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

their cautious way up the Grand Union Canal towards Royal Leamington Spa, Dora ensuring the trainees all took turns on every aspect of handling the pair of boats.

‘Pair of boats comin’ towards us,’ Dora said, squinting. ‘They be trainee wenches’ boats.’

Ronnie and the others clambered onto the roofs of their narrow boats, hoping to catch a glimpse. Their trainer had obviously told the crew the same thing as two girls stood atop the butty and another pair on the motor, their cargo sheeted up against the weather.

Ronnie cupped her hands round her mouth.

‘Hello. Where are you heading?’

But the girls shook their heads and put their hands round their ears.

‘They can’t hear us,’ May said. ‘But it’s nice to know we’re all in the same boat.’ She broke off, giggling at the weak joke.

‘Somethin’ for yous all ter be aimin’ for,’ Dora smirked.

This time Ronnie steered the motor through Braunston Tunnel. Almost immediately she came upon a very sharp bend. Heart in mouth she carefully negotiated it. Enjoying a rare moment of pride, she was relieved to find the tunnel was shorter than that awful one when Margaret had panicked, and there was no further mishap.

Ronnie began to relax, finally getting to grips with the various manoeuvres, grateful that the wind wasn’t quite so raw and as unsettling as it had been. They were passing through open countryside, still snowy but glittering in the sun, and after the bustle of Braunston itself, it was wonderfully peaceful, except for the occasional birdsong which was a beautiful sound, and the crackle of the ice breaking in the trees. She briefly closed her eyes, breathing in the cold crisp air. Being in tune with nature must feel the same as Raine felt being in tune with the sky, and Suzy in tune with her music. Ronnie smiled. She was becoming quite poetical.

That evening, soon after they’d tied up, Dora came to tell them May was going to have a singsong in the motor that evening and had invited them to join in.

‘I’ve put salt on the gunwale,’ she said, ‘so it should be safe enough.’

‘Ronnie and I’ll be there,’ Jess said. ‘I don’t know about Angela.’

‘I shall stay in and answer my letters.’ Angela’s mouth was set in her usual lines of disapproval.

Just as well, Ronnie thought. That girl always put such a dampener on everything.

‘We aim to get to Stockton termorrer, and if we don’t have no more delays we should be in Leamington Spa the next day.’

‘Don’t forget our night out’s in Leamington Spa,’ Jessica muttered to Ronnie.

‘If yous’ve got anythin’ to say, Jess, then we’d all like to know,’ Dora said.

‘Oh, no, it was nothing.’

‘Hmm,’ Dora grunted. ‘Then don’t interrupt when I’m speakin’. I believe my words might be just a little more important than yours.’

Angela sniggered and Jessica rolled her eyes.

‘I quite agree, Miss Dummitt,’ Jessica said, her eyes now demurely cast down, causing Ronnie to stifle a giggle.

‘The twenty-second and twenty-third are the last times the band plays,’ Jessica said when Dora disappeared.

Ronnie handed Jess a mug of instant coffee while she was at the tiller. By an unwritten agreement, neither of them mentioned how it might have been obtained. The delicious aroma had wafted into her nostrils as she’d poured the boiling water over the powder. What a marvellous change from tea and cocoa. For a treat she’d put a whole teaspoon of sugar in her own mug.

‘One of us will have to ask her,’ Jessica said, ‘and I suppose it’ll have to be me.’ She gave a rueful smile.

‘It’s a shame the others can’t go, too, as Dora would be more likely to allow it,’ Ronnie said. ‘She couldn’t very well say no to all of us.’ She gave a start as she spotted bunches of brown feathers through the mist. ‘Watch out, Jess!’

‘Out of the way, you silly ducks.’ Jessica moved the tiller gently to the left to give them a wide berth.

‘How do we know Dora will let us stay for the evening?’ Ronnie said. ‘I can see us loading up and turning round to go straight back to London.’

‘We’ve got to let her see she’s being unreasonable if she doesn’t allow it,’ Jessica answered, her brow furrowed in concentration.

‘Do you know what I’ve just realised?’ Ronnie said, smiling at the effortless way the pair of mallards swam by, leaving barely a noticeable ripple behind them, the colourful male just a foot or two in the lead. When she was sure they were safely out of danger she said, ‘The twenty-third, the Saturday, is my birthday.’

Jessica threw her head back and laughed. ‘Ronnie, that’s perfect. I’ll tell Dora that. She can’t possibly say no to a birthday treat.’

Ronnie swallowed the last precious mouthfuls of coffee. Now that she’d decided she would go with Jess to the dance, if Dora had different ideas, she’d be quite disappointed.

In the end Ronnie went with Jessica to speak to Dora.

‘What makes yer think yer so special that the rest of us will have ter spend the night in Leamington?’ Dora demanded. ‘We’re already behind on our schedule.’

‘It’s only that I’ve been given two tickets, Miss Dummitt,’ Jessica explained, ‘and then I found out that they’re on the same day as Ronnie’s birthday.’

‘So, yer’ll finally be seventeen, then, miss,’ Dora said with a smirk. ‘The minimum age to work the boats.’

Ronnie felt her cheeks warm.

‘Yes, you can go red, my girl,’ Dora said. ‘You didn’t tell Mrs Hunter the truth on your interview, did you?’

‘Not quite,’ Ronnie stuttered.

Dora took her time to light her pipe.

‘“Not quite” allus means “no”,’ she said finally, narrowing her eyes against the smoke. ‘Mrs Hunter thought you was lyin’ but yer sister assured her you was capable. I told her I’d already guessed, by the look of yer. Barely more than a kid. But I thought yous’d cope. I’ll see if I was right when we complete the round trip.’

‘Would you give Ronnie and me permission to go and hear the band, Miss Dummitt?’