15th October 1941
Bert and his division were currently in transit. He wasn't used to the climate, therefore he was often plagued by an unpleasant migraine - just like that day. For this reason, Bert lay down and closed his eyes; shortly afterwards he fell asleep.
Only when a familiar voice, which he could not assign at first, said his name and shook his shoulder he woke up: "Bert?"
Bert opened his eyes: it was Johnny who gave him a friendly smile.
"Huh?"
"Come with me... I want to show you something."
As the young Private walked away again, Bert rubbed his hands through his face before standing up and walking out to the others.
It was already dark outside and the other men were sitting around a campfire and they... laughed. With an eyebrow raised, Bert came closer and sat down next to Johnny.
"Now you can," said one of the men to Johnny.
"Okay," he pulled a photo from his breast pocket and held it up to the light, "that's her."
Bert looked at the photo: it showed a young woman, about 19 years old, with very light hair, who smiled sympathetically at the camera. She was a very pretty young lady. Not as pretty as Mary, but still a beauty. A beauty of the sweet kind.
The former chimney sweep looked back at Johnny. The latter looked lovingly but sadly at the picture; Tears gathered in his eyes.
"Is that yer partner?" Bert asked timidly.
"No, my wife."
Wife, did you hear that right? He would never have believed that Johnny was married. To be honest, he didn't even thought that he has a partner.
"She's cute!" Said another soldier. Bert nodded in agreement when he noticed how Johnny's eyes got even redder.
"She was cute ... The cutest and most beautiful woman I have ever seen..." Johnny swallowed, "She was killed in an air raid last year ..."
Bert had a lump in his throat and it took a moment to process the message. John Andrews, a young nervous man who was dragged to war, was not only married but also a widower. He put a hand on Johnny's shoulder.
"I'm sorry..." the others muttered.
"I can't change it..." Johnny looked at Bert and smiled sadly at him, "what about Bertie-Boy? Do you have someone in London? Partner, wife, family..."
"Yes... Two wonderful ladies t' be 'onest." Bert smiled slightly when he realised that this was perhaps the wrong choice of words. Before he could clarify what he actually meant, the first comments came.
"Okay, I never thought that you're that kind of guy, Alfred," said Andrew, one of the soldiers.
Bert blushed and started to stutter: "What? No! Not like that! I-"
"How then?" Asked another.
"Well… yes, there're two women. One of them is me partner. "
"Do you have a picture?"
"What about the other one?"
"Is she pretty?"
"Boys!" Bert said, "just let me speak... First: yes, she's pretty. Incredibly pretty."
"Everyone says that about his girl... Do you have a photo to prove it?"
"Guys!" Johnny called before turning to Bert, "tell us about them."
"Well... Mary, me partner, is a Nanny...", he laughed dryly, "We 'ave known each other long before you were born."
John smiled. "Would you describe her to us?"
"Well… She 'as long brown hair with a slight red tinge. 'er skin is pleasantly pale and she 'as freckles. And 'er eyes... the most beautiful blue I've ever seen... But nothing beats her character. She can be strict if she 'as t', but when you are alone with 'er, she is the warmest and most 'elpful person I know. "
"But you're not married."
"No…"
"Do you want to marry her?"
Even if it was a simple question, Bert caught his breath. But his answer came more resolutely than expected: "Yes, more than anythin' else."
"What about the other one?" asked Andrew again, who was eating.
"Lizzy...", Bert's face grew sad. Of course, this was not hidden from the others, which is why they exchanged meaningful, regretful looks.
He took a deep breath before continuing: "Lizzy is like a daughter t' me ... She's an orphan and was in the orphanage near me. She came t' me again and again and watched me when I was painting or making music. One day, when she was about seven years old, she became seriously ill and during that time Mary and I looked after 'er. Then I realised how important the little one is t' me. I 'ave continued to look after 'er over the years and Mary 'elped me when she was in London. But in 'er youth… She caused me some trouble. She stole and drank a lot of alcohol. She was also pretty rebellious.
But she 'as grown up so much in recent years. She works in the hospital now," Bert tossed a stone aside, his eyes darkening. "At least she was... Before she went t' active war zones... I 'aven't 'eard from 'er in a long time... This constant uncertainty makes me sick!"
The other soldiers just sat there and nodded sadly. It was Johnny who spoke first: "It's like your own daughter was suddenly drafted, right?"
Bert just nodded.
"Hey... I'm sure you'll hear something from her soon. Maybe she'll come back to London. "
"I 'ope so," he put his hands in his pockets when he touched his little sketchbook. Then he got an idea! He took it, flipped to a specific page and looked at the drawing on this certain page. He felt a shiver when he saw the coloured sketch of Mary and Liz in the basement less than a year ago. "'ere," he handed the book to the men, "Lizzy is the one on the left and Mary is on the right."
Johnny looked at the picture: "Are they related?"
"No."
"Sure?" Asked a younger soldier.
Bert had to laugh: "Yes, very sure."
Johnny looked again. "But the two look really alike ... unless you have built in a lot of artistic freedom."
"The right one… No woman can be that pretty. You're fantasising too much again, Alfred!" Andrew looked at the picture skeptically. "But... I would take the little one," he added with a dirty laugh before getting up.
Then Bert got angry; very angry. Andrew was condescending to women. He just wanted to get intimate with them and not more. Bert walked up to him and built himself up... at least as best he could; after all, Andrew was about 6'5 tall and very stocky.
"Don't ya dare t' touch her!"
"What then huh?" The burly man wanted to push Bert away, but the latter remained steadfast.
"Then we 'ave a problem."
"As if I'm afraid of a… stick like you," he walked on and Bert glowered after him.
I'm not entirely happy with the chapter, but I can't get it any better, to be honest.
Generally I am pretty exhausted at the moment and urgently need a vacation to clear my head again.
At the end of the week I spontaneously go to London. Maybe I will get some impressions there, which I can include here :)
As always, I look forward to your reviews! :D