Christine Florence Temlett

21 Bickham Park Road

Peverell

Plymouth

Devon. PL3 4QJ.

Mobile: 07513548691

Email: c.temlett@btinternet.com

AN INNOCENT GIRL

A memoir

by Christine Temlett

                                                             PROLOGUE

“Hurry, Sam. Hurry! Your mother needs the midwife.”

Jack’s voice, usually so calm, was desperate, prompting his son to grab his bike and race towards the village. Jack returned to the bedroom to try and comfort his wife. “I’ve sent Sam up to get the midwife, Ruby,” he said, wiping her brow and praying silently for Sam’s speedy return as she cried out in pain.

Good lad, he thought, gripping Ruby’s hand. Soon he heard the bicycles outside the Fir Tree Cottage.

‘Good lad,’ he said out loud, as he walked into the kitchen to find Sam and Nurse Green. His other son, Tim, burst into the kitchen to find them all rushing up the stairs. The boys, aged 12 and 14, who worried about their mother, as at 43, she was rather old to be having a baby, made to follow up the stairs.

“You two, out now,” Jack shouted down at them.

The sound of her cries made both feel uneasy, but they turned away and walked out. Sam suggested going for a walk to take his younger brother’s mind off the situation. They made their way across the road and climbed over the hedge into the field. A few cows looked up from their grazing and started mooing. The imposing white hills of the nearby china clay works dominated the landscape, in stark contrast to the gorse and heather of the Cornish moorland surrounding Fir Tree Cottage.

The boys gazed back towards the cottage, hoping their mother was delivering a much-wanted daughter, before they started picking hazelnuts from the hedgerow.

“They will be nice to eat at Christmas,” said Tim, stuffing his pockets.

“They’re a good colour,” said Sam. “Yellow and brown, really ripe. I can’t believe it’s only a month away.”

“Yes, and Mum loves these nuts. We can roast them by the fire.”

Just then a baby began to wail. The boys looked at each other, stuffed a few final nuts into their pockets and ran for home.

Their father was trotting down the stairs as they barrelled into the porch. “It’s good news!” he said. “You have a baby sister.”

Nurse Green appeared at the top of the stairs. “Do you want to see her, boys?”

Sam and Tim kicked off their shoes, raced upstairs and rushed into the bedroom, where their mother was cradling the new arrival.

“Isn’t she gorgeous!” said Sam. “So tiny and really cute.”

“She’s like a little doll,” said Tim. “What’s her name?”

Jack smiled at Ruby. “Your mother has decided she wants to call her Christine.”

The boys agreed it was a lovely name. Sam said he was going up to Mill Hill to tell Aunty Alice and Uncle Will. He ran all the way and made it in record time, stopping for just a second to pat Aunty Alice’s collie, Lassie, before knocking on the door.

When Alice answered, Sam could barely get his words out quickly enough. “Aunty Alice, Aunty Alice…” he gasped, panting for breath. “Mum’s just had a baby girl… I’ve got a little sister.”

Sam beamed at Aunty Alice, proud and delighted at being the one to tell her the good news about her sister. Uncle Will came to the door and invited Sam in. He followed them into the sitting room, neat and tidy as always, where Aunty Alice had been knitting baby clothes and Uncle Will reading the newspaper. Sam sniffed the air. Aunty Alice had been making her marvellous pasties again, but Sam wasn’t distracted. “She’s called Christine!” he said. “She’s so sweet, absolutely perfect.”

Aunty Alice and Uncle Will smiled at each other. They were proud of Sam, who had done well at school and had just started an apprenticeship at a garage.

“We know you’ll be a great brother,” said Uncle Will.

“Stop and have a pasty and a cup of tea,” said Aunty Alice. Sam couldn’t resist, but after he’d eaten and told his aunt and uncle everything he knew about the baby, and the latest about his job at the garage, he made his excuses.

“I want to go and see Uncle Tom and Aunty Mary,” he said. “I want to catch them before opening time.”

Mum’s brother Tom, and his wife Mary, ran the Jolly Miller Inn, with Tom also running a taxi business alongside.

Alice and Will followed Sam down the garden path to wave him off.

“Tell your mother I’ll be down to see her tomorrow,” said Alice. “I can’t wait to see my new baby niece and I’ll bring the clothes I’ve knitted. I’ll write and tell your cousin Victoria too. She’ll be so excited to see the baby when she comes home from teacher training college for Christmas.”

Sam made his way up the winding hill to the main road, passing the old abandoned stone quarry before heading into the village. He strode pass the village church and soon the white stone-washed walls of the Jolly Miller were just ahead of him. He knew Tom and Mary would be delighted with the news. The pub was shut, so Sam went round the back where he spotted Uncle Tom and Aunty Mary feeding the pigs they kept in the back yard.

“Uncle Tom, Aunty Mary! Mum’s had a baby girl,” he shouted.

“Wonderful, Sam. That’s the best news I’ve heard in ages,” called Tom over the sound of his snorting pigs. “I know Ruby was hoping for a girl.”

“We’re all delighted,” said Sam. “It’ll be a great Christmas. Dad’s already sorting out the best turkey.”

“This calls for a celebration at the Jolly Miller tonight to wet the baby’s head,” Aunty Mary announced.

Sam smiled, knowing it wouldn’t be long before news of the baby had reached the entire village. “I’ve got some nappies and bibs I bought last time I was in town,” said Mary. “You can take them home with you, Sam.”

“That’s really lovely,” he said as Aunty Mary disappeared into the pub before returning with a bag. She and Uncle Tom didn’t have children of their own but were exceedingly kind to their nieces and nephews.

“Before I forget, Sam, could you please ask your father to sort me out a nice-sized goose for Christmas?” she asked. Ruby and Jack reared their own turkeys, geese, ducks and chickens, and Sam assured her his father would provide the ideal bird.

“Right, I better head home to see that little sister of mine,” he said.

“Before you leave, how’s work at the garage?” asked Tom.

“I’m really enjoying it.”

“Good. I’m waiting for the day when you can repair my taxi when it breaks down,” said Tom.

“I’d be glad to help,” said Sam. “That’s what families are for.”

It wasn’t long before Sam was back home gazing down at his newborn sister as she slept in her cot.

“If anybody lays a finger on you, they’ll have me to answer to,” he whispered to her. “I’d kill anyone who ever dared to hurt you.”

CHAPTER ONE

“Hurry up, Christine, hurry up and put your boots on.”

I kicked off my slippers, put on my new red Wellington boots and followed Mum out of the door.

“That’s a good girl,” she said, handing me a bag of seed. “You can help feed the chickens.”

When we arrived at the chicken pen, the birds came clucking over to greet us. We sprinkled corn and maze on the ground and I watched my mother collect the eggs and place them gently in a basket. “We’ll put these eggs in the pantry,” she said. “Then we’ll go and feed the geese and ducks.”

As usual we received a noisy welcome from the geese.

“They sound very hungry, Mummy,” I said, making my way to the little stream which ran through the enclosure, where my mother joined me after she’d finished feeding the birds. “Look at the fish!” I said.

“They’re minnows, Christine,” she told me.

I stood mesmerized by these silver creatures, darting between the stones.

“Turkeys now, they must be starving!”

I followed Mum through the garden gate and into the field where we kept the turkeys. At three years old, I found the cacophony of gobbling sounds erupting from the rafter of turkeys completely overwhelming.

“They make a funny noise, Mummy,” I shouted.

“They’re just different, Christine. But they are beautiful turkeys, the best for miles around.”

I knew my mother was proud of her turkeys, but I felt nervous. Some of them were as big as me, and I stayed close to her until it was time to go. I watched as she secured the gate, then she bent down to me. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Christine,” she said. “You’re a lovely little helper.”

I felt so pleased and skipped back towards the cottage. “I like helping you, Mummy,” I said.

“Your father will be home from work soon. He’s on early shift today,” she said.

I was skipping even faster now, I loved it when father was home early.

Back indoors, Tim was standing by the table, as always, the pockets of his trousers bulging. I always wondered what he carried in his pockets, it made him look funny. Sometimes he would pull out a watch, seeing that he could now repair them, like a proper jeweller. This time I could see something like the corner of a wooden box sticking out of his pocket. I made a beeline for it and snatched it out of his pocket, laughing and running away with it.

It looked odd and I couldn’t make out what it was in the short time I had it, before Tim caught up with me and grabbed my hair, making me stop. I started screaming, however his screams were louder than mine.

“Don’t touch this ever again!” he shouted, his face inches from mine. I felt his spit pelting my cheeks as he screamed.

Mum rushed over to us and forced his hand to let go of my hair. By then, I was sobbing in pain and scared stiff. I had never seen him before.

He finally pushed me hard to the floor and walked out of the house.

“Are you all right, Christine?” Mum asked, trying to comfort me in her arms. I was however having none of it and carried on with my shocked wailing.

“Listen to me, my love,” Mum said, looking straight into my eyes. “Listen to me. What you took from Tim is a very precious thing. It’s an old pin ball game his best friend, David, gifted him. Remember David? I told you about him.”

I shook my head.

“When Tim was about seven or eight, remember?”

I shook my head again.

“David was Tim’s best friend and he died as a crumbling wall fell on top of him, right in front of Tim’s eyes.”

        *

It wasn’t long before I heard the familiar sound of my father’s motorbike pulling up. I rushed outside and as soon as Dad had placed his bike securely on its stand, he bent down, picked me up, gave me a hug and carried me back into the cottage.

“I’m glad you’re home, Jack,” said Mum. “I’ll put the kettle on. Would you get some water from the well?”

“Of course,” he said.

I followed my father as I wanted to watch him draw water from the well. It was fun seeing him wind the bucket down then turn the handle to bring it up again, the water sloshing from side to side with some of it dropping back down the well.

“Keep back,” he said. “It’s very deep.”

“I won’t get too close, Daddy,” I promised, watching as he drew two buckets of water.

He carefully closed the wooden lid and placed an enormous stone on top of it. He looked at me. “Don’t want to take any chances, now we have you around.”

We went into the kitchen and Mum gave him a cup of tea and me a beaker of milk.

“Will you tell me a story, Daddy?” I asked. I enjoyed sitting on my father’s lap and listening to stories.

“Not now, love,” he said. “I’ve got some work to do in the garden.” He could see the disappointment on my face and delved into his crib bag. “See what your old dad has brought you home today, Christine?” he said, handing me a beautiful purple stone he’d found while hosing down the clay at work. It sparkled in the light and I was entranced.

“Thank you, Daddy,” I said, giving him a huge hug. “I’ll put it on the windowsill where I can watch it sparkle in the sun.”

“You can help me with the baking, Christine,” said Mum.

 I felt happy to help her bake as I enjoyed rolling out the pastry. Mum was going to make biscuits and I watched as she got out her mixing bowl, rolling pin and pastry board, and placed them on the big farmhouse table.

“I’m off out to the garden,” said Dad, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll be looking forward to having a biscuit after tea, Christine, especially if you make gingerbread men.”

Mum began making scones and saffron buns, both favourites with the family. I was allowed to stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. When the mixture was ready and in the oven, she said we were going to make gingerbread men. I loved them as they tasted really hot and spicy. I helped her mix the ingredients in the bowl, then roll it out and use the cutter to shape the biscuits.

I knew my big brother liked gingerbread men too, and I asked Mum when they would be home, Sam from the garage and Tim from the jewellers in town, where he had started working since leaving school. He was an apprentice, learning how to repair clocks and watches. My parents were proud of them both for getting apprenticeships and my father was happy they wouldn’t be following him into the clay works, where the work was tough and the pay poor.

“Not long now love, so I’ll clean up and start cooking tea,” she said. She scrubbed the table and soon the smell of sausage and mash was making me hungry, but I knew Mum would make me wait until we were all sat together. I was excited when my brothers arrived home. I waited at the table as they washed their hands.

“Smells good, Mum,” said Sam.

“Yes, we’re starving,” said Tim.

I got up and placed the plate of gingerbread men on the table, wanting them to know I had been busy too. They looked pleased and said how much they loved gingerbread men. Dad came in from the garden and Mum asked him to light the oil lamp as it was getting dark, and its glow was soon casting shadows on the walls. Keen to entertain me, my brothers started making shadow puppets on the walls. I giggled in amazement as Tim made the shape of a cat appear and I could see its ears wiggling.

“Look at my rabbit, Christine!” said Sam. I was delighted to see a rabbit hopping along the wall, and even more surprised when it did an enormous hop and disappeared behind the curtain.

“Where did the rabbit go?” I asked, but everyone was too busy tucking into their sausage and mash to answer. Not a scrap of food was left when we’d finished eating. I handed the gingerbread men round and we were enjoying them with a cup of tea when, from nowhere, Sam announced, “I’ve decided to give up my job at the garage and join the RAF.”

I heard Mum gasp and Dad splutter. There was a pause until my father said, “I don’t think you will like the RAF, Sam. It will be difficult for you to accept the discipline.”

Sam looked annoyed. “Don’t be so bloody stupid, old man,” he snapped. “You’re talking rubbish.”

The room fell dead silent. I was frightened and started to shake. I’d never heard Sam speak like this before. I was sitting next to Mum and held onto her skirt. She’d stopped eating her biscuit and looked shocked at Sam’s sudden outburst.

Sam glared at Dad. “It’s different now. Things have changed since you were in the Army.”

 “You should give it a bit more thought, Sam. You’ve only got another 12 months to go and you’ll be a fully qualified mechanic.”

It was as if he had put a match to gunpowder. Sam raised his fist and slammed it down on the table. His plate jumped up, smashing onto the floor. “No need for you to get nasty, Sam,” said Dad, his voice still calm but sounding nervous as he remained in his seat at the table. Mum looked disapprovingly at Sam.

“I’m fed up with working in the garage,” snapped Sam. “And don’t think I’m going to take any notice of an old man like you.”

“Right,” said Mum, getting to her feet. “Sam, don’t talk to your father like that. Can’t you see your behaviour is frightening Christine? I really think it would be a good idea to finish your apprenticeship.”

Sam knew Mum was really the one in charge of the house, but he continued to protest. “No!” he said. “My mind’s made up and there’s nothing you or the old man can do about it. The garage has promised to give me a good reference, so I won’t have any problems getting in.”

With that he kicked back his chair and stormed upstairs to his room. Tim had a grin on his face, almost as if he had enjoyed the row. He got up and followed Sam. I sat shivering as Mum started to clear the plate that Sam had smashed. Dad got up to help her and when they were finished, he asked me if I would like a bedtime story.

“Yes please, Daddy,” I said.

“Joseph and his coat of many colours, I think,” he said. “It’s one your grandfather used to tell me.”

I enjoyed the story. “Wasn’t it kind of Joseph to be so good to his brothers after the way he was treated?” I asked.

“Yes, I suppose so Christine,” said Dad. “Sleep tight.”

A few months later Sam arrived home in his RAF uniform having been based at St Eval with the Coastal Command. He looked so smart, complete with slicked-back haircut, that I couldn’t help feeling proud of him.

“I’m ground staff based at St Eval,” he told us. “My job is to check and maintain the aircraft. I’m working with a really decent bunch of chaps.”

Tim looked impressed and Mum seemed much happier. Soon after that Sam bought a motorbike and I could not help noticing it was bigger and better than the one Dad had.

*

I was always pleased when Sam arrived home on weekend leave. He would often pick me up, put me on his shoulders, and carry me around the house and the garden.

 “Where’s Sam?” I asked Mum one day.

“In the garden, dear,” she said. “Go and look for him.”

It wasn’t long before I spotted Sam hiding between the pea vines, eating the peas. “Do you want a few peas, Christine?” he asked.

“Daddy told me we’re not allowed to eat them,” I said.

“Oh, he won’t mind us having a few.”

I stood beside Sam shelling and eating peas, and it wasn’t until I heard him shout that I realised he had crept away.

“Come down here, Dad,” he called. “Christine’s pinching the peas.”

I was frightened and tried to hide, but it was too late, Dad was already on his way down the path towards me.

“Christine, what are you doing?” He looked and sounded very cross. “You know I told you that you mustn’t eat the garden peas.”

“I only started eating them because I saw Sam eating them,” I said.

Sam was grinning at the other end of the garden and it must have dawned on Dad what he was up to.

“Come on then, Christine. I told you if you keep eating the peas, there won’t be any left for our dinner.”

Sam sniggered at me as we walked back towards the cottage. “You got caught, didn’t you?” he teased. I scowled at him. I felt cross with him and his cheeky grin. I ran indoors to tell Mum.

“Whatever will you pair be up to next?” she said. “Sam’s old enough to know better, he’s the one who should be told off.”

I was glad Mum was on my side. “I love you, Mummy,” I said, as she sat down in her armchair and I climbed on her knee.

“Wednesday tomorrow Christine, the day Aunty Alice comes down to visit.”

“Great,” I shouted excitedly. “I love Aunty Alice.”

I spotted Sam out on the back step and noticed he had the shoe polish in one hand and his shoes in the other. I climbed off Mum’s knee as I wanted to watch him doing what he called “spit and polish”. I watched as he put the polish on the shoes and spit on them, before buffing them to a shine with the shoe brush. He sounded in good spirits and started singing: “On top of old Smokey all covered in snow…” It was good listening to him singing.

“Got to look my best, we’ve got an inspection in the morning,” he said to Mum.

“Well, being in the air force has certainly smartened you up son,” she said smiling proudly.

Sam winked at me. “Hey, little sis. I’m flying to Dublin next week and I’ll bring you back a lovely Irish doll.”

I jumped up and down in excitement, forgiving him instantly for getting me in trouble.

Next day Aunty Alice arrived as promised. She greeted me, as always, by saying, “Christine, my favourite niece,” before inviting us to tea that Sunday.

“Victoria and Edward have an announcement,” she said, referring to Victoria’s boyfriend who she’d met at teacher training college.

“Have they decided to get engaged?” asked Mum.

“You’ll have to wait until Sunday. Victoria and Edward would like to tell you themselves! I’ll send Tom down in his taxi at 4pm to collect you.”

 “Are Tom and Mary coming too?” asked Mum.

“Yes, Mary’s sister will be taking over at the Jolly Miller.”

“Great! Sam’s home too,” said Mum. “He can come along.”

I continued playing as Mum and Aunty Alice chatted about family news and village gossip, until Alice went home leaving Mum and me looking forward to Sunday.

CHAPTER TWO

It was me who woke the household up on Sunday morning. As usual, Tim and Sam were not pleased. I knew Dad would ask them to get dressed and walk to church.

Tim in particular didn’t want to go because a group of boys from the next village would hide in the bushes and throw stones at them when they got near the church.

If they didn’t go, Dad would kick their backsides until they relented and went. So they had dad one end kicking them and the boys the other end lying in wait for them.

This Sunday they weren’t going to go church, as they needed to get ready for the visit to Aunty Alice’s.

At 4pm, Uncle Tom beeped the horn of his taxi and all five of us went out and got in his car. I sat on Mum’s lap on the back seat and enjoyed the ride. I admired Aunty Alice’s pretty front lawn with pink and white flowers when we arrived at the bungalow. Sam and I made a fuss of Lassie before we went inside and saw an amazing spread of sandwiches, sausage rolls, jellies and lots of other tasty treats. Victoria stood up and came over to greet us.

“I’d like you to meet Edward,” she said, introducing him.

“You must be Christine,” Edward said to me. “Victoria told me she had a beautiful little cousin.” Edward was tall, dark and handsome. I felt in awe and much too shy to speak to him.

“Come here, Christine,” said Victoria, holding her arms out to me. I ran over to her. “We have lots of nice things to eat,” she said, picking me up and taking me out into the kitchen where Aunty Mary and Aunty Alice were finishing off the final preparations.

Uncle Tom came in after looking around Uncle Will’s garden. “You’ve got some lovely sweet peas and the most enormous marrows, Will,” he said. “Are you going to enter them in the village show?”

“Well, I was thinking about it,” said Uncle Will.

“Stop talking about gardening, we’re here to celebrate,” said Aunty Mary.

“You’re right, Mary. How is my lovely Victoria?” he said, turning to his niece.

“All right, Uncle Tom. Just worried with my exams coming up,” she said.

“No need to worry, you’ll pass with flying colours,” he reassured.

Aunty Alice gestured for us all to sit at the table. I squeezed between her and Mum and had a lovely view of Farmer Allen with his sheep dogs in a field rounding up the sheep. Uncle Will began telling us how one of the dogs had recently won an award at the local sheep dog trials.

“It’s nice to have you all here to celebrate a special occasion,” began Aunty Alice, not wanting any further talk of Farmer Allen or his dogs.

“Yes! We’re engaged!” Victoria blurted out, thrusting her hand forward, drawing everyone’s attention to her sparkling engagement ring. I looked in amazement at the way it sparkled.

“It’s exquisite,” gasped Mum, as Tim got up for a closer inspection.

“Such flawless diamonds and they’re brilliantly cut,” he said.

“I should hope so. It cost enough – only the best for Victoria,” said Edward.

Victoria blushed.

“We’re planning our wedding for August,” continued Edward. “We don’t want a long engagement seeing we are hoping to take up teaching posts in September.”

Victoria turned to me. “Would you be a bridesmaid at my wedding, Christine?”

“You’ll have a lovely dress to wear,” added Edward.

I didn’t need any persuading, especially when Aunty Alice told me that Victoria’s cousins, Ann and Barbara, would be bridesmaids too.

“I can’t wait to be a bridesmaid,” I said, imagining fairytale princesses.

“Well that’s settled then,” said Victoria, before giving me a hug.

We ate and discussed the reception, which Aunty Alice hoped could be held at The Jolly Miller. “We’ll make sure Victoria and Edward have a wonderful reception. Could Hugh make the wedding cake?” asked Aunty Mary, referring to Uncle Will’s brother who was a baker in the village.

“Yes, that’s been sorted,” nodded Aunty Alice looking very pleased.

“Gosh, it’s getting dark already.” Uncle Will stood up and walked over to a switch on the wall. I was surprised when he pressed it and a light came on.

“It’s an electric light, Christine,” explained Mum.

“I’m so glad we had electricity brought in. It makes such a difference, Ruby,” said Aunty Alice.

“I’m sure it must,” said Mum wistfully.

The grown-ups carried on chatting and I wandered into the hall to see Lassie. Before long it was time to go and we made our way to Uncle Tom’s taxi. Uncle Will followed us out of the bungalow, shining his torch on the ground, and Sam took my hand so I didn’t slip.

“A nice night,” said Dad. “It’s almost a full moon.”

“See the man in the moon, Christine?” asked Sam, pointing. “If you look up at the moon, you can see the shape of a man’s face.”

I looked harder at the moon and thought I could make out the shape of a man. “I’ve seen the man in the moon!” I shouted out excitedly, and everyone chuckled in amusement.

*

Aunty Alice arrived early the following Wednesday to take me to the dressmakers for my bridesmaid dress fitting. She told Mum the good news that Edward had inherited some money and could buy him and Victoria a house.

“What a brilliant start for them both,” said Mum. “I must go into town and buy them a wedding present.”

“Make sure you buy them something decent, Ruby,” said Aunty Alice. “Nothing cheap.”

“I’ll do my best,” said Mum, sounding a bit worried.

I was just four years old at the time, but knew money was tight. Aunty Alice didn’t want Victoria’s new in-laws to consider us poor relations. I think it must have put Mum under pressure to keep up with the Joneses.

We got on the bus and went to dressmaker Mrs May’s house. It was smartly painted in light blue with a dark blue door. Mrs May welcomed us with tea, then went to get her tape measure. She told Aunty Alice that Victoria’s dress was almost complete and if she wanted, she could sneak a peek. I stood as still as I could while being measured and listened as the adults discussed the bridesmaids’ dresses. They were to be satin, pale pink, with a bow at the back. I would be wearing white satin shoes, white lace gloves and a tiara decorated with pretty pink rosebuds.

“It sounds as if it will be a fairytale wedding,” said Mum.

When the measuring was done, we went to see Victoria’s dress. I was spellbound when Mrs May removed the cover.

“It looks like the dress Cinderella wore at the village pantomime, Mummy, but even better than that!” I gasped.

Mum agreed it was the most beautiful wedding dress she’d ever seen. “This will be the best wedding this village has seen in a while,” she said.

It felt as if I was walking on clouds going home. When we got home, I took the Irish doll Sam had given me into the garden. “It’s a nice day, Irene, be good for Mummy,” I said as I pushed my doll’s pram down the path. I fancied some strawberries so made my way to the bottom of the garden where father kept his strawberry patch. My mouth was watering and I was looking forward to eating them, when I saw Charlie the rooster. He was standing in the way, stopping me from reaching the strawberries. I was struck with fear as only the previous week Mum had told me to keep away from him.

“He’s a nasty old devil and he has sharp spurs,” she’d warned me.

Before I had chance to escape, Charlie spotted me. He fixed me with his beady eyes and puffed up his feathers, making him look twice as big and twice as scary. I dropped the doll’s pram and ran as fast as I could back up the path, screaming for my mother, with Charlie in close pursuit. My heart pounded. I slipped and within seconds Charlie was standing over me flapping his wings, ready to attack. By this time Mum had heard my screams and raced from the cottage with a broom and began clouting Charlie. He didn’t go easily and started to attack Mum. It was only when she gave him a blow that sent him flying, did he give up and retreat. It was an enormous relief when Mum picked me up and carried me inside. As we walked in, Tim stepped out of the house laughing. It wasn’t until she locked the door and I felt safe that I started sobbing with relief. My knee was bleeding where I’d fallen.

“I’ll clean you up and put a plaster on, then I’ll kiss it better,” said Mum. “And I won’t let Charlie chase you again.”

When Dad arrived home, Mum told him what had happened and insisted in no uncertain terms that Charlie had to go.

“My poor girl,” he said, picking me up.

“This is Tim’s fault, always teasing him,” said Mum. “He has made Charlie too dangerous to keep.”

She was annoyed and during tea the following Sunday Dad explained that Charlie was gone. “That rooster was always trouble,” said Tim.

“He would have been all right if you hadn’t teased him,” said Mum angrily.

There was a glint in Tim’s eye. “Not me, Mother,” he said.

“I know what goes on here,” she said.

Tim began rocking backwards and forwards on the legs of his chair and looked rather sheepish.

“I didn’t know the old bugger would chase Christine,” he said. “He wouldn’t have managed to get out of his pen if you’d shut the gate.”

“How dare you try to put the blame on your mother?” said Dad sharply. “And stop swearing. We don’t want Christine hearing words like that.”

Tim apologised, then left the table and went out.

        *

This wasn’t the first time Tim got me into trouble.

When I was only two or three Tim put me up to telling my mother’s friend, Gladys, that she had big boobies. He kept whispering in my ear encouraging me to say it while we were all sitting around the farm house table. I somehow knew it was wrong because of the way he was whispering so was reluctant to say it, but Tim kept insisting.

“You’ve got big boobies, Aunty Gladys,” I blurted out.

I could see she wasn’t pleased about it as soon as I said it.

Aunty Gladys looked straight at Tim. “You put Christine up to saying that didn’t you, Tim?” she asked him looking annoyed.

What he meant as a laugh turned out to be rather awkward for him, as Mother shot him a disapproving look. So he went bright red, got up from the table and disappeared out of the door.

“Don’t worry Christine, I know it was him put you up to saying it,” Aunty Gladys said to me. Mortified, I went over to mum and she gave me a cuddle.

        *

In the evenings, I would watch Mum and Dad clearing away the dishes and lit the oil lamps.

“Why haven’t we got electric lights like Aunty Alice?” I asked one evening.

“It would cost too much to run a power cable from our nearest neighbour who has had electricity installed,” said Dad.

Mum joined the conversation. “It’s all right for Aunty Alice and Uncle Will, they own their bungalow, but we only rent Fir Tree Cottage. But we don’t care about having electricity, we like it here.”

“I like living here too,” I said.

“It’s family that matters most, Christine,” said Mum as she pulled me close. “As long as we have each other, that’s all that matters to us.”

I knew even then that my parents weren’t well off. Dad worked hard at the china clay clay factory, but, if it weren’t for Mum’s raring of geese, turkeys, ducks and chickens, we wouldn’t have had any money at all.

A week later, Sam came home as pleased as punch having passed his driving test. “I’ll hire a car and take you all out,” he announced. “Anyone for a day at the seaside?” he laughed.

“Yes, Sam!” I squealed, running over to hug him.

*

The day of the beach trip dawned and the sun was shining. As we sat down for breakfast, I noted that the family was in a good mood. Mum was sitting with Tim, as ever. Later I would wonder if it was her watchful affection turned him into a Mummy’s boy. Before the war, Tim had been hospitalised for a long time with what they thought was TB. “Some nurses were dreadful with him, the poor little mite,” Mum would tell anyone who would listen. Once he was out, Mum made sure he never left her side.

Sam was singing, “In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone…” His dark brown hair had had a fresh cut in a slicked back style. His aftershave would fill a room when he walked in. “And that was the end of sweet Molly…” He finished the song with a wink at me. He had been singing this ever since he had been to Dublin. I enjoyed listening to him sing while eating my breakfast as Mum packed sandwiches and filled flasks with tea. Dad carried the picnic basket out and put it in the boot of the car. Sam got in the driver’s seat and Tim got in beside him. I sat between my parents in the back.

“That’s where I work, Christine,” said Dad as we passed the clay works. I stood up on the back seat and peered out of the window. It struck me that the clay works looked much bigger now than it did from a distance.

“It’s so big,” I said. “Do you like working there, Daddy?”

“Well, I don’t know about liking it, love, but it earns a living,” he said, giving me a hug. We left the clay works behind and headed towards the coast.

This was the first time I’d seen the sea – at least I don’t remember seeing it before – and as we started down towards the beach Mum spotted some lovely properties.

“Look at these beautiful houses, Jack, wouldn’t it be lovely to live here?”

“We’d never afford a house like that, they must cost a fortune,” he replied.

“We could, Jack. If I managed to win the football pools,” she said.

“I’m not holding out much hope of that.”

“Well, you never know. It’s nice to dream.”

“Someone has to win, Mother,” Sam added encouragingly.

Once we got to the beach and started unpacking the car, Tim asked if I’d like to go looking for shells.

“I’d love that,” I said, getting my bucket and spade from the boot. Sam joined us as we combed the beach, scrambling over the rocks, until my bucket was full and we decided to take it back to show our parents.

“That’s a beautiful collection, Christine,” said Mum. “We’ll take them home to decorate the flower beds.”

Sam, with his trouser legs rolled up, picked me up and twirled me around very fast, making as if he was going to throw me into the sea. Everyone laughed, but it was terrifying, as I wouldn’t put it past him, so I started screaming.

“That’s enough now,” Dad said, noticing my distress. He got hold of me and sat me with him to calm down.

“Shall we do some paddling in the sea?” he asked. I nodded, between sobs.

“Go on then,” he said.

The warm sand squished between my toes and the sun glistened on the rolling waves. It was magical.

“Jump over the waves, Christine,” said Dad, grabbing my hand. I was glad he had hold of me when a big wave came in and almost knocked me over. I laughed with excitement.

When we finished our picnic lunch, Sam and Tim went for a swim while Dad helped me build a sandcastle. As the sun started to fade, we made our way home and Sam started hurrying around, packing his kit. Mum gave him a saffron cake she’d made him to take to the RAF base.

“Thanks, Mum, what would I do without you?” he said, planting a kiss on her cheek. I was always sad to see Sam leave.

Dad carried me to bed and tucked me in, reading me my favourite story about Cinderella marrying the prince. Sometimes he would finish the story before I was tired enough to fall asleep and I would try to make him stay a little longer.

“Why do you have a bald head, Dad?” I would ask with a serious face.

He would giggle. “Your mother patted me on the head too much when I was young.”

That night I fell asleep quickly though, hoping to dream of my wonderful time on the beach.

The next day Aunty Alice was coming with my bridesmaid’s dress. I was so excited, looking out the window for her to arrive. When she came and unpacked my dress, made of such beautiful pink satin and covered in lace, I was elated. It fit like a glove, as did my shoes.

“You look like a real fairy princess now, Christine,” Mum told me proudly. Aunty Alice took my dress home with her when it was time to leave.

“We want it looking nice for Saturday,” she said as she kissed me goodbye.

On the Friday evening, Sam came home with a fantastic car he’d hired. As he stepped out of it, he looked resplendent in his airforce uniform. As we were all standing around admiring it, Tim walked around the corner having caught the bus home from town.

“Gosh, I knew you were hiring a car, but not one as good as this,” he gasped. “How much did it set you back?”

Sam laughed. “Edward’s family are well off, so we need to make the right impression,” he replied.

“Come on, boys, I’ve got a meal ready,” said Mum.

“Good for you, Mum, you certainly know how to spoil us,” said Sam. “I’ve been waiting for the taste of your cooking all week.”

“I’ve made a special meal with green beans, carrots and peas.”

“Garden peas?” said Sam. “Christine hasn’t eaten them all, then?”

“No, Christine is a good girl. Stop teasing her, Sam!”

Sam laughed. “Come on, Mum, it’s only a joke. Christine needs to get used to having her leg pulled.”

After dinner Sam and Tim went out for a drive. I’d been playing mud pies and was still caked in the stuff. Dad brought the tin bath in from the washhouse, which was a stone building with a corrugated tin roof, and Mum filled the tub before washing me with lovely scented soap.

                                                CHAPTER THREE

It was Sam’s singing that woke me the following morning, but as soon as my eyes were open, I remembered that today was bridesmaid day. I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs.

“Hello, bridesmaid!” Dad greeted me.

Mum offered me breakfast, but I was too excited to eat. Dad suggested milk sops, saying he’d loved them as a boy. I wanted to be like him, so I said I’d try the dish of bread soaked in warm milk with sugar sprinkled on top.

As I got ready, I told Mum how it was Sam’s singing that had woken me.

“He’s so excited, you’d think he was getting married,” she said.

“I hope I can be a bridesmaid at Sam’s wedding, Mummy,” I said.

“I expect you will have to wait a long time for that, Christine,” she said.

Tim was waiting outside with Dad, both looking their smartest. Tim was often taken for a girl, on account of his brown, long ringlets and pale complexion, and that day for the first time I fully understood why – there was an angelic look about him, fully disguising a deeply dark heart.

Sam took me up to Aunty Alice’s to travel with the bridal party.

“Your carriage awaits you, princess,” he said as he opened the shiny door. Sam had been polishing the car for hours. When we were driving through the village, Sam waved at some boys he knew. “Gosh, did you see the way they looked at me, Christine?” he asked. “They couldn’t believe their eyes, seeing me driving a smart car like this.”

The scent of roses was exhilarating as we entered Aunty Alice’s bungalow. “We’ve only just had the flowers delivered. Aren’t they lovely?” said Barbara. “Come on then. Aunty Alice is waiting to put your bridesmaid’s dress on.”

I followed Barbara through to one of the bedrooms. I could see that Aunty Alice was already helping Ann. She had her dress on and was looking really beautiful. I stood watching Aunty Alice as she put on Ann’s tiara. I couldn’t wait to wear mine. I could hear giggles coming from Victoria’s bedroom where she was getting ready.

Soon I was in my dress and Aunty Alice turned me so I could look in the mirror. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Was that really my reflection looking back at me?

“Now for the tiara,” said Aunty Alice, undoing the ribbons in my curly hair. It was every bit as wonderful as I’d hoped. I smiled with pleasure as Barbara brought over my beautiful white satin shoes.

I could hear Victoria giggling again as her friend Doreen came out of her room.

“Has anyone got something that Victoria can borrow?” she asked.

“Victoria can borrow my gold cross,” said Ann, and took it off.

“Thanks, Ann. Now we need something blue.”

I remembered I had worn my blue ribbons. “Victoria can have my blue ribbons,” I said, delighted to help.

“That’s an excellent idea, Christine,” smiled Doreen. “She can thread the blue ribbons through her garter.”

“We need something old now,” said Doreen, looking at Aunty Alice.

“I’ve got just the thing – Victoria’s grandmother’s bracelet,” said Aunty Alice going to her jewellery box. Doreen thanked her and returned to Victoria.

“There is one thing left to do,” said Aunty Alice to Uncle Will.

“What’s that?”

“You need a silver sixpence to slip into Victoria’s shoe.”

Uncle Will scratched his head in bewilderment and went to the jar where he kept his change. “Will this one do?” he asked. Aunty Alice nodded.

“It’s for good luck and prosperity. Slip it into her shoe before going down the aisle,” she whispered.

Victoria’s door opened and we caught our first glimpse of the bride. She looked beautiful and it was our job to carry the train on her dress to keep it off the ground. We drove to the church and I walked proudly behind Victoria through the gates and along the pathway. As we got closer to the door and we heard the first notes strike up from the organ, I suddenly felt in awe of my surroundings and overwhelmed by the sanctity and significance of the occasion. Uncle Will glanced at Victoria and he took her arm. It was plain for all to see how proud he was of his daughter. The church was full and everyone was looking at us as we walked down the aisle. I looked for my parents and was pleased when I spotted them near the front, sitting with my brothers. Mum looked magnificent in a lilac dress, Sam was wearing his RAF uniform, and Dad and Tim looked smart in their best suits.

When the ceremony was over, I followed Victoria and Edward back down the aisle. The sun was shining and people started throwing rice and brightly coloured confetti. Aunty Alice busied herself organising the photographs and called to me. “Come on, Christine, we want to take one of you with your two brothers.”

Mum and Dad were pleased that they were going to have a lovely picture of the three of us for the sideboard.

We were soon off to The Jolly Miller, which was beautifully decorated with pink and white balloons and colourful garlands. The tables looked amazing, set out with starch white cloths and gleaming silver cutlery. I felt my mouth water as I spotted the beautifully iced four-tiered wedding cake, which took pride of place on the centre table. We took our places for the toast. As bridesmaids, Ann, Barbara and I were each given a beautiful silver bracelet. I was thrilled to receive such a wonderful gift.

We all thanked Victoria and Edward and I ran over to show my parents.

“Your girls are very pretty today,” Aunt Mary said to Mum, looking mischievously at Tim and me.

“I’m a boy,” Tim protested, indignantly, pulling up his overcoat. “Look, I’m wearing trousers.” Everyone laughed and Aunt Mary winked at me.

Music filled the air and Aunty Mary called for Victoria and Edward to take the first dance. We all followed, keen to see them dancing for the first time as a married couple. Then the dance floor filled up and everyone danced the night away until it was time for Victoria and Edward to leave for their honeymoon in the Lake District. While everyone was wishing them well, I noticed Tim and Sam sneaking away and wondered what they were up to. We followed the newlyweds out to the car park wanting to wave them goodbye as Uncle Tom opened the taxi door for them to get in.

“Look at the old boots and tin cans tied to the bumper of the car, Mummy,” I said. “Why has someone done that?”

“It’s a tradition, Christine,” said Mum, and started to laugh. Everyone else was smiling too and I suddenly realised that Sam and Tim were the culprits. I spotted them looking out of the window, both grinning like Cheshire cats.

“Best wishes for a very happy married life!” I heard someone shout as the taxi pulled out of the car park. I looked on in amusement as the tin cans rattled and clanged on the cobbles, and the old boots started swinging from side to side. Victoria looked out of the back window and gave us one last wave. I could not help feeling a bit sad watching her go, and knew I would not see much of her now that she was leaving Cornwall. Mum said they were going to Luton, where Victoria’s new in-laws lived and where she and her new husband had obtained teaching jobs.

“Don’t feel sad, Christine,” said Dad. “Victoria will come down to see you when she’s on holiday.”

As we got ready to go home Aunty Alice gave us our wedding cake, which cheered me up. Back home at Fir Tree, we all had a cup of tea and our slice of wedding cake. Dad carried me upstairs to bed, with Mum following. She got me undressed and hung my beautiful bridesmaid’s dress in the wardrobe. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was asleep.

 CHAPTER FOUR

“Come on, Christine, we’re going out.”

I opened my eyes to the sound of my mother’s voice. The sun shone through a gap in the curtain.

“Time for breakfast, Christine,” she called again. I could smell bacon and knew Mum was doing a cooked breakfast, something she only did at weekends or on special occasions. I climbed out of bed and ran downstairs still in my nightdress. Sam was sat at the table and Mum was at the Cornish range cooker.

“Morning, Sam. Morning, Mummy. Are we going to the beach?” I asked. Very much wanting Dad to buy me a kite so I could fly it on the beach.

“No, we’re going to the fruit farm to pick plums,” said Mum. “I want to make plum jam.”

“Yummy!” I said, thinking of bread, butter and jam.

“I hope so. Now eat your breakfast while it’s hot.”

I tucked into my bacon, sausage, egg and fried bread.

“Can you do me a strong tea please, Mum?” asked Sam.

She stirred the teapot vigorously and poured one out for Sam. “There you go,” she said. “You can stand your spoon up in that. I don’t know how you drink it.”

Sam laughed. “A strong cuppa and some burnt toast for me,” he said, reaching for another slice.

“Yes, your father must have been thinking of you earlier when he made the toast. It’s black.”

Sam spread the charred bread with butter just as Tim came in from feeding the turkeys, followed by Dad with a basket of eggs.

“Morning, Christine,” said Tim and Dad together.

I had a mouthful of food and mumbled a good morning. Sam scoffed the last of his toast, swigged his tea and pushed his chair backwards. “We’d better get ready,” he said.

I went upstairs with Mum and was pleased to be able to show her I could get myself dressed. She was delighted as it would help me when I started school and we had PE.

It was decided that we would go to Tamar Farm, and we squeezed into the car with all the plastic tubs for the plums.

“I want a car like this when I pass my test,” said Tim.

“I doubt you’ll afford a car like this,” Sam retorted.

“I’ve started saving actually.”

“Perhaps we could pool our money and buy a family car,” suggested Dad.

“Good idea,” said Mum.

“It would be cheaper in the long run,” said Sam.

“You keep on saving then, Tim,” said Dad, patting him on the back.

“Do you think Goldilocks and the three bears live in these woods, Daddy?” I asked, gazing through the window.

“They might do, Christine,” he said.

“Can we stop and see them?”

“Not today, we don’t have time.”

We had a lovely day picking plums. Tim asked me to taste the first one to see if they were sweet enough, then I sat in the orchard watching the sun twinkle through the leaves as my brothers raced up and down the ladder to get the best fruit. Eventually it was decided we had enough plums, so weighed and paid and made our way home. I was tired and snuggled into my mother on the journey back before Dad carried me into the cottage.

“Who wants chicken broth?” asked Mum.

We all did, and Sam just had time before he had to make his way back to base. We sat and watched as our mother heated the broth. When we’d eaten, Sam went upstairs to get his uniform.

“Come here, son,” Mum said to Sam, putting her cheek out for a kiss.

“Me too, give me a kiss too, Sam!” I said, running over to him. He picked me up and kissed me.

“Be good, Christine,” he said. “Help Mummy make the jam.”

“I will.”

With Sam gone, it was time for bed. “Apples and pears and up the stairs,” said Mum, holding my hand and encouraging me up the stairs as I attempted to count them. “Goodnight, Christine dear,” she said. “Sweet dreams.”

*

The happy warble of a blackbird woke me the next morning. I got up and opened the curtains. The countryside was spread before me, green grass and golden corn. I looked into the distance at the clay hills. When it rained, they looked dull and bleak, but with the sun casting its rays upon the white sand, with its high quartz content, they positively sparkled.

Mum came into my room with a jug of warm water that she put on the wash stand. “I’ll get myself washed and dressed today, Mummy,” I said.

“Good girl,” she said. “You’ll be starting school next week.”

“Will I Mummy?” I could feel butterflies in my tummy. I wanted to go to school so that I could play with other children, but I was nervous.

“Yes, and the postman just arrived with a parcel actually. I think it must be your new school clothes that I ordered from the catalogue. You can try them on after we’ve fed the animals.”

That particular morning as we walked to the field where the turkeys were, I could smell honeysuckle growing on the hedge and was fascinated by the bumble bees buzzing in and out of the flowers. Mum explained how they made honey. On the way back we saw our neighbour Mrs Hendy picking blackberries from the hedge.

“My girls love apple and blackberry pie,” she told us. “So I thought I’d give them a treat tonight. They’ll enjoy that after having been in an office all day.”

“Lovely idea,” said Mum. “The blackberries have been so plentiful, even now in late September.”

“I hear you’re starting school, Christine?” said Mrs Hendy looking at me.

“Yes, I can’t wait,” I said, jiggling about in excitement.

“She’s a bit late starting isn’t she, Ruby?” Mrs Hendy asked.

“Yes, my sister Maggie paid a visit all the way from South Africa,” Mum replied. “We asked if Christine could start later so that she could see her.”

“So the school agreed. That was nice of them,” Mrs Hendy commented.

After lunch I put on my new uniform – a bottle-green pleated skirt, white blouse and bottle-green cardigan.

“You look really grown up, just like a proper school girl,” said Mum. When Dad arrived home from early shift, I couldn’t wait to show him.

“Doesn’t she look smart, Jack?” said Mum. “You won’t be able to call her your baby anymore.”

“No I won’t, she’s a big girl now,” Dad agreed smiling.

He came inside the cottage and I showed him my new red coat with velvet trim collar and matching hat, also from the catalogue. Dad was very impressed, as was Tim when he came home later.

“You look like Red Riding Hood!” he laughed. “You’d better watch out that the Big Bad Wolf doesn’t get you.”

*

“Do you think the other children will like me, Mummy?” I asked. My first day at school was finally here and I was worried.

She gave me a reassuring hug. “Of course they will, Christine. By the end of the day you’ll have too many friends to count.”

It was a chilly day so Mum said I could wear my new coat. She took her bicycle out of the shed and lifted me into the child’s seat on the back. As we approached the school, I could hear children’s voices, playing and laughing.

“What’s that game they’re playing, Mummy?” I asked, intrigued to see girls jumping over chalk squares drawn on the playground floor.

“It’s hopscotch, Christine. It’s great fun. I used to play it with Aunty Alice when I was a girl.”

Mum lifted me out of the seat and took me into the playground. She knew the school well as both my brothers had gone there. “Let’s find your teacher,” she said.

We entered a classroom where a nice lady teacher came over. “Hello,” she said to my mum, “I’ve been expecting you and Christine.”

My mother looked sad. “I’ll miss my little companion helping me feed the chickens and turkeys.”

The teacher smiled. “Christine, my name is Miss Penrose. I’m pleased to have you joining my class. Shall I show you where to hang your coat and hat?”

Miss Penrose led my mother and I to the cloakroom and to a coat peg that had my name above it. “This is your coat peg, Christine. I’ve written your name above it so you can find it.”

I felt very pleased. Mum helped me take my coat and hat off and hang them up, then walked me back to the classroom and paid for my school dinners. “I’ll pay weekly,” she told Miss Penrose.

Looking back, it was clear that my mother was reluctant to leave me. Miss Penrose was no doubt used to this and told her not to worry, that she would look after me.

“I’ll see you at half-past-three,” Mum told me. I felt upset as she walked away, but then the bell rang and it was time for me to take a seat and for the register to be called. I got the hang of it and when it was my turn, I found myself answering, “Yes, Miss,” like all the others. A couple of the girls smiled at me, and I smiled back, thinking how much I wanted them to like me. Miss Penrose spoke to the girl sitting next to me. “Sheila, could you please look after Christine and show her around at playtime?”

“Yes, Miss.” Sheila smiled at me and I smiled back. Then Miss Penrose handed out picture books. When I opened the first page I could see an apple and the words “A is for Apple”, and I felt glad my mother had been teaching me the alphabet. After the lesson we did some drawing, then Miss Penrose handed everyone a small bottle of milk with a straw.

The bell rang signalling the end of the morning classes. Sheila took me to the canteen where I queued up with her for dinner. She told me her eldest brother had been in the same class as Sam, which made me feel at ease. Sheila introduced me to two other girls, Maureen and Hazel. After we’d finished eating we all went out in the playground.

“Do you want to have a go at skipping, Christine?” Sheila asked when Hazel produced her skipping rope. I didn’t feel ready but held the rope as Hazel and Sheila took turns to skip. An afternoon of learning our letters was followed by Miss Penrose reading the story of The Elves And The Shoemaker.

Time flew by very quickly, and before I knew, I saw my mother at the window. It was home time already.

“I’ve made new friends, Mummy!” I said.

“I’m so pleased! I knew you would.”

Mum and I got on the bike and sailed down the hill to Fir Tree Cottage. It had been a very good day at school and I couldn’t wait to go back.

 CHAPTER FIVE

I settled into school well and enjoyed most of my lessons. Sheila and I were inseparable and we played with Maureen and Hazel at break time. A ripple of excitement spread through the class the day Miss Penrose produced paper chains to decorate our class in time for our Christmas party.

One Saturday before Christmas, Aunty Alice and my mother took me into St Austell for some Christmas shopping.

“I’ve heard that Father Christmas is in town. Do you want to see him?” asked Aunty Alice. I was thrilled with the idea.

“We’ll go there first,” said Mum, “before we get loaded down with shopping.”

We got off the bus and followed Aunty Alice into a brightly decorated department store. We made our way upstairs to Father Christmas’s Grotto. This was the first time I’d got to see Father Christmas and was feeling very excited. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The grotto was far better than I could ever have imagined. There was a woodland glen with a wishing well and beautifully made toy fairies, elves and gnomes.

“Would you like to make a wish, Christine?” asked Aunty Alice, handing me a penny which I threw into the well. I closed my eyes and wished for a large painting box for Christmas.

It really was an incredible grotto, with more than one room, each seemingly more amazing than the last. All of them were a winter wonderland with sparkling white walls and icicles hanging from the ceiling. In another room I was completely enthralled by the sight of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, and when I saw the life-sized Cinderella with a pumpkin coach and handsome Prince Charming, I gasped and stood dead still, unable to move.

“Come on, Christine” said Mum finally. “Don’t you want to see Father Christmas?” I did want to see Father Christmas and get a present. As I turned the corner, I caught a glimpse of him. I thought he looked a bit scary in his bright red suit and his white beard. Mum pushed me towards him but I stepped backwards, feeling unsure. “Come over and see Father Christmas, he wants to give you a present,” she said taking me by the hand.

Father Christmas delved into his sack and encouraged me over. An assistant approached my mother. “Would you like to have her photo taken sitting on Father Christmas’s knee?”

“Yes please,” she said. “Her father would love to see that.”

I was getting used to Father Christmas and his jolly smile, so I sat on his knee and he asked me what I wanted for Christmas.

“A big box of paints please,” I said.

“I’ll see what I can do,” he said, winking at my mother.

“Smile for the camera, Christine, just like when you were a bridesmaid,” prompted Aunty Alice. The thought of being a bridesmaid made me smile and the photograph was taken.

“That’s a good girl,” said Father Christmas, handing me my present. I tore the paper open and was delighted to find a magic drawing pad. It was just what I wanted and I loved the way I could write on the pad, wipe it, and start drawing another picture.

We all said thank you for the lovely gift and waved goodbye to Father Christmas.

“Don’t forget! I’ll be coming down your chimney on Christmas Eve,” he said, and I left the grotto feeling very excited.

As we were leaving the shop, my mother spotted some lovely party dresses and held one up. It was powder-blue seersucker.

“Try on this lovely dress, Christine” she said, calling me over and leading me to the changing room.

“It’s lovely,” said Aunty Alice. “Her white bridesmaid’s shoes would look nice with it.”

I felt like Cinderella when I looked in the mirror. “Will you buy it for me, Mummy, please?” I begged.

“Yes, I’m sure your father won’t mind. We’ve sold a lot of turkeys.”

“You’re a lucky girl, Christine,” said Aunty Alice as we left the shop. I knew she was right. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I couldn’t wait to show my father and my brothers. And they all agreed it was perfect.

The next week it was the carol service and Miss Penrose asked me to recite Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I was sure I was too shy but when it came to it, I plucked up the courage and spoke as loudly as I could, my eyes fixed on my parents sitting in the front row.

The service was wonderful and I felt so proud when I heard my parents and Aunty Alice singing Hark The Herald Angels Sing. I loved hearing Aunty Alice’s sweet soprano voice, with her beautiful celestial tones, rising above the others. At the end of the service the headmaster said a few words and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. I gave Aunty Alice a big hug before she left, and caught hold of my parents’ hands as we walked back to Fir Tree Cottage, with both my mum and dad telling me how proud they were of me and that I’d done really well.

I got to wear my seersucker dress at the school Christmas party the following day. One of the boys said I looked like a fairy, which pleased me no end. It was a magical occasion. At lunchtime I felt far too excited to eat, with my mind on party cakes and jellies.

When we returned later to our classroom the desks had been put together and covered with wonderful red and green tablecloths, all very festive with each place decorated with a cracker. My mouth started watering when I saw the plates of sandwiches, cakes, fancies, chocolate fingers and lovely jellies. I had my eye on a fancy cake topped with white and pink icing and just couldn’t wait to taste it. We played games that were new to me, such as Pass the Parcel and Postman’s Knock. Miss Penrose gave us each a gift and we wished each other a happy Christmas holiday.

*

I was helping Mum make scones, saffron buns and Christmas pudding when my father came home with a Christmas tree. I felt excited as he stood it in the corner for us to decorate with brightly coloured balls and gold and silver tinsel. We put Christmas crackers on the branches to the sound of carols playing on the radio. I watched as Dad put holly sprigs and mistletoe around the room.

“You had better go to bed early tonight and get to sleep, or Father Christmas won’t come down your chimney,” Mum told me on Christmas Eve.

I had butterflies in my tummy as I got ready for bed – I didn’t want to miss him. When I woke up and saw a big sack of gifts at the bottom of my bed, I shouted, “Mummy! Daddy! Father Christmas has been!” and ran into their bedroom. “Look at this great big box of paints, Mummy. It’s enormous.”

“Father Christmas has been good to you,” Dad told me, looking at the dolls, Snap cards, Snakes-and-Ladders and painting and drawing books I’d received, along with a big selection box of chocolates.

“Father Christmas must think you’re a very good girl,” said Mum. “And look, there’s a gift from Aunty Alice and Uncle Will here too.”

I tore off the paper. It was a scarf and glove set.

“That will keep you warm on the way to school,” said Mum.

“Yes, but I like toys best,” I said, making Dad chuckle.

“Get dressed, Christine,” said Mum. “You can come downstairs and play while I prepare the turkey.”

I got dressed and followed her downstairs. Sam and Tim came down soon after eyeing my presents.

“You are lucky, he didn’t used to bring us this much,” said Tim. “Fancy a game of Snap?”

“Yes please,” I said.

Snap was my favourite although I always felt sure Tim was cheating. We went on to play Snakes-and-Ladders until it was time for Christmas lunch. That Christmas, as I got close to winning against Tim, he whacked the board, making the pieces fly up in the air. “You brat!” he hissed through gritted teeth. I stared at him and quickly left the room after.

The turkey was delicious. Mum assured us that she had saved the best bird for our own meal.

“You’re a champion at rearing turkeys, Ruby,” said Dad.

She blushed. “Don’t flatter me, Jack.”

*

Christmas came and went too fast. Sam returned to his RAF base and Tim went back to work. I was looking forward to seeing my friends at school and hearing what Father Christmas brought them.

The first day back was exciting. It was so cold that Miss Penrose warmed our milk for us. I wore my scarf and gloves in the playground, glad for Aunty Alice’s gift. Later we overheard the teacher saying it was cold enough for snow.

When the school bell rang and it was time to go home, I got my coat and hat and made my way to the gate keen to see Mum. It was a shock to find that she wasn’t there waiting. This had never happened to me before. I watched as the other children were collected, until I was, before long, standing there alone. I knew something must be wrong, and just as I was about to cry, I saw Mrs Hendy hurrying towards me.

“Christine!” she said, breathless. “Your mother’s been taken ill, so I’ve come to fetch you. I’ll just go and explain to your teacher.”

As we walked home, I asked Mrs Hendy, “What’s happened to Mummy?”

“I don’t know, Christine,” she said. “She’s lying on the sofa. I’ve sent Jim up to the clay works to fetch your father. He’ll get the doctor.”

CHAPTER SIX

The sight of my mother when I walked through the door hit me like a ton of bricks. She tried speaking but I could barely understand her. Crouching down beside her, I managed to make out the words.

“I can’t move down one side,” she said.

Panic coursed through me as Mrs Hendy busied about making me eggs for tea. I couldn’t eat, and sat staring at Mum, straining for the sound of my father’s motorbike.

When he arrived, he knelt down beside my mother and told Mrs Hendy that Dr Davis was on her way. I sat on the floor beside the sofa holding Mum’s hand.

When the doctor arrived, my father told me to go upstairs and play. I sat at the top of the stairs and listened to the low, urgent voices.

“I’ll give you a prescription, Jack. Go and get it right away,” said Dr Davis. “I’ll wait here with Christine and Ruby. Hurry, you must catch the chemist before he closes.”

When Dad returned, Dr Davis gave him instructions about the medicine and said she’d be back in the morning. “Don’t leave Ruby on her own,” she said.

My father thanked the doctor and said he would arrange for time off work. When she had gone, I slowly crept downstairs. Dad was trying to make Mum more comfortable on the sofa. “I think you are best to stay on the sofa for a while, Ruby, while I get the tea,” he told her. Mum gave him a half smile and I could see that only one side of her face was working. I heard the gate hinge creak and knew it was Tim. He came in looking cheerful, but when he saw Mum, his face went white.

“What’s wrong with mother?” he asked.

“We’re not sure at the moment, but the Doctor’s saying she might have had a stroke.” My father’s voice cracked with emotion.

“A stroke?” Tim just stood there, staring at our mother.

“Yes. After tea I need you to go up to Mill Hill and tell Aunty Alice. I’ll take a week off and hopefully she can help with Christine.”

After tea Tim went off and Dad carried Mum upstairs to the bedroom. I went up after a while and climbed on the bed to give her a cuddle.

“Your mother is feeling too ill for a cuddle, Christine. She needs to rest,” said Dad. “I need you to be a big girl now, so can you do your dad a favour, and get yourself ready for bed?”

I felt desperately sad. “All right, Daddy,” I said. It seemed like things would never be the same again and I cried myself to sleep.

A crushing sorrow in my heart told me the following morning that I had not been dreaming. My mother was seriously ill. Aunty Alice arrived, followed by Dr Davis. When she left I heard Dad and Aunty Alice talking as I sat on the floor of the living room pretending to play. “It doesn’t sound very good, Jack,” said Aunty Alice. “Dr Davis thinks Ruby should improve, but nothing is certain.”

“I know,” he said. “I’ll have to get rid of the poultry. I’ll be sad to see the turkeys go but they were very much Ruby’s thing and she’s too ill to look after them.”

“That’s a wise decision, Jack. You’ll have enough to do.”

Alice and my father made arrangements regarding the turkeys, and he left to see if a teacher from my school could take me and collect me each day as she passed.

Aunty Alice came into the living room. “I thought you might like a beaker of milk, Christine,” she said, handing it to me. “I know you have milk at school.”

“Thank you,” I said. “Is it all right for me to see Mummy?”

Aunty Alice put her arm around me. “Your mother is asleep Christine, so not yet. Just play quietly and try not to wake her.”

“When will Mummy be better?”

“We don’t know, Christine. She needs a lot of rest.”

Dad came home sometime later. He had managed to offload the turkeys and Mrs Hendy offered to get me ready each morning. A teacher called Miss Truscott had agreed to drive me to and from school, and Aunty Alice said she would come daily to make my tea.

I listened to Aunty Alice and Dad as I played with my dolls.

“Make sure you’re good for Miss Truscott, it’s so kind of her,” said Dad.

“I will be good, Daddy.”

“I know you will,” he said. “Things are a bit difficult for us now.”

Aunty Alice came downstairs and put her coat on. “Ruby is still sleeping,” she told Dad before turning to me. “I’ll see you again tomorrow, Christine.”

I didn’t want her to leave and clung on to her coat. “Help your father, Christine. He needs all the help he can get,” she said. Then she was gone.

CHAPTER SEVEN

I’d been home from school for about four weeks when we received a visit from the village policeman. He arrived at the cottage on his bike and I was sent out to play so I didn’t hear what he was saying to my parents.

When I went back inside, Mum was crying and asked me to get her another handkerchief.

“What’s wrong, Mummy?” I asked, but neither she nor my father answered.

Everyone seemed very sad and the following day I asked Aunty Alice what had happened. “We’re all feeling very sad, Christine, because Uncle Tom has died and gone to heaven,” she said.

I didn’t know what she meant by “died” or “gone to heaven,” but felt unable to ask as she started crying. I decided to ask Dad when he came home from work.

“Why are Mummy and Aunty Alice sad about Uncle Tom, Daddy?”

He looked lost for words. “Uncle Tom had a heart attack, dear,” he replied.

“Aunty Alice said he’s gone to heaven,” I said.

“It’s hard to explain,” he said. “Uncle Tom had a heart attack and the doctor couldn’t save him, so now he has gone up to heaven to live instead.”

“Is it nice up in heaven?” I asked, not sure where it was or why he had gone there.

“I’m sure it is, love.” He patted my head. “It’s not something you need to worry about at your age.”

I didn’t go to Uncle Tom’s funeral. I stayed at the pub with a lady called Maud and waited for everyone to come back for tea. People started telling lovely stories about Uncle Tom that made everyone smile. When we got home, I asked Dad why everyone was so upset that Uncle Tom had gone to heaven.

“They’re upset because they’ll miss Uncle Tom,” he said.

“Won’t we see him again, Daddy?”

“Yes, of course we will dear, when we go to heaven.”

I was pleased to hear that I would see him again and returned to playing.

Tim came home a few weeks later with some good news for Mum. “I’ve booked driving lessons,” he said. “And when I pass my test, I’ll be able to take you out.”

Her face lit up and Tim looked thrilled to see the sparkle coming back in her eyes. “Wait ‘til I tell the old man,” he said.

“Wonderful, son,” said Mum. “It’s nice Sam can drive, but he’s away a lot.”

“I’ll be able to take you out for Sunday afternoon drives.”

Tim’s news seemed to give her the boost she needed, and she started to recover much more quickly. It wasn’t long before Tim passed his test, and just a few weeks after that there was a car on the drive. Dad and Tim had saved together, and Sam put some money in the kitty too. The car was black and incredibly shiny, and I loved it. I really enjoyed the smell of the comfortable leather seats. Soon my dreams of sandcastles and paddling in the sea turned to reality as we began having weekend trips to Carlyon Bay, on the Cornish coast.

Sam had been away for some months by now, but when he eventually got leave he was chuffed to see the car. In fact, I felt he was paying more attention to the vehicle than to me. I pulled at his trouser leg to get his attention. “Do you want a whiz, Christine?” he said, and he picked me up and spun me round, then carried me inside for tea.

Some weeks later, Sam brought a friend called Larry home from the base. I couldn’t understand a word he was saying and Sam had to explain to me that he was something called a “Cockney”. Larry didn’t pay much attention to me. He, Sam and Tim would sit by the Cornish range with a cup of tea, talking about cars, motorbikes and engines. Larry came to visit quite a lot after that.

On one occasion they were up in their rooms talking when they started whispering, which I found annoying as I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Dad must have heard them whispering too and called Sam out into the garden to have a word with him on his own. I realised something was wrong when I heard them arguing, and I hid between the raspberry bushes so they wouldn’t know I was there.

“Please don’t be stupid, Sam.” Dad sounded fraught. “For goodness sake listen to reason, don’t be a fool. You’ll be in serious trouble if you get caught.”

“It’s you who’s stupid, old man,” said Sam. “We won’t get caught. We’re too smart for that.”

I had no idea what was going on but a few weeks later I woke up early and went downstairs to find Sam, Tim and Larry sitting in the living room with lots of men’s shirts, sheets, blankets, towels, sweets and chocolate piled up on the table. I stared in amazement.

“Do you want a bar of chocolate, Christine?” asked Sam.

“Where did you get it from?” I asked, as he handed me a big bar.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about that,” he said. “We’ve been late-night shopping.” They all burst out laughing.

“Why did you buy all those bars of chocolate?” I asked.

“Because we know you like chocolate!” said Sam.

Father appeared, looking very shocked. “What the hell have you been up to?” he demanded.

“Don’t worry, old man,” said Sam. “We’ll take it upstairs out of the way.”

“You bloody idiots,” he said. “I never thought you’d be so stupid.”

“You’ll never have anything if you aren’t prepared to take a few chances,” Sam told him.

“God helps them who help themselves,” added Larry.

As the boys went upstairs, Dad told me not to say a word to anyone as I would get the boys in trouble. Sam heard him as he was leaving the room and spoke to me sharply. “You mustn’t tell anyone at school, it’s no one else’s business,” he said. “If you do, they will come and take your chocolate bars away. You don’t want that, do you?”

I could see them both looking at me expecting an answer. “No, I won’t tell anyone,” I promised, but I didn’t really understand why.

When Sam and Larry went back to their base, Tim suggested an afternoon drive to Carlyon Bay. I didn’t have to be asked twice and I raced to collect my bucket and spade from the wash house. As we drove, Mum admired the beautiful houses again. She sighed and I could see she was dreaming of sitting in one of the nice gardens.

“I think I’ll have another go at the football pools, Jack,” she said.

“If you want to, my dear.”

When we got onto the beach, Dad reached into his bag and surprised me with a brightly-coloured kite. Tim joined in helping me hold the strings until it rose in the air to fly far above us. I noticed a crowd of children watching us admiringly as my kite was flying higher than the rest. It was such a happy day.

The next day at school, I heard something that gave me goose bumps. Two teachers were talking to each other at break time, discussing a break-in at the Co-op on Saturday night.

“A lot went,” said one teacher. “Shirts, bedding and towels, in fact anything they could get their hands on, I’m told.”

“Oh my, I don’t know anyone around here who’d do that,” said the other teacher.

“It’s most likely strangers.”

“Whoever it was had a sweet tooth. They stole loads of chocolate bars.”

I thought of the chocolate bar I had eaten and felt extremely uneasy. Wasn’t this too much of a coincidence? Sam and Tim wouldn’t do something like that, would they? I knew I couldn’t say anything.

A few days later the four of us were sat down to tea when there was a knock at the door. Dad looked nervous, and when he answered he found two burly policemen standing there. “We have a warrant to search your house,” they said.

Mum tried to get up but fell right back down again as if her legs had given out beneath her. The policemen went upstairs and found all the loot in Sam’s and Tim’s bedrooms. They returned carrying the stolen shirts, chocolate bars and many other things. Mum looked shocked and Dad looked very worried. Tim just seemed angry he’d been caught, but was shaking and looked scared.

“We’ve arrested your son Sam at the airforce base,” the officer informed my parents. “He’s in our cells now. It seems he has been selling shirts there which he stole from the Co-op on Saturday night. Now we’ll have to arrest your other son.”

“No, no, not my Tim, he wouldn’t do it,” Mum cried out.

Dad looked very concerned and tried to comfort her.

The policeman looked at my mother and seemed genuinely concerned. “I’m sorry, my dear,” he said, “but as you can see, I have searched their rooms and have found the stolen items.”

I was frozen to the spot as I watched Tim being handcuffed, Mum pleading that there was some mistake. Tim didn’t make a fuss, not wanting to further upset Mum. She told him she loved him and it would soon be sorted out. We listened in silence as the police car drove

“Yes, please go, Jack. The police must have made a mistake.”

My father left and Mum sat me on her knee and gave me a cuddle. He returned with bad news. All three lads had been charged and were due in court the following morning. Sam and Larry were held on remand, but Tim was allowed home on bail. I felt awkward when I went to school next day as it was the latest village gossip.

“It’s not your fault, Christine, you’re not to blame,” said Sheila. “My mother told me to be nice to you.” My friends understood, so I stayed close to them in the playground. Some of the children called me names and said nasty things about my brothers. I went home and cried to Mother.

“Just tell them that sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you” she told me. I didn’t think that this was true because their words had already hurt me.