or wait for a bus, Claire spotted an open-topped sports car drive into the station car park and pull up in front of the bus stop. The driver, a tall good-looking chap of about thirty, got out of the car, walked jauntily round to the passenger door, and opened it. Claire nudged Eddie. She tutted and opened her eyes. A beautiful blonde who could easily have been looking out from the cover of Vogue magazine swung her long slim legs out of the car. Wearing the sheerest of stockings, a blue silk dress and jacket, navy high heels and matching handbag, she offered one white-gloved hand to the man, while holding onto a white pillbox hat with the other. Helping her out of the car, the man slammed the door and slipped his arm round her waist. Oblivious to a couple of WAAFs scrambling to their feet, the couple strolled into the station.
‘Bet you five bob he’s RAF.’
‘I think you’re right, Ed. He’s got the swagger.’
‘When he comes out I’m going to ask him if he knows which buses go to Coltishall.’
‘Bet he doesn’t. By the look of that sports car he’s probably never taken a bus.’
Eddie smiled wryly. ‘Tactics, Dudley. I was thinking more along the lines of him taking pity on us and giving us a lift. We haven’t seen a ruddy bus in an hour. They might have stopped running.’
Claire put her hand up and shaded her eyes. ‘I’d rather ask the ticket clerk than ask him. If he is RAF, he’ll be an officer--’
‘Shush, he’s coming.’
‘How do you know it’s him?’
‘He’s got a distinctive walk. Listen.’
As the man stepped out of the station’s dark entrance into the Norfolk sunshine, Claire and Eddie saluted. He took a step back. They had clearly taken him by surprise, but he recovered quickly, returning the salute with a rakish smile. Eddie’s mouth fell open. Claire looked at her, expecting her to speak, but she was just staring at him. ‘Excuse me, sir,’ Claire said. His eyes twinkled and Claire felt herself blush. She stood as tall as she was able and began again. ‘Excuse me, sir, my friend and I were expected at RAF Coltishall this morning. We were told an RAF vehicle would collect us, but there must have been a hold up because we’ve been here an hour and no vehicle, other than yours, has stopped at the station, not even a bus.’ She felt flustered and knew she was waffling.
‘What my friend is trying to say,’ Eddie said, having at last found her tongue, ‘is do you know if this is the right bus stop for RAF Coltishall, and if it is, do you know the times of the buses that go there?’
The chap looked around the car park and back at Eddie. ‘It appears there is only one bus stop. As for buses going to Coltishall, I haven’t a clue. But there’s a bus coming,’ he said, looking in the direction of the road. The girls followed his gaze. ‘You could ask the driver. Ooops! I’d better move the old jalopy from the bus stop.’ He ambled over to his car, saluted, swung himself onto the driver’s seat and sped off.
‘Scrump-tious!’ Eddie said under her breath as she returned the salute.
‘Too cocky in my opinion,’ Claire said, before running over to the bus. ‘Do you go to RAF Coltishall?’
‘Yes, but we’ve got to wait for the ten-past train to come in,’ the clippie said, pushing past them. ‘Just going to refresh my lipstick,’ she winked.
Eddie stepped onto the bus, threw her kitbag and gas mask into the luggage compartment and took a seat. Claire did the same. ‘Oh well, we’re one step nearer. Shouldn’t be long now,’ she said, joining Eddie. Looking out of the window, Claire saw the small red sports car heading towards them. ‘What on earth…? Look Ed, the RAF officer has come back.’
‘Well?’ he shouted from the driving seat. ‘Do you want a lift to Coltishall or not?’
Like a pair of giggling schoolgirls, Claire and Eddie pushed and shoved each other, took their belongings, and left the bus. By the time they got to the car the officer had opened the boot and was back behind the wheel. They hauled their bags in and ran to the passenger door.
‘Oh dear,’ Eddie said, ‘it’s a two-seater.’ She looked at Claire. ‘Shall we toss for it?’
‘No need,’ the officer said, pushing the passenger seat forward. ‘Clever, isn’t it? I can’t do it with mine, I need the leg room, but now there’s space for one in the back, if you don’t mind sitting sideways.’
Eddie stood to the side, grinning. ‘I’ll sit in the back then, shall I?’ Claire said, pointedly. The officer didn’t get out of the car to open the door for her, so she opened it herself and clambered in. Eddie demurely slipped into the passenger seat and closed the door. With his unlit pipe in his mouth, the man put the car into gear and it roared off.
Holding onto her cap with one hand and clinging onto the back of Eddie’s seat with the other, all Claire could see from her half-sitting, half-lying position was sky. The car
