Rosie Goes to War Read Online Free PDF

bickering. Except this Nelly isn’t posh, just bad-tempered.
    What am I thinking? What is going on? Who are these girls, really? Maybe I’m having a breakdown or something. I pull out a chair and sit down, putting elbows on the table and my head in my hands.
    â€˜You all right, love?’ The dark-haired girl asks me.
    â€˜Um … I think so.’ I lift my head and look at her.
    â€˜Did you get something to eat on the train? We only had a couple of kippers for our tea. We’d’ve shared ’em with you if you’d got here earlier. I could do you some bread and dripping if you like?’
    â€˜Er, no thanks.’ I say, trying not to gag. I’ve heard about that stuff – dripping – it’s like horrible scummy fat that clogs up drains. Why would anyone even consider eating something so disgusting?
    â€˜Suit yourself. I’m May, by the way, and she’s me sister Nelly. What’s your name?’
    â€˜Really?’ I ask. ‘Are you winding me up?’
    Both girls are looking at me now.
    â€˜Do what?’ said Nelly, giving me a very familiar look.
    I shake my head, trying to clear it. ‘Nothing. I just know a couple of sisters called May and Nelly, that’s all.’
    â€˜Fancy that,’ laughs May. ‘D’you hear that, Nell? Two more sisters with our names.’
    Nelly doesn’t look impressed. ‘There’s loads of girls with our names.’
    God, does she ever cheer up? ‘I’m Rosie,’ I say.
    Nelly tuts. ‘That’s all we need. Another Rose. We’ve already got three at the factory.’
    â€˜The factory?’
    â€˜Cohen’s. Down Whitechapel. Where we work,’ says May. ‘Ain’t you coming to work with us tomorrow?’
    â€˜I suppose so,’ I shrug.
    May laughs. ‘Well either you are, or you ain’t. Don’t you know?’
    I look at the two girls, wondering what they’d think if I told them the truth – that I’m in the middle of some sort of mad dream; a dream where my Gran and Great-aunt are teenage girls who think I’m going to work with them tomorrow.
    â€˜I … er …’ What can I say? Out of the corner of my eye I see the kettle on the stove. ‘Can I have a cup of tea, please?’
    The sisters look at each other, eyebrows raised.
    â€˜It’s just as well you asked,’ Nelly says to me. ‘You could die of thirst waiting for someone to make one in this house.’
    Oh. My. God. I can’t help it and start to giggle. This is hysterical. It’s just too amazing. May starts laughing too, even though she has no idea what it’s about. Nelly just glares at me, all annoyed.
    â€˜Sorry,’ I say, trying to calm down. ‘I don’t mean to be rude. But you sounded just like someone I know.’
    â€˜You’re all right,’ says May. ‘I’ll put the kettle back on. We want one as well. It’s no trouble. Once you settle in, you can take your turn brewing up. I hope you’ve got your ration book.’
    I think about the papers in the suitcase. Gran mentioned a ration book when we looked through it. ‘Yes. It’s in my case,’ I tell her. I hope it’s still there.
    â€˜Right,’ says Nelly. ‘We’ll need to register you at our shops. You can share what we’ve got for now, but there ain’t much in the pantry, so the quicker we get you sorted out, the better.’
    â€˜Did you remember to bring your gas mask?’ asks May. ‘I’m always forgetting mine. The wardens round here give you a right telling off if they see you without it.’
    â€˜There’s one in the case,’ I say.
    â€˜Well it’s no good in there, is it? Make sure you get it out and have it somewhere handy,’ says Nelly. God, she’s so bossy.
    â€˜OK,’ I say, feeling a bit lost, and tired of all this. ‘Whatever.’ I really don’t care.