already full, but finally, she eyed a vacant seat in one and made her way towards it.
Sliding open the door just as the train started to gain momentum, Diana was thrust inside and didn’t see the bag on the floor before she tripped over it. Falling forwards, she was saved by a pair of arms, clad in green paisley knitwear, that grabbed hold of her before she toppled to the floor. The young woman who had caught her deposited her into the worn brown leather seat opposite as Diana tried to right herself, taking in the worried face of the fellow passenger who had saved her.
‘Oh God, I’m so sorry. I just pulled it down for a second to fish out my knitting and forgot all about it,’ said the woman, who had lively eyes, a shock of red curly hair, and a strong Scottish accent.
Diana caught her breath and straightened her hat, a smile breaking out across her face. ‘Well, it wouldn’t do for me to break my leg before I even get down to start my war work, now, would it?’ she joked.
The other young woman’s face softened with relief at Diana’s forgiving tone. ‘Let me help you,’ she implored as she went out into the corridor to retrieve the brown suitcase that was still in the doorway where Diana had dropped it. Then, with little effort, the young woman hoisted it up into the netted luggage rack overhead.
Picking up a ball of blue wool and knitting needles that had fallen from her lap to the floor when she had leapt up to save Diana, she added, red-faced, ‘I always knit when I’m nervous, and I have to be honest with you, I’m very nervous. Thought I would get started on a scarf to go with my new uniform. And look at me’ – she secured her own large carpet bag back in the overhead rack – ‘I can’t even take care of people on our side, never mind take on the Nazis.
‘My name’s Lizzie Mackenzie, by the way,’ she continued as she sat down again. ‘And as you’ve probably gathered by my accent, I’m from Scotland. It’s not too strong, is it?’ she asked, concern furrowing her brows. ‘You can understand what I’m saying, right?’
Diana shook her head. ‘Sorry? You’ll have to say that again. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.’ Then she raised her eyebrows to acknowledge she was joking.
Both girls descended into a fit of laughter and Diana was grateful for a light moment. She had not enjoyed saying goodbye to her mother at the station and was concerned she would fret about her parents all the way to London, but now she was gladdened by this new carriage friend to chat to. It would make the journey go quicker and help stem the homesickness she had already been feeling.
‘Ach, get away with ye, you’re pulling my leg,’ Lizzie joked back.
Diana said, ‘And it’s no good asking me about strong accents. I’m a Brummie. They probably won’t understand either of us down there.’
‘You don’t have an accent at all to me,’ responded the wiry Scottish girl, with surprise. ‘I think you sound just like one of those BBC wireless announcers.’
‘That’s because I’m practising my posh accent,’ Diana continued, another smile creeping across her face. ‘Just in case I get invited over to Buckingham Palace for a cup of tea with the queen while I am down in London.’
‘I’m off to London myself to join the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force,’ continued Lizzie with a great sense of pride.
‘So am I!’ responded Diana as she slipped off her hat and coat. ‘I’m joining up as well.’
‘Fancy that! That’s wonderful,’ said Lizzie. ‘At least I’ve made one friend. I think…’ she said warily, raising an eyebrow with hopeful expectancy and pushing back a silky red curl from her eyes.
‘Well, we’ll just have to see about that,’ responded Diana. ‘It depends if you try to kill me in basic training.’
Lizzie shook her head and corkscrew spirals of copper curls bounced around her face. ‘I wouldn’t put it past me. On the farm, we had so much more room. I’m worried about the big city. All those people. I’ve never even left Scotland. At least you’re from Birmingham, where you’re used to people.’
Diana nodded. ‘I was not looking forward to leaving my family behind, my mum and dad and all my customers at the hairdressers.’
‘Is that what you were before?’ asked Lizzie, her eyes widening.
Diana nodded with a smile.
‘I