Secrets and Shadows Read Online Free PDF

working now, with the men off at war. What is she doing?’
    ‘She’s a riveter in a factory.’
    ‘Really? What does she make?’
    Mr Pawlek said it casually, his light blue eyes looking at Barry in enquiry.
    Barry hesitated briefly. Mum’s job was in an aircraft factory, and people were always being told not to gossip about anything to do with the war effort. ‘Loose lips sink ships’ was the phrase on the government warning posters that urged people not to discuss military matters. But Grace Ryan had asked Barry all about Mum’s job when they had listened to records yesterday, and Mr Pawlek was looking at him now with the same kind of sympathetic curiosity. ‘She’s making aeroplane parts for the RAF,’ Barry answered.
    ‘Spitfires, is it?’
    Barry was surprised at the extent of Mr Pawlek’s interest. But then again he was Polish, and Poland had been invaded by the Nazis, so it was understandable that he would be interested in how Britain’s Royal Air Force was waging war on Germany.
    ‘No, sir, Hurricanes mostly.’
    ‘A fine aircraft, the Hurricane. And brave of your mother to stay in Liverpool after the bombing. Is she working in the city itself?’
    ‘No, she works outside town. She has to get a bus.’
    ‘I was in Liverpool years ago,’ said Mr Pawlek. ‘Great city. What part does she get the bus to?’
    ‘I’m not sure, sir. I just know it takes about twenty minutes.’
    Mr Pawlek looked as though he was going to ask another question, but then he hesitated and nodded instead. ‘Very good. Well, I hope your mother gets holidays soon.’
    ‘Me too, sir.’
    ‘And a word of advice?’
    ‘Sir?’
    ‘I believe you’re quite good at football. Follow that up. Sport is a good way for someone … someone from outside to gain acceptance. Do you understand?’
    ‘Yes, Mr Pawlek. And thanks … thanks for the advice.’
    ‘You’re welcome.’ The drill master nodded in farewell, then moved off across the school yard.
    Barry stood unmoving for a moment, lost in thought. The conversation had gone in directions that he hadn’t expected. And as for the advice about gaining acceptance – did the teacher know that McGrath had been picking on him? Before he could consider it any more the bigger boy approached.
    ‘How’s it goin’ – fishface?!’
    Barry didn’t answer.
    ‘Cat got your tongue, Malone? You’d plenty to say a minute ago when you were being teacher’s pet.’
    Barry was tempted to argue but sensed that it would be better to ignore the other boy’s comments.
    ‘Maybe licking up to teachers is what you do in England,’ said McGrath. ‘But we don’t do it here. So catch yourself on. Or better still, go back to where you came from.’ He turned away and pushed past Barry, deliberately shouldering him.
    Barry regained his balance and watched him go, knowing that sooner or later he would have to deal with the other boy’s bullying. The problem was, he didn’t know how he could.

CHAPTER THREE
    ‘T ry every cake in the shop!’ said Nellie.
    Grace looked at her new boss disbelievingly.
    ‘Not all at once, of course. But you need to know everything we make. It’s easier to sell to customers when you can recommend things yourself.’
    ‘Great,’ said Grace, ‘I’ll work my way through them all.’
    It was Grace’s first day in the bakery. She was being trained in by the owner, Nellie Kinsella, a tall, thin woman in her sixties who was a friend of Granddad’s. For someone so tall, Nellie moved with quick, jerky motions, and she had a habit of staring people directly in the eye when giving her views. She had never married, and Granddad had said that her two passions in life were playing cards and smoking Sweet Afton cigarettes. Grace thought that she was going to like her. And despite the older woman’s quirky manner, Grace was impressed – after all, there weren’t that many women who ran their own businesses.
    Nellie had shown her around the back of the shop, where flour