ahead and do that. And, Julia, we’re going to be okay. I promise you, we’re all going to be all right. You know why? Because we’re women, that’s why. And even though some men will never take us seriously in this war, we have a secret weapon. The one thing that those men have little appreciation for because it’s a bit unglamorous, and that’s our spirit of endurance. Women are experts at holding on. It’s woven into the very fabric of our being through centuries of just… holding on. It might not sound as impressive as valour, but it is that grit and determination that will keep this nation together.’
Her friend’s words stirred Julia. It was so true. In a time where men were sent to war to fight, it was women who had to stand in the gap emotionally for their families, in the storms of war, holding all the threads of their lives together. No man went to the front with his children, home and family, but women here on British soil were expected to fight while considering all of that every day. Julia wasn’t going to give up now, she told herself sternly. Putting on her coat and her shoes, she hurried out of the door and headed into the city, towards the train station.
36
Across town, Diana was receiving bad news of her own. She’d been in the little kitchenette at the barracks, as they all took it in turns to cook when they didn’t feel like going to the canteen and this was her week, when one of the girls came in with the mail.
‘You got a letter, Diana, from your mum,’ she called out, waving it in the air.
They had all got used to each other’s family letters, and Diana got a letter every few days from her mother. But she’d heard nothing from her father, which had made her sad. But Jessie kept her updated on all the things that were happening at home. Drying off her hands, which were soaking as she’d been peeling potatoes, Diana took the letter from her friend and slipped it open. Reading the words, she sat down hard at the kitchen table. All the girls gathered around her.
‘Are you all right, Diana?’ asked Kathy. ‘You look pale.’
‘It’s my dad. He got injured in the last bombing campaign in Birmingham.’ She turned over the sheet of paper to reread it. ‘Apparently, he broke his leg falling down the stairs in the blackout.’
‘Is he all right?’ asked one of the other girls.
‘He’ll be being a nightmare for my mother. He hates being idle. I wish I could go and see them. He wasn’t pleased about me joining up and he hasn’t written to me since I got here.’
‘It’s hard for a lot of them,’ put in Mavis, wistfully, ‘older people, particularly those who went through the Great War. My dad’s the same, so angry about me leaving to come and join up. I think he just wanted to keep me safe.’
‘Why don’t you go and talk to Sergeant Daly and see if you can get some compassionate leave? We’ll be all right without you,’ said another member of the team. ‘Besides, last night, Jerry gave us a night off. First time in forever. Maybe he’s finally giving up.’
Diana nodded and, putting the letter back in the envelope, hurried out to find her commanding officer. Knocking on his door, she went inside and told him about her situation.
‘Could I get some leave just to go and see him? My mother says his spirits are very low.’
Sergeant Daly nodded and stamped her pass. ‘I’m giving you twenty-four hours. Be back as soon as you can, though, Downes. We need you here.’
She nodded and, quickly gathering her things together, set off to catch a train.
It was as she was walking inside Marylebone Station that she saw Julia, whom she knew should have been at work. But when Julia told her what had happened with Tom, she was heartbroken for her friend and put her arms around her.
‘I will look out for him. Maybe I’ll see him on a platform. Julia, I’m so sorry. There’s a lot of kindness out there at the moment. People are taking care of each other. They will do the same for Tom.’
Julia nodded. ‘I hope if somebody sees him, they’ll take him to a bobby. I spoke to the authorities here. I’ve given a description, and they said they would watch out for him and they promised me