East End Angel Read Online Free PDF

those.’ Before the war he had been involved in the works to safeguard the underground system from flooding. Special flood gates and diaphragms had to be installed for use should a direct hit land on any of the lines. Jim had been called in by the LCC to work with the Chief Engineer’s department. Pearl didn’t understand much of what he’d described, but she’d read in the newspapers that it was work of vital importance.
    ‘I can’t help but wonder if I should’ve joined up,’ he murmured, lost in thought.
    A shiver went through her. ‘You know how I feel about that.’
    ‘You’re right. This is our last day,’ Jim agreed, sliding his arm tightly around her. ‘What mischief are we gonna get up to?’ He eyes were full of teasing and Pearl shivered as his hand went on her knee.
    ‘Can’t wait to get off the bus now,’ she giggled.
    ‘Mrs Nesbitt, you’re a naughty girl.’
    ‘And we’ve got the rest of our lives to be naughty in, thank God,’ Pearl nodded as she squeezed even closer.
    For the next hour Pearl tried to enjoy the coastal ride, but each time the bus stopped, more soldiers got on. She knew that Jim was feeling uncomfortable. He was the only man in civvies apart from an elderly man at the back. But Pearl didn’t care.
    I’m never going to end up like the clippie she told herself firmly, with only memories to keep me going. I’m never going to be one of these women who say they’re proud of their dead husbands for giving their lives for their country. I’m going to be selfish and make certain that my man doesn’t die. I’m going to make sure we’ll have our lives in front of us. That we’ll have babies who grow up with a dad.
    At last the soldiers got off. Pearl felt Jim relax. They began to talk about their new home. It was only four rooms above Hemsley’s, the corner grocer’s shop in Pride Place. A month’s rent had been paid in advance and some bits of furniture moved in.
    ‘It’s been a wonderful honeymoon, Jim,’ Pearl sighed, snuggling up. ‘I’ll never forget it.’
    ‘Nor will I.’
    Pearl breathed out a grateful sigh, thinking how every moment was so precious. And when they went home, unlike many couples, who had to live with their parents, they had a home of their own. Life was good. Even the memory of Ricky had faded. Life was taking on its rosy glow again.
    She laid her head on Jim’s shoulder. Tonight she was going to wear her new nightdress. It was silk, bought from a black market trader at Cox Street. He’d told her it was the last bargain he was likely to get, as the docks were so quiet with no merchant ships coming in. Instead of wearing it on their first night, she’d saved it for their last. She couldn’t wait to see Jim’s face.
    Soon the promenade was in sight. Tonight they would be in each other’s arms once more.
    ‘Well, ducks, how are you two lovebirds getting on?’ Gwen Hemsley, their landlady and owner of the corner shop over which they lived, returned Pearl’s ration book over the counter.
    ‘We’re going to decorate, if you don’t mind.’
    ‘Not at all. I’ll bet you make it nice.’
    ‘I’ve got lots of ideas, which is more than I can say for our dinner.’ Pearl looked at what she’d bought. Spam, potatoes and dried egg. Last year, meat including bacon, butter, cooking fat, sugar and tea had been put on the ration, and this year, Jim’s favourites – eggs and cheese – had gone the same way. The Ministry of Food was responsible for the fair sharing of food amongst the public, and at a price everyone could afford. But people were noticing that the weekly rations were beginning to vary as foods became more and more scarce.
    ‘Sorry, love, but if you’d have come earlier, you could have had a piece of fish.’
    Pearl hated queuing. There were always complaints from the long lines of women standing outside the shops. Although potatoes and fish, as yet, were not rationed, the fish was unpredictable. There was only so much a