I'll Be Seeing You
Chapter 5
Charlie and Joey followed a quiet pathway which was shrouded in trees. Their laughter now replaced with smiles. Charlie slipped her arm through Joey's.
"Tell me more about your work and where you live."
"Well, where to start?" Joey mused, pressing her lips together. "We're billeted in a hotel near the sea front."
"That should suit you!" Charlie grinned.
"Yes! Home from home! Well, almost. Most of the civilians have been evacuated, but there's a great number of Service Personnel, Wrens, Waaf, Royal Navy and ATS. The ATS girls are great fun!" Joey smiled. "So, you never have to be lonely. There's always loads of American servicemen around too. They're stationed nearby.
"I'm guessing you love that?" Charlie said, raising her eyebrows. "And your work?"
"Most of my life, I'm dressed in either a boiler suit or oil skins!"
"So do you do a lot of maintenance then, on boats and things?" Charlie asked.
"Oh gosh, yes! Changing plugs, stripping down gearboxes and distributor heads and basically anything else which might keep the engines ready for action. We sometimes go out on sea trials when the job is finished and we stand side by side with the men as we sail out of harbour." Joey said proudly.
"Doesn't that cause a lot of, well, problems and, you know, tension?" Charlie asked.
"No, not really. It's a mutual feeling of friendship and respect between the Sailors and Wrens. Well, it's not all 'just respect' – you can imagine that things get a little heated from time to time and you know what Sailors are!" Joey grinned.
Joey threw a penny into a pool of water surrounded by stones. It had been turned into a kind of wishing well since the war had begun. The girls stood and watched as the penny sunk to the bottom and joined other pennies and ha'pennies.
"What did you wish for?" Charlie asked, smiling.
"If I tell you, it may not come true." Joey sighed.
Want a bet? Charlie thought secretly.
***
The girls strolled down to where some children were playing on a playground round-a-bout. Finding a nearby bench, they sat down and watched.
"Have you ever seen any action?" Charlie asked.
"Not at sea. Wrens are land based on the whole, but we see plenty of action on land. Low flying German planes often take pot shots at us, though thankfully, their aim is pathetic! The bombing has been devastating. I was blasted out of my bunk one night!" She said, grinning.
"God! Were you hurt?" Charlie said, anxiously.
"Bit shaken, and a few cuts and bruises; that's all. But there's been lots of casualties and deaths. Seven Wrens and our Officer were killed last month. But you can't brood about it. You have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get on with it. We attended a memorial service for our dead friends in the morning and then went back to work afterwards."
Joey was far away for a few moments.
"I do get frightened, Charlie."
Charlie took hold of Joey's hand and squeezed it, gently. The softness of Charlie's hand made her shiver all over.
The girls sat for a long time just enjoying the closeness of each other. It felt so right being together and sharing stories of their lives. From time to time they stole a secret look or if their eyes met, they smiled shyly.
At last Joey spoke.
"It has its lighter moments though!" Joey said shaking off her gloom. "The social life is great. Helps us get through all the shit."
"When do you have to report back?" Charlie said, watching the little children at play.
"Ten o'clock on Sunday night."
The girls fell silent.
"How about you, Charlie? How are things since I...?" Joey said, feeling a little nervous asking the question.
Charlie took a deep breath and fiddled with a leaf which had gently fluttered onto her lap.
"I'm probably not the best person to ask. I'm sure Ruby would give you a much better history." She said, remembering the numbness she had felt for so many months since Joey had left.
"She'd probably tell you I've been a miserable bitch who's done nothing but work. I couldn't have got through the last nineteen months without my work." She said, hanging her head.
"I wish..." Joey started.
"I know." Charlie finished.
The girls looked into each other's eyes for a moment but neither could find the words to banish the hurt and loneliness of the past.
"I'm glad you're here, Charlie."
"Me too." Charlie said, losing herself for a while in Joey's eyes.
"Come on, let's go and get some tea!" Joey said brightly and stood up.
"Lovely." Charlie said, with shining eyes.
Joey smiled at Charlie's pretty face.
"I've missed you so much, Charlie."
"What about that tea!" Charlie said, blushing prettily.
***
A little tea shop on the corner, not far from the park, invited them in for hot tea and buns.
"Only rock cakes today, ladies." The waitress advised.
"I think in that case, we'll have tea and rock cakes, please!" Joey said, grinning.
"Tea and rock cakes." The waitress mumbled as she wrote down their order on her pad.
"I suppose she might have trouble remembering the rock cakes if she didn't write it down!" Joey quipped.
"Shh... She'll hear you!" Charlie said, coughing.
"Have you anything planned for tonight, Charlie?" Joey asked, suddenly.
"No, why?" Charlie said, looking at Joey in anticipation.
"Well, you are now. The United States are taking us to the Hammersmith Palais! It's for all the Forces. They've got a Big Band playing tonight!"
"Sounds fun, but how will I get in?" Charlie said frowning.
"Erm, well, simple. Wear your Police Uniform!" Joey suggested.
"I can't do that! I'm not on duty!" Charlie cried.
"Charlie! For one night, nobody will notice."
Charlie sat back in her chair, looking at Joey's excited eyes.
"Please, Charlie!"
Charlie sighed.
"Okay, but if I get in to trouble, you've got it coming to you!"
"I do hope so!" Joey replied with a wicked grin playing on her lips.
Charlie blushed again.
***
The girls finished their tea and walked out of the shop. Joey checked her watch and sighed.
"Charlie, I have to go now. I don't want to leave Helen alone too long. After all, we were supposed to be spending our leave together. After the amount she tucked away last night, I guess she'll have quite a hangover this morning, so by the time I get back to the hotel, she may have surfaced!"
"Yes, of course, Jo." Charlie smiled, trying to hide her disappointment.
***
Charlie walked with Joey to the Railway Station.
"Well, this is me." Joey said, turning to Charlie as they approached the entrance.
Their eyes met and they smiled.
Joey took Charlie's hand.
"I'd better let you go now. I've enjoyed this morning. I'm glad we've talked. Better to get things out in the open."
Charlie nodded; painfully aware she hadn't told Joey everything about the night she had spent in Canterbury, with Hugo, however innocent it may have been.
"What time this evening?" Charlie asked, hearing a train puffing into the station.
"Seven thirty outside the Palais! I have to go!" Joey called, running to the ticket office to buy a ticket.
Charlie watched as Joey ran onto the platform.
"I'll be seeing you!" Joey called as she boarded the train and waved.
Charlie smiled and waved back. Memories of Joey's last departure nineteen months ago, flooded back into her mind.
She loathed trains.