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

‘I had my toast down below. I was starving.’

‘Okay.’ Ronnie reluctantly shifted over for Jessica, and gratefully munched her toast and jam, swigging down her tea in greedy gulps. She noticed Margaret was just sipping her tea, not saying a word.

‘This is the life,’ Jessica said. ‘Well, for us at the moment. May’s been given the short straw.’

‘Is she all right?’

‘Yes, she’s stuck in the cabin but at the moment she’s got tea and toast and a magazine.’

‘I don’t think that’s quite what Dora had in mind for her,’ Ronnie giggled, then became serious. ‘I just hope Dora doesn’t see you and I have swapped.’

‘She won’t know. She’ll be too busy giving Sally instructions.’ She paused, her eyes staring ahead. ‘I reckon it won’t be long before we come to the tunnel so we’ll change over as soon as it’s in sight.’

The three girls were quiet for a while as they finished their tea.

‘LOOK OUT!’ Ronnie jumped up, shouting. ‘You’re going to hit the side!’

Jessica pulled hard on the tiller. The boat swerved and crashed into the bank.

Ronnie sucked in a breath.

‘Bugger and blast!’ Jessica said. ‘I pulled the tiller the wrong way … it’s a bloody instinct to pull it the same way you want to go.’ She turned to Ronnie, her forehead a band of perspiration.

‘Dora’s going to be furious,’ Ronnie groaned. ‘And I shall be the one in trouble as she told me to take the tiller.’

‘I’ll stick up for you,’ Jessica said. ‘It was my fault for suggesting it. I’ll stay where I am so she can see it was me.’ She frowned. ‘It looks like Persephone’s slowing down. For goodness’ sake – we’re going to bump into them if they don’t move along.’

Ronnie’s eyes were transfixed as the snubber shortened. She could clearly see Sally coiling it onto the counter as she pulled it in.

‘Dammit, here comes Deadly Dora,’ Jessica said. ‘And she doesn’t look happy.’

The three girls watched as Dora jumped onto the fore end of the butty and practically ran along the top planks and the cabin to where they were sitting.

‘What happened?’ she demanded. ‘Why is Jess at the tiller?’

Ronnie opened her mouth but Jessica cut in before she could speak.

‘It was only while Ronnie had a cup of tea. I lost concentration for a few moments and pulled the tiller the wrong way. It won’t ever happen again.’ She paused. ‘I hope I haven’t caused any damage.’

‘If yer have, it’ll come out of yer wages,’ Dora said tightly. ‘I’m goin’ ter take a look.’

‘Bloody Nora.’ Jessica blew out her cheeks as Dora jumped down and then stepped onto the towpath. ‘Come on, Ronnie. We’d better go and have a look, too.’

The two girls watched as Dora got down on her haunches to inspect the boat.

‘I don’t think there’ll be any damage,’ Jessica said. ‘It was only a bit of a prang.’

‘Don’t speak too soon,’ Dora snapped. ‘It’s well scraped.’ She lifted her frizzy yellow head. ‘Yous’ll have to pay for the paint and the painter,’ she finished triumphantly.

By this time the other four girls had clustered round on the towpath.

‘So, Ronnie, you can’t be trusted even on the flat pound, let alone a tunnel,’ Angela said.

‘I believe yer was cleaning the motor cabin when it happened.’ Dora eyed Angela narrowly.

‘Yes, but—’

‘So don’t jump ter no conclusions, miss. It weren’t Ver-ron-eek at the tiller.’ She glared at the group.

Angela’s lips thinned. ‘Then who was?’

‘Obviously that only leaves me,’ Jessica said. ‘But quite frankly, I don’t need your comments, Angela. It’s nothing to do with you what arrangements Dor – Miss Dummitt and I make between us.’

Ronnie stepped closer to have a look at the side of the butty. There was what looked like a new scrape, but no more than several others which trainees before them had most probably made. She had to be honest and pointed out another deep scratch.

‘Miss Dummitt, I think this is the one I did in the lock. It looks exactly the same, so I don’t think it’s fair to blame Jessica.’

Dora leaned over, her pipe half falling from her mouth. She put her hand up to steady it.

‘Yer may be right, miss,’ she said, turning to Ronnie, ‘so let’s say no more about it.’ She took a few puffs. ‘It’s time ter press on so I’m goin’ to start the engine.’ She glared at the group. ‘All get back in yer places where I put yous.’

It was half an hour, and after much grumbling and cursing – words that Ronnie didn’t even know existed – before the engine turned over. But there was no movement of the boats.

‘We’re stuck well and truly,’ Dora said, tutting and rolling her eyes. ‘Yous’d best jump down, Jess. You, miss’ – she jerked her head towards Ronnie – ‘you stay with the tiller on the butty.’

‘Damn and blast,’ Ronnie heard Jessica mutter as she hurriedly climbed down.

‘Sally, lean yer weight with Jess on the shafts,’ Dora directed. ‘When you feel it move, shout up and I’ll reverse the engine while yer keep pushin’.’ She wiped her face with the sleeve of her filthy jacket.

Ronnie braced herself at the butty’s tiller. Dora was going to be furious with her and Jess. Just as everything had been going so well. If it hadn’t been for Jessica insisting on a cup of tea, none of this would have happened. She stopped that thought. It was unfair. The tea and toast couldn’t have come at a better time, and she was just as likely to have swerved into the bank as Jessica, if her steering in the lock was anything to go by.

‘Well, it don’t seem we can do this ourselves.’ Dora jumped down again. She knocked out her pipe against the heel of her boot as she surveyed the situation, then turned to the others. ‘Angela, go over ter the pub there and see if anyone’ll help. We need at least two – if not three – tough-lookin’ blokes ter