‘What were you doing over the sea?’
He gave her a brief explanation.
‘I thought it must be something like that. I want to apologise for jumping to conclusions – well to apologise for everything really. I’m afraid I have a quick temper…’
‘I apologise for assuming that because you’re a girl you couldn’t be a decent pilot.’
He didn’t say he was sorry for sending her face first into the dirt. A surge of annoyance made her forget she had rung up to put things right.
‘You should have noticed on your pre-flight check that the compass wasn’t working. I take it that was lack of experience and not stupidity.’ Hardly a conciliatory thing to say in the circumstances.
*
Jack bit back what he’d been about to say. His uncle thought a lot of this girl and he didn’t want to sour their relationship by f-ing and blinding at her.
‘I learned to fly ten years ago and have been working as a stunt pilot in America for the past three years.’
There was no response from the other end and for a moment he thought she’d hung up. Then she responded and sounded quite different.
‘Really? I’d love to do that but women aren’t considered good enough.’
‘A biplane like the Moth isn’t fast enough for all the stunts I did, but I could teach you a few if you’d like me to?’
Why the hell had he offered to spend time with this girl? She wasn’t his type; he went for a curvaceous blonde dame while she was tall, skinny and dark. He had enquired about joining the RAF and was told he wouldn’t hear anything for a couple of weeks so he had time to kill. He might as well spend it teaching her to loop the loop. In fact, he might actually enjoy it.
‘That would be wonderful but I’m not sure Joe would approve. Anyway, Mr Reynolds, we’re too busy to use one of the aircraft for something so frivolous. Sid, our ground engineer, only just keeps up with the running repairs as it is.’
This wasn’t the answer he’d been expecting. Calling his profession frivolous made him decide to pursue it. He wasn’t used to being turned down and this just made him more determined to get his own way.
‘Okay, your loss. Good night, Miss Simpson.’ He hung up before she had time to respond and hoped his rudeness had annoyed her.
When he rejoined his uncle and aunt in the front room he’d already come up with a scheme that would further his plans. ‘Uncle Joe, your Miss Simpson says you’re run off your feet. How about I give you a hand until I leave? I’ve got my instructor’s certificate and am also a qualified ground engineer.’
‘I didn’t like to ask, lad, but your help would be appreciated. Mind you, the way things are going in Europe I reckon there’ll be a war before long and then everything will change.’
‘That’s why I came back – I didn’t want to be stranded on the other side of the Atlantic and not able to do my bit. I’m going to volunteer as they’ll be taking as many suitable young men as they can find when it starts. You wouldn’t believe the rigmarole I went through. They checked my logbook from cover to cover and if they weren’t desperate for qualified pilots I don’t reckon they’d take me. I’m not officer material.’
‘Whatever do you mean, Jack? Why wouldn’t they want you in the RAF?’ His aunt seemed really upset that he might have been slighted by the toffee-nosed blokes who’d interviewed him.
‘I don’t have the proper education. Remember I left school without qualifications and Uncle Joe was my instructor, not some posh geezer. If you hadn’t given me the chance I’d be working in a factory and never had the opportunity to do what I did in the States.’
‘I promised my sister I’d take care of you, lad, and was glad to do so. Joan and I weren’t blessed with kiddies of our own and we think of you as a son. Nothing’s too good for you, Jack.’
They were right – they were the only family he had. ‘Thank you, both of you. I’ll not let you down. Now, tell me about this Ellen Simpson. I’ve never met a female pilot before – it’s not the sort of thing you think a girl would be interested in.’
His uncle explained how the girl had become part of his business, and the more he heard about the family the more intrigued he was. ‘From what you’ve said, Uncle Joe, Glebe Farm is one of the biggest in the area and her old man isn’t short of a bob or two. He isn’t top drawer but must be wealthy or he couldn’t have afforded to send his children to those schools you mentioned.’
‘Fred Simpson has plenty of cash tucked away. He could buy a grand house if he wanted and mix with the rich folk, which would please his missus. However, he’s not like that and that’s been a bone of contention between them ever since they were married.’
‘I’d like to talk to the two RAF blokes before they go back – any idea how much leave they’ve got?’
‘Neil Simpson said they have to be back at base tomorrow evening so you should have plenty of time for a natter before they leave. Don’t know much about the other chap, but if he is a friend of Neil’s, he’s all right by me.’
Three
Ellie stared at the silent phone and then put it back on the hooks. What a very rude man he was – but as he was Joe’s nephew she would have to be civil to him if she saw him again. He’d probably come back to England to enlist in the RAF, so even if he did hang about the airfield, it wouldn’t be for long. All
