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

Anyway, I thought you’d like to know as from what you’ve told me she might not mention it when she next writes.

Take care of yourself, Ronnie. You can always drop me a note if you feel like talking to anyone outside the family. It can be helpful sometimes.

Terence Lincoln

Ronnie glanced at May who raised her head from her letter and winked. ‘Well, tell us the joke.’

She read it out to May who giggled, but when she glanced over to Jessica, Ronnie saw the older girl was sitting with one hand to her forehead, staring into space. A small piece of card fell to the floor and Ronnie bent to retrieve it. She couldn’t help a quick glance as she put it back on Jessica’s lap where the girl had placed her opened letter and another similar card. They looked like tickets to something.

‘Are you all right, Jessica?’ Ronnie asked. She paused. ‘Jess?’

‘Oh, yes … um, sorry, what did you say?’

‘You’ve gone quiet. Not bad news, I hope?’ She suddenly remembered how Jess had sobbed on their first night in the cabin, then fobbed her off that she must have been dreaming.

‘You could call it that,’ Jessica replied dully, folding the letter. ‘But don’t question me – I don’t want to talk about it.’

Why would a pair of tickets – if that’s what they were – upset her so much? Ronnie frowned. There was something going on in Jess’s home life – or love life – that was obviously making her friend unhappy.

She was just about to risk saying something more when there was a sudden loud banging on the side of the boat, making them all jump. Then Angela’s strident voice shouted, ‘Open up, please.’

The three of them looked at one another. No one stirred. Then the hatch in the roof slid open and Angela’s head appeared. She threw down a soft bulging bag.

‘Thanks for your help,’ she said sarcastically, as she climbed down the steps and retrieved her bag. She looked around. ‘I’ll take the double bed with Ronnie.’

‘You won’t,’ Jessica said quickly. ‘That’s where Ronnie and I sleep. You’ll take May’s bed.’

‘What, that little space?’

Ronnie suppressed a giggle. It really was difficult to imagine Angela’s plump body squeezed onto what barely consisted of a narrow bench. May had never grumbled, but May was slim. Well, at least Jess had spoken up.

‘What’s that cat doing here?’ Angela suddenly shrieked. ‘I’m allergic to cats. And it’s unhygienic in such a small space so you can get it out of here at once or I’ll report you to Miss Dummitt.’

Ronnie was about to argue when Jessica sent her a warning glance.

‘You will do no such thing,’ Jessica hissed, standing close to Angela and glowering from her lofty height.

‘You can’t stop me.’ Angela’s lips pursed.

‘Oh, yes, I can. I’m in charge of cooking so there’ll be no complaints about hygiene. The cat is the reason why Margaret is lying in hospital and we’re going to look after it for her. And you will keep your mouth shut. Meantime, do us all a favour and put your damned stuff away.’

Angela gave one of her disapproving sniffs and opened the two drawers, banging them back when she saw they were full.

‘I’ll be off then,’ May said, rolling her eyes towards Angela. She pressed her jumpers down in the pillowcase she was using for a suitcase, then blew Ronnie and Jessica a kiss and disappeared through the hatch.

Ronnie pulled down the bed and sat on the edge. With happy anticipation she opened the envelope covered by her sister’s large looping writing. She pulled out a sheet of notepaper, written on both sides.

Dear Ronnie,

I keep thinking about you and wondering how you’re getting on in the canal boat. I bet there’s a lot to take in. And I bet it’s jolly hard dirty work as well. But that probably suits you. I’d hate it!

As usual we’re very busy here at the ferry pool but I hope to be taking a couple of days’ leave in the not too distant future. Be good if it ties in with you. I believe you said you get three days after your training, so let me know and I’ll do my best.

I heard from Maman a few days ago. She wrote it on the day you left. It was full of woe about all her girls leaving her to cope on her own and all she had for company was a mangy dog! Maybe she and Rusty will become friends. But I reckon the sooner Pierre manages to see her again, the better. She was a changed woman, wasn’t she, in his company? I didn’t recognise her as my mother! Neither did Suzanne, haha.

Well, there’s no real news from me. We just keep doing our job, hoping it makes a difference. I long for the war to end all this misery, and yet if it wasn’t for the war I’d never be doing the job I love more than anything in the world. Or met Alec. Isn’t that awful? But it’s the truth.

I’d better go. They’re ringing the supper bell and I’m starving.

Lots of love and take care of yourself, little sis,

Raine XX

Ronnie read her sister’s letter again, stopping at Raine’s observation of Maman. She grinned to herself. Her sister was right. Maman wasn’t just a changed woman that evening, she was transformed. But as soon as Pierre had had to leave the following day it hadn’t taken long before she’d slipped back into some of her old habits. Yet her love for him had never wavered.

Did first love always last?

The image of a dark curly-haired youth with a man’s physique popped into her head. What was Will up to when he’d zoomed past the police car yesterday, and cheekily waved? Surely he couldn’t have seen who it was in the passenger seat. He certainly didn’t seem to be perturbed by the police even though Michael Scott had made that