Chapter 1

Pike couldn't quite understand why his mum should want to go to Kent on her own. She said she wanted to go see Canterbury Cathedral, but why didn't she want him with her. It didn't make any sense to him, he wanted to ask Uncle Arthur about it but then quite by chance Uncle Arthur also had to go on a trip. He had to suddenly journey to London to visit an old friend there.

Pike felt that he would very much mind that she went on a holiday without him but he was finding that it was fun going round to Mrs Fox's house for tea. She made some lovely iced buns and bread and butter pudding. He was also finding that it was fun to listen to Dan Dare Pilot of the Future on the wireless and go to bed exactly when he liked.

Pike was taken from his thoughts by the sound of smashing glass. He looked up and saw a woman lying face down in the street. Her shopping bags were all in a mess by her feet, her apples rolling off down the hill. Without thinking Pike ran on the cobbled stones and ducking to retrieve the apples as he went, he threw them into a shopping bag and went to help her up.

"Are you alright?" He asked, "that was ever such a nasty fall."

"Yes, I'm alright now. These bloody shoes." She muttered.

She hauled the shopping bags up. There were three of them and they looked heavy. Pike knew he would be late for parade but he couldn't leave her to carry them herself.

"Let me," he said with a boyish smile as he put his hand out for the bags.

She looked at him then, really looked at him.

"Thanks very much," She said as she handed them over.

"What do they call you then," she asked with a sly smile.

"Frank Pike," he answered, he blushed slightly as he could feel her looking at him.

He ventured a sideways glance at her. She was old, maybe in her 40s. He wondered vaguely in that moment if his mum would bring him back something from Canterbury.

"Come into the house, I'll fix you a cup of tea," she told him.

He opened his mouth to speak but no words would come. She had a way about her that made you want to be compliant.

Pike sat at a table in the small kitchen. He put his cap down and looked about the tiny, cramped room.

"Are you with the Home Guard long Frank?" She asked.

"Three years," he told her and fought to think of something else to say.

She turned from the kettle. "Three years, you must have been very young when you signed up."

"I was nineteen,"

She handed him a mug of steaming tea and took her place beside him.

"You look very smart in that uniform, it brings out the color of your eyes."

"Have you lived here long?" He asked.

"I moved back just recently, I grew up here God help me. Most of the hangers on have been conscripted, you don't see much of any of the corner boys that used to hang out here."

Pike gave her a blank look.

She looked into his face and smiled suddenly. Strangely that smile went to Pikes heart.

"You're so innocent, you have a lovely face do you know that?"

Pike was about to tell her that his mum said the same thing but he thought better of it.

"I'd...best be going, I'm late for parade," he told her fumbling over his words.

She nodded "You'd best get along then."

Pike got up from the table and went to the door, but before leaving he turned.

"I didn't catch your name,"

She beamed up at him. "Diane Dunbar," she smiled.

"Thanks for the tea Mrs Dunbar,"

"It's Ms Dunbar...Er Frank, what you doing for tea tomorrow. I have a couple of sausages and some kidney."

Frank thought for a minute. He usually has tea with Mrs Fox.

"It's alright if you don't want to. I'll understand if you have other plans,"

But her face said otherwise.

Eventually Frank nodded. "I'll be round same time tomorrow if that's alright,"

She smiled warmly at him "That's fine, I'll have it all ready for you. You won't be late for parade tomorrow Frank. "

~o~

But today was a different story. As he turned into the Church Yard he walked slowly feeling the tiny gravel pieces crunch under foot. His heart sank as the church yard was very quiet. They were all already inside. He went in quietly and snuck in around the back of the room as the platoon stood at ease. Mainwaring was giving a lecture on the importance of keeping a tight lip when dining in restaurants.

He planned to stand in the back row and then move up when Mainwaring went to get the register and call the roll, but as luck would have it he upset a set of chairs stacked one on top of the other. They clattered to the floor making everyone turn.

"What the devil is going on back there?" Mainwaring asked, trying to peer over heads.

"Pikey is staging a surprise attack," Walker quipped.

"What are you doing back there you stupid boy,"

Pike hurried to his place in the front row. He fixed Walker with a look as he passed him.

"No point in looking at me like that son, it's not my fault your stealth moves are louder than the Wormington town crier," Walker grinned back at him.

"Walker...Walker," Mainwaring gestured for him to be quiet.

"Pike, how dare you come to parade late. First we have Sargent Wilson gallivanting off across the country on some wild errand and now this. His lack of moral grounding and insubordination has rubbed off on you . I will be having words with him make no mistake. Well speak boy, what is your excuse."

"I'm sorry Mr Mainwaring, I was with a woman."

At this the Church Hall erupted in a chorus of cat calls and whistles.

Mainwaring shot them all a look that made them instantly stop.

When there was complete silence Mainwaring then turned to Pike. "See me after parade."

Pike frowned at that but there was little else he could do.

~o~

Pike left the parade fifteen minutes after everyone else, he had to go to Mainwaring's office. Surprisingly Mainwaring was very civil to him. He asked Pike to take a seat and offered him a piece of toffee.

When Pike had explained to him who this woman was Mainwaring lectured him on the dangers of women living alone and missing their men folk. He advised Pike to steer clear of such situations where he could become a substitute for a husband fighting overseas.

But as Pike walked home by himself he realized that he was looking forward to having tea with Diane Dunbar. He was looking forward to it very much.