Page 57 of Neighbors at War

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On their way to her home, Tony slowed as they neared the newsagents. ‘My father asked me to fetch an Evening Post.’

She accompanied him inside the small shop, noticing how bare the shelves were, now that there was no confectionery or British magazines. She wondered whether the deportation order she had translated might be in the local newspaper and decided to buy one to take home to her mother in case it was.

They paid for their papers and went outside. Both stared at the headline.

‘There it is,’ Tony said as Peggy gazed at the upsetting words. ‘Some of the people being made to leave have probably lived here for decades,’ he said, his voice solemn. ‘Their children will have been born here.’

‘And their grandchildren, in some cases,’ Peggy said miserably.

She felt his hand take hers. ‘Stop that.’

‘What?’

‘Blaming yourself.’

‘I can’t help it.’ She began walking, embarrassed in case anyone coming out of the shop might hear them.

Tony caught up with her and took her by the wrist, slowing her. ‘Peggy, all you’ve done is translate the words, nothing more.’

He was right, but she still found it difficult to come to terms with having any part in it.

‘You need to warn your friend Helen about this, too.’

Peggy realised she hadn’t told him about Helen’s visit the previous morning and what had happened since then. ‘I already have,’ she said taking his hand and walking on again. ‘In fact, there’s something I should probably tell you.’

Chapter Thirty-Five

HELEN

They decided between them that one of the Hamels would bring up something for Bobby’s lunch, and that if Ida thought it safe, she and Bobby should join the Hamels for their evening meal. Then, when he had been asleep for a few hours during the evening, Helen could go down to sit with the family for a while.

‘We’ll keep the hall light off,’ Ida said. ‘If we’re disturbed, no one will see you running upstairs while we stall them to give you and Bobby time to hide in the secret place.’

Helen felt slightly more settled, having spent her second day in their new home. Bobby hadn’t minded being there at all and seemed to think it was all a game, which was an enormous relief. He had played happily with his toys for most of the day and, deciding it would help them both to cope if they kept to a routine, Helen put him down for his nap at the usual time.

She heard the front door close and knew one of the sisters had arrived home. When it closed for the second time, she waited before taking Bobby downstairs, stopping on the top landing to listen in case she heard unfamiliar voices.

She heard the three women talking and could tell they were upset about something. Hoping it was nothing to do with her and Bobby, Helen nervously came downstairs and stood by the kitchen door.

Babs noticed her there. ‘They’ve published the order Peggy told us about. I hadn’t realised how severe it would be,’ she said, pointing to the headline on the newspaper lying on the kitchen table. ‘They’re sending all Englishmen aged between sixteen and seventy, as well as their poor families. Imagine that?’

‘But that’s a lot of people, surely?’ Helen asked breathlessly. ‘Men and women, too?’

‘And children,’ Ida said without looking up, her hand flying to her chest as she read on.

‘Children?’ Helen’s vision dimmed and she grabbed the back of Peggy’s chair, frightened she was about to pass out with fear.

‘Mum, really,’ Babs said, taking Helen’s elbow. ‘Here, come and sit down.’

Helen felt a glass of water being pressed into her hand. ‘Have a drink of this,’ Peggy said before sitting down again. ‘I thought I told you about this.’

‘You probably did, but the full scale of it can’t have sunk in. When do they have to leave?’ Helen began shivering, despite it not being cold.

‘Tomorrow,’ Ida said. ‘But lovey, you won’t have to go. Not now.’

Ida was right, Helen reminded herself. ‘Thanks to the three of you. Although I can’t help feeling dreadful for all these people.’ Something occurred to her. ‘They’re definitely going to come looking for me, aren’t they?’