The Home Front Girls: A heartbreaking and uplifting WW2 historical saga by Susanna Bavin

Author:Susanna Bavin [Bavin, Susanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

After three solid weeks during which there had been at least one raid virtually every night, on the night before Sally was to move to Chorlton there were no raids. She woke early on Saturday morning, refreshed and excited. Stretching luxuriously, she wriggled her toes. She was part of a new generation, the war generation, and they knew the importance of making the most of every single moment.

She got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast, marvelling at the thought that this time tomorrow she would be getting up in Andrew’s house. Credit where it was due, Mum put on a cheerful face. Was she under orders from Dad? It didn’t matter if she was. She was trying her best and Sally appreciated it.

The plan was to get packed, then Andrew was coming here later this morning. He and Sally would take the luggage by taxi to Chorlton. There had been some discussion as to who should pay for the taxi. Andrew said he should because he was taking Sally to her new home, but Dad wanted to because it was his duty to see Sally safely on her way. In the end Sally had stepped in and said she would pay because she was perfectly capable of standing on her own two feet.

She already had her ration book in her handbag. Mum had deregistered her from the local shops yesterday. Handing over your ration book to your new landlady was the wartime symbol of moving digs. To Sally it felt like a symbol of independence too.

While Dad went to the tobacconist’s, Mum helped Sally empty her drawers and the hanging-cupboard and produced paper bags for her trinkets and pieces of jewellery. Sally had taken her library books back yesterday evening and handed in her tickets. The next time she borrowed books, it would be in Chorlton. Dad had written a letter for her to show the librarian as proof of her change of address.

‘It feels as if every single detail of my life is altering,’ Sally told Mum.

‘It’s a big thing, leaving home,’ said Mum. ‘I was at home until I was in my thirties because of not marrying until later in life.’

‘You make it sound as if you were ancient.’

‘I was, by marriage standards.’ Mum’s face crumpled and she dashed away a tear. ‘This is a big change for Dad and me as well, our only child leaving home. The house is going to feel empty without you. I’m not saying that to make you feel bad,’ she added.

‘I know,’ Sally said softly. ‘There’s one thing that won’t change. How much I love you.’

‘Oh, Sally.’

Tears brimmed in Mum’s hazel eyes but her cheeks glowed with pleasure. Sally was about to hug her when there was a loud knock at the front door.

‘I’ll go,’ said Sally. ‘It’s a bit early for Andrew.’

But maybe he couldn’t wait any longer. She ran downstairs, opened the front door – and stared incredulously at Rod.

‘Is it true?’ he demanded, his bright-blue eyes flashing. ‘Are you moving in with that bloke?’

‘Not in the way you make it sound,’ said Sally.

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