to celebrate the end of their training with them. This did lift the girls’ spirits, and they sat there drinking a glass of sherry, reliving all the fun memories over the last six weeks together.
They toasted their freedom and tried to be positive about the situation.
‘At least being based in central London, you and I will be able to get together all the time said Diana, optimistically. ‘And Lizzie, it’s not that far to Kenley.’
‘Especially here to Brixton,’ added Julia. ‘It’s only about thirty minutes.’
They both stayed the night and had fun, but they had to head back the next day.
On Sunday, Diana was sad to say goodbye to Lizzie. She held her friend tightly and tried not to cry. It was amazing how close they had become training together. Diana couldn’t believe it’d only been six weeks since she’d left Birmingham. It felt like an eternity. And now she felt she had a friend for life. Lizzie didn’t hold back the tears. She sobbed uncontrollably on Diana’s shoulder.
‘I know we’re both going to be in London, but somehow it just feels like the end of something,’ she said as she wiped her hand across her face. ‘We have to try and get the same night off so we can see each other.’
‘We’ll work it out,’ said Diana. ‘Don’t worry, I’m sure there will be times to be together, go to the cinema or see a play or something.’
Lizzie nodded and ran a hand through her bobbed hair. Her new hairstyle suited her so much, thought Diana as she looked at her. It emphasized her beautiful eyes and pixie grin.
They walked outside to the truck waiting to take Diana to her destination. She climbed up on board and waved goodbye to Lizzie as the truck set off for the barrage balloon training school.
13
It wasn’t long after Diana left that Lizzie was called as well. Going through her things she folded the newspaper clipping into her bag. Since arriving she had had hardly a minute to herself; now, she would have more time to find her daughter. Grabbing her belongings, she made her way outside to go to her new assignment. As she climbed into the back of the truck, the other girls all around her were caught up in a lively conversation about what they were going to be learning. Radar was a new thing, and they were very excited.
‘Apparently, they can actually track the enemy on a screen,’ stated one of the girls. ‘Kind of like a camera, but moving like a film.’
‘Will we be able to do that, do you think?’ said another girl, her eyes widening. ‘I’d love to.’
‘I don’t know, but it’s all very exciting, isn’t it? Amazing what they are letting us do.’
Lizzie looked out the back of the truck as they exited the gates of the RAF station that had been her home for the last six weeks, and as they bumped along the road, she thought about that. Because so many of the men were gone, they were getting opportunities to do things women had never been able to before. The war was frightening, there was no doubt about that, but she was getting to have experiences she had never in her wildest dreams believed was possible for her.
Her thoughts drifted back to the time when she had given up her baby for adoption and the conversation in the family parlour. How they had all wanted Fergus to finish his education instead of being a father. No one had even mentioned Lizzie’s school work, and as she thought about the conversation it stung. It had been unsaid that day, but when she looked back with hindsight, it seemed so obvious to her now, no one had cared about her educational development. It was clear that school was just something to keep her busy until she was the right age to marry. Now, as she listened to all the girls talking about the responsibilities and important work they would be trusted with, she wondered, if this war continued, what would it be like afterwards? Was it possible that now women were proving they could all do the same jobs as men, that at some obscure date in the future, they could be afforded the same opportunity as a man if they wanted it? It seemed highly unlikely, but it filled her with hope, that one day a woman would be allowed to choose.
When they arrived in Croydon, all the girls clambered around the back