A Sister's War by Molly Green (best books to read for self improvement TXT) 📗

‘Right, everyone else ready?’ She turned to Ronnie. ‘And yer can bring me some baccy.’

Ronnie was conscious of several boats queueing behind them, some of the boaters shouting what sounded like swear words about wenches, as she frantically tried to fathom out how this particular lock worked.

She’d managed in the end but as the two narrowboats approached the next lock and Ronnie was about to jump down onto the towpath a boater, bundled from head to toe in old clothes and a cap and standing on his roof, had put two fingers up at them and without a word gone on his way.

‘What a rude man,’ Sally said. ‘I gave him plenty of room.’

Dora, keeping an eye on Sally at the tiller, threw her head back and roared.

‘He weren’t makin’ no rude sign,’ she said between guffaws. ‘He were tellin’ us he’s left two locks ready for us.’ She lifted two fingers. ‘See – one, two. He were doin’ us a favour!’ She screamed with laughter again. ‘Yer need to learn the rules of the cut. That goes for you, too, Ver-ron-eek.’

It was the longest run of locks they’d experienced but luckily there’d been a nice lock-keeper who’d prepared the last three, to everyone’s relief. Ronnie would gladly have put her feet up with a cup of tea, but she still felt the most enormous relief that she wouldn’t have to be in Angela’s company for the next hour or two. The woman was causing an atmosphere by her withering glances at Ronnie, arguing with everything she said to the point where Ronnie kept her mouth closed. She wondered how Margaret and Sally, who saw a lot more of her, managed to put up with her overbearing attitude.

‘What’s up with our dear Angela?’ Jessica said as she and Ronnie left the towpath to join a hikers’ trail which led to the village.

‘She’s annoyed because Dora didn’t send me home.’

‘What!’ Jessica’s pretty mouth fell open. ‘Do you mean she ratted on you to Dora about the candle?’

‘Yes.’

‘Dear Lord, what on earth did Dora say? Did she hit the roof?’

‘She warned me about fires and told me being exhausted was no excuse. But you know, Jessica, I don’t think she likes being told what to do by anyone – least of all one of the trainees. Angela also told her I wasn’t seventeen.’

Jessica swung round. ‘Good God, how old are you, then?’

‘Well, I’m seventeen next month but I was two months away when I applied. It seemed so silly to be only a few weeks away from the minimum age, so I let them believe I was seventeen already. I was so sure I’d be an asset but I’m not at all sure about that any more.’

Jessica chuckled. ‘I’m sure none of us is an asset yet,’ she said, ‘but we’re bound to be at the end of our training.’ She looked curiously at Ronnie. ‘Did you tell Dora the truth about your age?’

‘Yes.’

‘And …’

‘She said it didn’t matter. And that she’d make a boater out of me one day.’

Jessica laughed. ‘Let’s hope she does it for all of us,’ she said, ‘although I worry about Margaret. She’s such a thin little waif. I think she’s finding this particularly tough.’

‘But she’s game,’ Ronnie said. ‘We’ll all have to help her as well as fatten her up.’

After the best part of half an hour the two girls reached the village with its pretty parish church and the usual smattering of local shops.

‘This one looks like it sells everything,’ Ronnie said, opening the door. Glancing round she took in the variety of items. Second-hand clothes swung on a rail over the newspapers and magazines, cakes and bread jostled with a large shallow box of cheeses and a bowl of eggs, tinned goods sat side by side with fresh vegetables and fruit, there was a bacon and ham slicing machine taking up a third of the counter, with a couple of shelves behind that held tobacco and cigarettes.

The middle-aged lady behind the counter put her pencil down and looked up, her expression sour and her brow furrowing.

‘Yes?’

‘Good afternoon,’ Jessica said firmly. ‘We would like to buy some condensed milk – six tins, if possible.’

Ronnie felt uncomfortable as the woman looked them up and down. What was this about country people being so friendly?

‘You’ll be the new trainees with Dora, I suppose.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’ Jessica gave the woman a bright smile. ‘We’ve moored close by, and now we’re all dying for a cup of tea.’

The woman pointed to a high shelf. ‘I have to use my steps, but you’re tall – you can reach it. But no more’n two, mind.’

‘Oh,’ Ronnie couldn’t help exclaiming. ‘Dora – I mean Miss Dummitt – said we were allowed several at a time.’

‘Your coupons,’ the woman demanded.

Jessica stuck her hands in her mac pockets and brought out an envelope. She glanced at it and tutted. ‘Drat! I thought I’d got them. This is my shopping list.’ She turned to Ronnie. ‘Did you bring them, by any chance?’

‘No, I thought you had them.’

‘I suppose you both know there’s a war on?’ The woman pursed her thin lips.

‘Yes, that’s why we’re learning to do this job,’ Ronnie said, ignoring the woman’s sarcasm.

‘Hmm. Was there anything else?’

‘Some potatoes and a cabbage …’ Jessica began. ‘Two tins of Spam, two tins of corned beef and a packet of rice, please. Oh, and some cheese and a dozen eggs.’

‘And you expect me to provide all that with no coupons, no ration book?’

‘If you could please let us have these things we’ll be back in the morning with the coupons, we promise.’ Jessica leaned over the counter. ‘Please.’

‘I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to do any such thing.’ The woman shook her grey head. ‘You can have the two tins of milk even though I shouldn’t be letting you – it’s just been rationed this week, but as it’s old stock I’ll turn a blind eye. And you can take a few potatoes and a cabbage. That