A Sister's War by Molly Green (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

to put up with Jessica’s racket every night, was Ronnie’s last frustrated thought before she finally managed, through sheer exhaustion, to fall asleep.

Ronnie was awoken early the next morning by some strange noises outside. She sat up, her shoulder stiff from lying awkwardly. Rubbing it, she stepped over to the porthole to see if she could tell where the sounds were coming from, but it was as dark outside as it was in. What time was it? Her watch wasn’t on the shelf above their heads where she thought she’d left it. Ah, it had fallen on the floor. She picked it up and scrutinised it, but there wasn’t enough light to read the time. Her stomach was rolling. Her mind travelled back to last night. She couldn’t remember washing, or even cleaning her teeth before she’d crawled into bed. She ran her tongue over them and pulled a face, then glanced down at herself. At least she’d changed into a pair of pyjamas, though she couldn’t even remember doing that.

Perhaps dear Dora Dummitt had helped her. The ridiculous idea made Ronnie giggle.

‘What’s funny?’ May called.

‘Oh, you’re awake. It was just something silly I thought of,’ Ronnie said. ‘I’m going to make some tea. Like one?’

‘Yes, please,’ May said. ‘It’ll be a real luxury. No one ever makes one for me.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘Oh, my old job. I’ll tell you sometime.’ May put her legs out on the floor. ‘Did you sleep?’

‘Not much,’ Ronnie admitted, nodding towards Jessica, who by now was irritatingly silent. ‘Jessica’s a snorer.’

Ronnie carefully poured water from the flowered can and put the kettle on to boil. She wouldn’t mention how Jessica had called out in the night and seemed upset about something. It wasn’t her business. If the older girl wanted to talk out her problems, that was up to her, and she’d listen and give any advice she could, but only if asked.

‘What about you, May? Did you manage to sleep?’

‘Slept like a log – woke up in the fireplace.’ May chuckled, then said, ‘Ronnie, can I ask you something. Did you really mistake the salt for sugar in Dora’s tea?’

‘What do you think?’

‘I don’t think you made a mistake.’

Ronnie smiled as she put three mugs out. ‘Sugar, May?’

‘I’ll put my own in, thanks very much,’ May said, giggling. ‘It’s safer. And you knew jolly well what you were doing. So did all of us. We didn’t know where to put ourselves. Oh, Ronnie, Dora’s face …’ She threw back her head and laughed until the tears ran down her cheeks.

There was a scuffling noise from above.

‘What was that?’ May said, the laughter choked back as she looked up.

A pale moon-like face, pipe in mouth, peered through the hatch.

‘Talk of the devil,’ May muttered to no one.

‘It’s half-past six,’ Dora announced, her pipe moving up and down with the words. ‘I’ve let yous all sleep in on yer first mornin’ but from now on I want yous up at half-past five, so the boats’re thoroughly cleaned and we let go by six-thirty latest. Today we shan’t be away until half-past seven, by the looks o’ things.’

‘Miss Dummitt, what was all that noise outside earlier on?’ Ronnie asked boldly.

Dora removed her pipe. ‘That’d be the boats chuggin’ by. The boaters often start as early as three or four in the mornin’. They gotta make their money. I ’spect yer heard ’em whippin’ the towlines over the top o’ yer.’

‘Oh.’ It was all so strange. Would she ever understand?

‘Margaret’s makin’ porridge for us,’ Dora went on. ‘One of yous can go and collect it in ten minutes. If yer late you’ll eat it cold.’ She drew her head back and disappeared.

‘It was funny I just said “Dora” and she appears like a genie from a lamp.’ May pulled a face. ‘As if she knew we was talking about her. Well, it’s too bad if she did. She certainly don’t mince her words.’ She leapt off the bed. ‘Can I have what’s left in the kettle, Ronnie, so’s I can have a quick wash?’

‘There’s only a cupful.’

‘That’ll do. I’ll wash down as far as possible, and up as far as possible, and just have to leave possible out!’ May chuckled as she took the kettle off the ring.

‘I’d better wake Jess,’ Ronnie said, cringing at May’s crude expression. ‘Deadly Dora’s like a sergeant major and Jess doesn’t take too kindly to being ordered around.’

‘Oh, I love that name for her.’ May gave a scream of laughter. ‘Deadly Dora.’

‘What’s the joke?’ Jessica’s voice startled them, as she swung her long shapely legs out of the bed.

‘Ronnie calls our dear trainer “Deadly Dora”,’ May snorted.

Jessica grinned. ‘Sums her up perfectly, I’d say.’ She looked at the kettle. ‘Anyone making tea?’

‘We’ve had ours,’ Ronnie said. ‘May’s just going to use the last drop of water in the kettle for her wash.’

Jessica threw May a fierce look. ‘You can put the kettle back on the ring right now, May. That cupful will just be enough for my tea!’

Ronnie’s stomach was rumbling as she knocked on the side of Persephone. She swiftly stepped through the hatch to find Margaret ladling out the porridge.

‘Is that tall one up?’ Dora Dummitt looked at her watch and peered at Ronnie.

‘If you mean Jessica, she’s choosing what to wear, I expect,’ Angela said scornfully.

‘This in’t a fashion house.’ Dora rolled her eyes, then shrugged. ‘Well, I won’t have her keep us waitin’. If she in’t ready at seven-thirty, she can stay behind.’

What an ogre the woman was. Ronnie took the saucepan from Margaret. The porridge looked lumpy, reminding Ronnie of the three bears. She broke into a grin.

‘Somethin’ funny, Shirley?’ Dora demanded as she took up her pipe. The trainer had already wolfed her porridge down.

Ronnie didn’t answer.

‘You, miss. I’m talkin’ to yer.’

‘Oh, did you mean me?’ Ronnie said innocently. ‘Sorry, I didn’t realise. I thought I’d explained that yesterday – that I don’t know who you’re talking to when you say Shirley.’

‘We’ve a lot ter get through