Page 24 of Neighbors at War

‘My apologies. It is nothing.’ He gave a curt nod before leaving and closing the door quietly behind him.

‘Well, that was odd,’ Mrs Jeune mused. ‘Then again, some of them can be very strange.’

‘They can,’ Helen said, embarrassed in case he had caught any of their conversation. ‘I shouldn’t go on about Aunty Sylvia.’

The older woman stared at her sagely. ‘It’s perfectly natural you should worry. You had a dreadful shock when she was taken ill and, let’s face it, she is your only relative here.’

Helen was grateful to have someone other than her aunt and two friends to confide in. She knew, too, how lucky she was to have a job where she could occasionally take Bobby with her, and didn’t like to bother Mrs Jeune with her personal problems.

Insisting she was fine, Helen returned to her work, but was glad when the end of the day finally arrived. She removed her apron and dressed Bobby in his hat, woolly mittens and a coat that she realised with dismay was becoming rather too small for him. She had no idea where she might find another, and by the look of things he wasn’t going to be able to wear this one for very much longer.

‘I’ll be off now, Mrs Jeune,’ she said, taking hold of the pram and pushing it towards the kitchen door. ‘Hopefully my aunt or Mrs Hamel will be able to look after Bobby for me tomorrow.’

‘Don’t you fret about him, my girl. He’s a dear little soul and no trouble at all. He brightens up the place. I had noticed he’s getting a little big for that pram of his.’

Helen had been thinking the same thing. ‘I need to find him a pushchair, but I’ve no idea where to look.’ She didn’t add that she couldn’t afford to buy one.

‘I’m sure he’ll be fine for now.’

Helen smiled gratefully. She never used to feel guilty about things before having Bobby, but it amazed her how kind some people could be. She was pushing the pram out of the back door to leave the house when a deep voice called out to her.

‘Frau Bowman.’

She tensed. It was Leutnant Müller. His voice was quiet. Sensing that he had been waiting for her, she felt a chill pass through her.

She turned slowly. ‘Y-Yes?’

She noticed he was holding something wrapped in newspaper.

‘Please,’ he said, his voice hushed. ‘Take this.’ He glanced to his side to check they were still alone.

Helen’s grip on the pram handle tightened. Unsure what to do but aware she daren’t make a scene and draw attention to herself, she waited for him to continue. She looked down at the package he was holding. ‘I don’t think⁠—’

‘Please. Take it.’

‘What is it?’

‘Meat.’

She gasped. ‘I can’t take this, it’s stealing.’ It was her turn to check they weren’t being watched.

‘Nein. No. It is not. This is my food. I asked for it not to be cooked.’

She felt cornered and wished he would leave her alone. He was trying to be kind, but his familiarity intimidated her ‘I don’t understand.’

He looked shamefaced. ‘I hear you speaking to the cook before. About your aunt who is ill,’ he added when she didn’t react.

Helen grimaced. So she had been right to suspect he had overheard her conversation with Mrs Jeune. She struggled to explain her reason for refusing his kind gesture. ‘It doesn’t feel right to take it from you.’ She pictured her aunt, so frail now, and wanted more than anything to grab the package from him and run home with it.

‘I assure you it is acceptable. Your aunt needs this. I have a mother in Germany. I would not wish her to starve.’ He held it out towards her. ‘I must go. Take it. Please.’

She took a deep breath, hoping she wasn’t about to make a stupid mistake by following her emotions rather than her instincts. ‘I will, but only this time.’

Taking it from him, she tried to think where she might hide it.

He pointed to Bobby’s pram. Then, hearing Hauptmann Schneider shouting at someone from the front door, and not daring to waste any more time, Helen lifted the thin mattress near her son’s feet and quickly shoved the package underneath. With the blankets tucked back in, it was neatly covered. Helen quietly thanked him. ‘I’d better go.’

He seemed as relieved as she was that their covert conversation had ended.