Goodnight Sweetheart Read Online Free PDF Page A

them blackout curtains, Frank, you tell her that she’s only got to say,’ her father responded sharply.
    ‘Never mind that. You remember to find out when you can have some leave, Frank, so that I can tell the vicar.’
    ‘Ronnie Walker was saying that on account of me being a qualified electrician they might put me into the Royal Engineers.’
    ‘Aye, and if’n you’d thought of it in time andgot yourself a job with the electric company you’d have been in a reserved occupation,’ June reminded him tartly.
    Unlike their father, and most of the other men in the cul-de-sac, Frank had been lucky enough to get a proper trade apprenticeship – thanks to his skill and his mother’s determination. And that was yet another reason why Mrs Brookes felt that June wasn’t good enough for her Frank, Molly suspected.
    ‘Now that’s enough of that, June,’ Frank rebuked her gently, adding too quietly to be overheard, ‘I want to do me bit, and I wouldn’t want anyone thinking any different. Especially not folk like your dad.’
    A couple of the women with young children were gathering them up and Molly went to help them.
    ‘No way am I letting mine be evacuated,’ Pearl Lawson was saying vehemently.
    The Government had sent out notices earlier in the year advising people of their plans to evacuate city children out of danger in the event of war, sending them to live in the country along with their teachers, who would make sure that they continued to have their lessons. Pregnant women and mothers with babies were also included in the evacuation plans, but the mothers of Chestnut Close, like many mothers up and down the country, were divided in their feelings about the planned evacuation. Some acceptedthat it was a necessary decision if their children were to be kept safe but others were openly hostile to it.
    ‘Aye, well, there’s no way I’m going to let mine stay here and be bombed,’ another said equally determinedly. ‘And besides, I don’t want mine missing out on their schooling and I’ve heard as how the Government will be closing down some of the schools here in Liverpool out of fear that they might be bombed. Why shouldn’t our kiddies have as good as posh kiddies get and be sent into the country where it’s safe?’
    Pearl Lawson’s next-door neighbour, Daisy Cartwright, chipped in, ‘It’s different for them. They’ll be going with their schools and not sent off to some strangers like ours.’
    It had been in the papers that some of the public schools based in cities were moving out wholesale to safer country locations where their pupils would board.
    ‘Ta, Molly,’ Daisy thanked her as Molly picked up the small toddler who had been making a determined effort to escape. ‘Is it true that you and Johnny Everton are engaged, only I heard it from his mam that you are?’
    ‘Yes,’ Molly confirmed, blushing slightly.
    ‘Well, you’re a bit on the young side, if you don’t mind me saying, and you’re gonna have to watch him. He’s gorra bit of an eye for the girls, from what I’ve heard,’ Daisy told her. ‘Marriage isn’t allus all that it’s made out to be, and onceyou’ve gorra couple of kiddies to think about it’s too late to change your mind.’
    Pearl, sensing Molly’s embarrassment, tactfully changed the subject. ‘Have you measured up for them blackout curtains yet?’
    ‘Yes, me and June are going to Lewis’s to buy the material tomorrow,’ Molly told her.
    ‘I’ve told my George he’s gorra make frames for the windows so that we can pin the stuff to them. Catch me mekkin’ curtains when I’ve enough to do as it is! And wot’s all this about not buying in food? Chance’d be a fine thing on what George brings home! Don’t know what we’d do if it weren’t for the allotment.’
    Leaving the women to chivvy their children out of the shelter, Molly went to rejoin her own family.
    ‘Has Johnny been round to see you, Molly?’ Frank asked her in a kind voice.
    ‘Yes.