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

I’ve had an awful cold – it might have been flu – and was laid up all last week. Throat so sore I could only croak. But I’m feeling a lot better now and can’t wait to get back to the troops. I miss it now when I don’t sing. Isn’t that amazing? I do miss my violin as well but I shall take it up again when this is all over.

Well, I suppose I’d better end this. I shall be singing to the boys tonight for the first time since the cold so wish me luck.

Hope it’s not too long before the three of us all meet again – the boys now ask me to sing that Vera Lynn song at every concert. I must say it gives me hope as well as the soldiers. I’m thinking of you and Raine much of the time. Remember when things get you down to keep that determined chin up, Ronnie. You’re doing an important job that many girls would never be able to tackle!

Much love,

Suzy XX

Ronnie skimmed it again before folding it up and putting it back in the envelope. Her sister’s lovely letter had come at exactly the right moment.

She opened the one from Lois.

Hello Ronnie,

You’ll never guess. I’ve joined the WAAFs!! Me. Lois Park. Can you believe it? I realised I had to do something before I was forced into one of the services I didn’t want. And as the boys in the RAF look so dashing in their uniforms, I thought that was the one to be in. I start training on Wednesday, so hope you get this letter. In my next one I’ll tell you all about it – if I’m allowed!

How are you taking to life on the canals? I don’t know any girl who’s doing that. Trust you to do something different! Not a very easy place to meet boys though, I shouldn’t think. But you never were one to bother about them anyway, so you probably haven’t even noticed, haha.

Sorry this is short but I’m in a whirl with packing and saying goodbye to everyone. Don’t know where I’ll be based so don’t bother to answer this until I let you know.

Love and XX

Lois

Ronnie gave a wry smile. Trust Lois to go for what she considered the most glamorous uniform on the men. She shrugged. Lois had already had at least three boyfriends to her none at all. Had her friend learnt anything about boys in that time? Had she? Ronnie chewed her lip as she thought of Will. Why had she been so attracted to him? On appearance, or in his speech, he would never have met Maman’s approval – or Raine and Suzy’s. But on those occasions when she’d needed help he’d been there. Surely then, it was what people did that mattered. Judging a person by their appearance and the way they spoke was acting like a snob. But Will had spoilt it all by lying.

She gritted her teeth. She was just about to ask Jess’s advice when Angela came back, looking on as though she’d just sucked a lemon. Well, it was too bad. The question was burning her.

‘Jess?’

‘What, Ronnie?’

‘When a boy kisses a girl, is it normal that they put their tongue in her mouth?’

Ronnie heard Angela’s breath hiss.

‘It’s vulgar.’ Angela practically spat the word. ‘No well-brought-up boy – or man – would do something like that.’

‘I’ll explain,’ Jessica said firmly. ‘If a boy does it against your will, then it’s not nice at all. He’s forcing himself on you and is working himself up and wants to go to the next step. And you know what I mean by that?’

‘Course I do,’ Ronnie stuttered, feeling her cheeks go hot.

‘So he feels annoyed if she rejects his advances, as he realises he’s not going to get his own way with her. But if the two people love each other, it’s absolutely right – in fact, it’s wonderful because they’ve both consented.’

‘I don’t want to listen to any more of this disgusting conversation,’ Angela said. ‘I’m going back to the motor. Maybe it will all be over when I come back for supper.’

Jessica burst out laughing. ‘I’m only giving her a bit extra of the facts of life,’ she said. ‘She’s such a little innocent.’ She looked at Ronnie. ‘Because we’re talking about you, aren’t we, Ronnie?’

‘And Will,’ Angela threw over her shoulder as she slid back the hatch, ‘if his disgraceful behaviour when he brought the box of food that time is anything to go by.’

‘Angela’s right on this occasion,’ Jessica said. ‘I could tell by his expression he didn’t like being pushed away.’

Ronnie was silent. That’s why he’d lied. He was getting back at her for pulling away from that kiss, at first thrilling, then turning into something she now admitted she’d found repulsive. She waited until Angela had disappeared. She had to tell someone what had happened this afternoon in the police station – about Will, and Michael’s strange behaviour – at least she could trust Jess not to let it go further.

‘I must say I’m not surprised at Will.’ Jessica poured more tea into Ronnie’s mug. ‘I tried to warn you about him, if you remember.’

‘But he brought those boxes of food for all of us,’ Ronnie protested. ‘He paid out of his own money. It was such a generous thing to do.’

‘Ronnie, he didn’t.’

‘What do you mean? You saw him come in with it. And his friend took another one to the others.’

‘Yes, physically he brought them. But he didn’t pay for them with his own money.’

Ronnie stared. ‘Who did, then?’

‘Don’t you remember I gave him a pound?’

‘Oh, yes, I’d forgotten.’

‘And then, of course, Dora.’

‘What did she do?’

‘Sally saw her hand over some money to both of them as they were leaving.’ Jessica’s mouth tightened. ‘She didn’t know I’d already paid Will and the little beggar took it. So he got paid twice. I wouldn’t call that a