The Uncertain Years Read Online Free PDF Page B

goodness knows how many others. Oh, they were all going to have a good laugh in the mess tonight.
    Upset that he had been trying to make a fool of her, she turned and, without saluting, marched back to the hut, not giving him a chance to say anything else. Men! Did they never grow up?
    ‘Oh – oh,’ Jane said when she saw Becky’s face. ‘You look furious.’
    ‘I am. These bloody men think we’re a joke, but when this war really gets going, they’re going to need us.’
    The other girls gathered round, wanting to know what had wiped the smile from Becky’s face. She told them, in great detail, giving release to her anger. Quite a few of them had had jokes played on them, and were sympathetic.
    ‘They didn’t make a fool of you, though, Becky.’ Jane gave her an admiring look. ‘I wouldn’t have known what was missing from that engine, but you did. I’d say their little game backfired on them.’
    Becky sighed, her anger seeping away. ‘I know, and if Ihadn’t seen that particular officer there, I’d have probably joined in the joke. It hurt to think he was trying to make a fool of me. He was the officer I saw when I went to sign on, and I liked him.’
    ‘Nice, was he?’
    ‘I thought so …’
    ‘Make yourselves decent,’ their sergeant bellowed from the doorway. ‘There’s an officer present.’
    The girls scrambled to stand to attention by their bunks. The sergeant nodded her approval and turned to someone standing behind her.
    ‘Please don’t take us back on the parade ground,’ Jane groaned under her breath.
    Becky kept her eyes straight ahead, and listened to the firm footsteps echoing on the bare hut floor. They were coming straight for her – she just knew it. She was in trouble. You didn’t cheek a colonel and then march away without permission. She should have joined in the joke and laughed. Fool, fool! She’d thrown away any chance she had of getting the posting she wanted.
    The officer stopped in front of her, just as she knew he would. Well, she would accept her punishment, and apologise if she got the chance, even if it did go against her nature. She met his gaze steadily, and kept her mouth shut.
    ‘Do you have a decent frock with you? Something feminine.’
    That threw her into confusion. She had braced herself for a reprimand – and he was asking about a frock? ‘I don’t do feminine, sir.’ The words came out without thinking.
    ‘In that case, do the best you can, but no uniform. My driver will collect you at six o’clock.’
    ‘Pardon, sir?’ She cast a quick glance down the hut, and knew all the girls were straining to hear their conversation.
    ‘I thought my instructions were quite clear. You will wear civilian clothes, and we shall dine together this evening.’
    She couldn’t believe she was hearing this. What was he up to? He was breaking every rule in the book! She leant forward and whispered, ‘Full blown colonels don’t date privates.’
    ‘This isn’t a date. I’m going to give you a chance to tell me exactly what you think of my behaviour. And then I shall explain why I arranged that little test.’
    ‘Test?’
    ‘That’s what I choose to call it. We shall both be out of uniform and able to speak freely. If you try to tear me off a strip now, and I know that’s what you are itching to do, I’ll have to put you on a charge for insubordination. So, obey my order now, Private Adams, and you can safely let rip this evening.’
    ‘Yes, sir.’ She spoke clearly, and then lowered her voice. ‘You don’t know what you’re letting yourself in for – sir.’ She tacked that on for safety.
    ‘Oh, I believe I do.’ He turned on his heel and marched towards the door, smiling. ‘At ease, ladies.’
     
    ‘We’re here, Miss,’ the corporal said as he opened the door for her.
    ‘I’m not going in there.’ She folded her arms and refused to move.
    The corporal stooped down to look in the car. ‘I’m told it’s a very good restaurant.’
    ‘I’m