I'll Be Seeing You
Chapter 2
"Joey? Joey Collins?" Charlie said, hardly believing her eyes.
Joey's companion mumbled something to Joey and continued to walk. Joey took a few steps closer to Charlie and smiled.
"How are you Charlie?"
"I'm well, thank you. An-and you?" Charlie said, stuttering a little.
"I'm hale and hearty!" Joey said, walking the final few steps to Charlie.
The two girls stared at each other for a few moments.
Charlie blinked several times. Was this a dream?No, there was Joey Collins, standing right before her, after all those months of seeing and hearing nothing since she left on the train from Whitstable Station nineteen months before.
Joey had changed; she had matured into a beautiful young woman, carefree and obviously more than happy with her life. She wore her smart, navy blue Wren's uniform to perfection and her hair neatly pinned up under her uniform hat, perched cheekily on her head.
"You look well." Charlie managed to say after a few moments.
"You're looking well too. How is everyone back home?" Joey said, with interest. "How are Ruby, Jan and Vince?"
"They're all well, thank you." Charlie said a little stiffly.
"And Andy, how's Andy Aden?" Joey asked.
"He joined The Royal Navy last autumn! The last I heard he was in Gibraltar, but I don't know where he is at present."
"So, what are you doing all the way up here?" Joey asked, tilting her head slightly to one side.
"On business, at the 'big' office!" Charlie answered.
Joey frowned for a moment and then realised Charlie was talking about the Police Headquarters for London. She looked impressed.
Neither spoke for a few moments. Both becoming embarrassed.
Charlie cleared her throat.
"So, how is life in The Wrens?"
"It's wonderful!" Joey enthused. "I'm enjoying every moment of it!"
"I'm pleased for you." Charlie said, with perhaps more enthusiasm than she actually felt. "Are you based here abouts?"
"Lord! No. We're based up on the East Coast, but we have a seventy two hour pass and we're looking forward to 'bright lights and lovely grub!" She grinned.
"Bright lights and lovely grub?" Charlie asked, frowning.
"Sailor talk." Joey laughed.
"I see." Charlie said, trying to sound bright and breezy and failing dismally.
"Are you staying at your Father's?" Joey asked.
"Yes. It gives me a chance to visit with him and Morag for a while."
"Is he any better?" Joey asked compassionately.
"About the same." Charlie replied, sadly.
"Well," Joey said, looking in the direction of her companion. "I'd better get going."
Charlie's heart sank. How did Joey always manage to make her feel this way?
"Yes of course," She replied, "You don't want to keep your friend waiting. It's been nice seeing you, Joey." Her voice faltering. She turned to walk away.
"Charlie! Do you have anything planned for this evening?" Joey said quickly, as if trying to delay Charlie. "We're going to see a show tonight and have a few drinks after, if you'd like to join us?"
"Well, I don't know..."
"Please, Charlie? I'd like you to come." Joey said, sincerely.
"Well, okay, as long as I'm not intruding." Charlie said, immediately wishing she'd refused the invitation.
"You could never intrude, Charlie." Joey said, smiling. "We'll meet you outside The Adelphi Theatre at eighteen hundred hours!"
And with that, skipped off to join her companion.
Charlie watched as the two girls linked arms and marched off along the pavement; Joey casting one look over her shoulder at Charlie and smiling.
***
Charlie rummaged through her clothes. She hadn't really packed anything too fancy as she never thought she would be going anywhere particularly grand during her visit. She explained to her father about the chance meeting with an old friend from home and the subsequent invitation she'd received. Her father was pleased Charlie had the chance of an evening out. He had heard from Ruby that Charlie never went anywhere, anymore. He was pleased for her and told her it would do her good. His daughter was less sure. She still hurt after nineteen months.
***
Charlie stood on the platform at Blackheath station waiting for the train to stop. It hissed steam as the travellers embarked and after a few minutes the whistle blew and the train chugged into motion. She took a compact out of her bag and lightly dusted her nose and forehead. She felt nervous of being in Joey's company again after so long and fiddled with her fingers trying to compose herself.
All too soon, the train pulled into Charing Cross station and the passengers disembarked and streamed out through the gates.
Charlie checked the time by her wrist watch as she walked up The Stand. She had plenty of time to spare, so walked slowly along the road and looked at the shops. The nearer her destination, the more nervous she felt.
Soon, The Adelphi Theatre loomed up in front of her. She swallowed, her mouth feeling very dry. She quickly scanned the faces standing out front and saw a hand waving frantically.
Joey's hand.
***
"I'm glad you could make it!" Was Joey's greeting as she ran to meet Charlie.
"I wouldn't have missed it." Charlie said, trying her best to sound genuine.
"Helen's inside queuing for tickets. Come in and meet her." Joey said, taking Charlie's arm.
Inside, the foyer, the lights were bright. The crimson walls were dressed in photographs of past players at the theatre. The room was smoky and crowded.
"Helen, I want you to meet my very good friend from back home; Miss. Charlotte Buckton!" Joey said, "And Charlie, this is my good friend Miss. Helen Wetherby. We met on our first day of training," Joey said, happily, "And now we're like Siamese twins!"
"Thart's reet" Helen said, with a big grin on her face, "Helen High-water" they calls oos!" Helen said. "I'm Helen and she's alus in high-water!"
Both Wrens laughed at their private joke and Charlie smiled, feeling a little wrong footed.
"Arv got tickets, now where's t'bar?" Helen enquired.
Joey pointed in the direction of the theatre bar and the three girls walked towards it.
"U'll get these. What's ya poison love?" Helen asked, looking at Charlie.
"G&T, please."
"Shandy, Josie?"
"Yes, please. We'll be over there." Joey said, nodding towards a quiet corner.
Joey and Charlie made their way over to the corner and smiled at each other.
"She's a grand girl." Joey said, nodding towards her friend.
"She seems very pleasant. Where is she from?" Charlie asked.
"Yorkshire. She has a numerous family up there. All 'reet' Yorkshire puds!" Joey chuckled.
"Shh... She might hear you!" Charlie frowned.
"She doesn't give a fig. We always take the 'rise' out of each other. She's a good egg! She's great fun to be with except when she's had too many drinks!" Joey laughed as she accepted her Shandy from Helen.
"There go love." Helen said, handing Charlie a Gin and Tonic. "Well, bottoms op!"
The three girls raised their glasses and sipped their drinks.
"What are we seeing this evening?" Charlie asked.
"It's a musical. Ivor Novello's 'The Dancing Years' - Colourful and lively, the poster said." Replied Joey.
"Well, if it's rubbish, I'll boo um off!" Helen laughed.
***
The girls took their seats and prepared to be entertained. The lights dimmed and Helen audibly mumbled to Joey,
"Ger' ya 'and off me knee, Josie!"
Some of the audience nearby tittered.
Charlie wasn't entirely sure if Helen was joking or not. Had Joey, (or 'Josie' as her new friend called her) a new 'light in her life'? Helen was remarkably pretty. She was petit in build with hazel eyes and red hair, as bubbly as her personality. With Joey's dark eyes and chocolate brown hair, they certainly made a very pretty pair.
The show proceeded and Charlie felt herself relaxing a little. Joey sat in between the Police Woman and the other Wren. Both Wren's were still in Uniform.
The interval arrived and the three girls, along with everyone else, left their seats and headed for the foyer.
"I'm gonna queue for t'lav." Helen announced. "Anyone comin'?"
"I'm fine thanks." Said Charlie.
"Me too, thanks. See you in a bit." Smiled Joey.
"Two shakes!" Laughed Helen as she stepped away.
"You're quiet, Charlie. Everything alright?" Joey asked, frowning.
"Yes, fine. Are you enjoying the show?" Charlie asked, changing the subject.
"Well, it's a bit of 'floof' as Helen might say, but it's fun."
It seemed every time they were left alone, they struggled to speak.
Charlie read a sign on the foyer wall.
'Consequent on Black-out conditions and Police regulations, times of Theatre performances may be changed without notice. Patrons are advised, therefore, to check times of the performance they wish to attend with the entry in the Daily papers.'
"We seem to live our lives upon the orders of others." Joey said, noticing Charlie reading the sign.
Charlie smiled.
"What do you do in the Wrens?" She asked.
"I'm in maintenance and Helen's in Signals. We met when we started our training at Mill Hill."
"Did you have to have a lot of training?" Charlie asked.
"We had to be really fit, so we did lots of exercises like bike riding and swimming. They kept us on our toes day and night. Helen was always cracking jokes and keeping us all amused and we became great buddies. We were taught how to protect ourselves in an emergency and what to do if there is ever a gas attack. Thankfully, so far, we haven't had to put that one into practice! It's the marching which is the hardest part. Tramp, tramp, tramp! The boots are so heavy!"
Charlie looked down at Joey's feet.
"No, these are my walking out shoes!" Joey laughed.
Charlie chuckled too. Their eyes met and their laughing diminished.
"Anyway, as we were allowed to choose our own job, I opted for maintenance. Me and the other girls, that's Helen, Marj, and Ruth, were sent up to a coastal resort on the East coast all looking very chic in our over sized uniforms!"
"You look fine to me." Said Charlie having another look at Joey's very becoming uniformed figure.
"Yes, well, that's after we took things into our own hands and adjusted them to fit! I'm a dab hand with a needle and cotton, you know!" Joey said, giving a twirl.
Helen returned.
"You girls ready to go back in?"
The three girls wandered back into the auditorium.
The show finished by eight thirty and the girls filed out with the rest of the audience, humming the songs they could remember.
"Well, where to naw?" Helen asked.
"Well, I should head for home, I think." Said Charlie, still a little uncertain of the relationship between Joey and Helen and feeling a little down.
"Charlie, you can't go home yet!" Joey said, brightly. "Why don't you come and have a drink with us. It's still early."
Charlie was torn between wanting to be with Joey and not getting in the way.
"Ee! Josie, look at those GI's eyeing os op!" Helen said, nudging Joey.
"Yes, very nice." Joey said, flatly.
"She's ullus like this!" Helen wailed, "She never gets any enthusiasm op about the GI's!"
Charlie smiled to herself. Obviously, Helen and Joey's relationship wasn't as she thought. She inwardly sighed with relief.
"Ahoy Lads!" Helen called over to the American soldiers. "Ooh-ooh!"
"Helen, don't start!" Joey moaned, as Helen encouraged the allied forces over.
"I'm dying to get 'er 'ooked op with some reet narce fella. Don't know wos op wi' 'er!" Helen said putting an arm around Joey's shoulders.
Joey shot Charlie a look. Charlie felt for her friend.
"You don't really have to go yet, Charlie, do you?" Joey eyes pleaded.
"No. Not if you'd like me to stay."
Joey smiled and nodded, gratefully.
"Hey! Ladies!" Cried the American GI's. "What's cookin'?"
Helen was already in fits of laughter. Charlie put a comforting arm through Joey's and the little crowd walked off in search of 'bright lights and lovely grub'.
Apologises for the appalling Yorkshire accent ~ it's "reet ard" writing it down! S&L xx