A Matter of Time

by Graham Debenham

part 4

She was wearing a khaki uniform with a white armband, on which was a red cross. Over her shoulder she was carrying two webbing bags, one khaki the other white. She walked across to where the two young men were standing. “Evening, Ron,” she said with a smile. “Busy tonight?”

“We’re always busy, Dolly,” Ron replied, returning the smile. “There is a war on y’know.”

Dolly looked at Eddie, still smiling. “Hello, I don’t know you, do I?”

“No... er... Eddie Hall.”

“Eddie’s a guard from Golders Green,” Ron said. “He’s just helping out tonight.”

“Well, I’m pleased to meet you, Eddie,” Dolly said, the smile never fading.

“The pleasure’s all mine,” Eddie replied.

“What about a cuppa then, Ron?” Dolly asked, still looking at Eddie.

“Funny you should ask,” Ron replied. “We were just going downstairs to have one, weren’t we, Eddie?”

Eddie was still looking at Dolly. He didn’t know if it was the uniform, the face or both, but there was something about her that made him go weak at the knees. “Er... yeah... we were just going down to... er...”

“Well come on then,” she said, stepping between them and onto the stairs. “I’m gasping.”

She walked down the stairs with Eddie and Ron a short distance behind. Ron nudged Eddie in the ribs. Eddie stopped staring at Dolly and looked at him. Ron inclined his head in Dolly’s direction and grinned. Eddie looked back at Dolly and smiled.

Her blonde hair was swept back in a bun under her khaki cap. Her uniform fitted her perfectly. He couldn’t help noticing how her skirt swayed back and forth as she walked. The flesh-coloured seamed stockings and sensible brown shoes completed the perfect picture.

She was about a dozen steps ahead of them when Ron leaned across and nudged him again. “I think she fancies you, mate,” he whispered.

Eddie’s face began to redden. “You reckon?”

Ron nodded and grinned. Eddie frowned; this was getting ridiculous. Here he was, back in World War two, being fancied by a woman who would, in the normal course of events, be old enough to be his grandmother. And, to make matters worse, he fancied her, too.

Dolly reached the bottom of the stairs. She walked on a few paces and stopped. Looking back over her shoulder, she smiled and waved the other two on.

“Come on!” she called. “I’ve work to do after this.” She walked on towards the platforms and the station master’s office.

Eddie leaned across to Ron. “What exactly does she do here?” he whispered.

“Dolly’s a Red Cross nurse with the ATS,” Ron whispered back. “We have to have one on duty every night, when the station’s used as a shelter, so she’s here most nights.”

They followed Dolly around onto the northbound platform. She was already mingling with the mass of people who were settling down for the night in groups of up to seven or eight. As she stepped gingerly around them he could hear them, almost without exception, greeting her by name. She would stop occasionally and kneel down next to an elderly man or woman or a young child, and exchange conversation with them. With some of the younger children, she would rummage in her white bag and bring out a few boiled sweets. The smiles on their faces would, in turn, make her smile warmly. It was obvious, just by looking at her, that she enjoyed her work.

Eventually, after countless stops, they reached the station master’s office at the end of the platform. Dolly knocked on the door and entered without waiting for an answer. “Good evening, Mr Rossiter,” she said cheerfully. “How are you this evening?”

Mr Rossiter looked up from his paperwork and lowered his head, peering over the top of his bifocals. His face brightened. “Hello, my dear,” he said, standing up from his desk. “Back again, eh?”

“Well, you know me,” she said, taking off her medical bag and gas mask and placing them on a chair. “How can I keep away when you have all these good-looking men working down here?”

She deliberately looked at Eddie and he could feel himself begin to redden again. Maybe Ron was right. Maybe she did fancy him.

Mr Rossiter looked at Ron. “Everything quiet up top?” he asked.

“Yes, Mr Rossiter,” Ron said. “I left the gates unlocked in case anyone comes late.”

“Good lad,” Rossiter said. He looked at Eddie. “And everybody’s back behind the line?”

“Two feet from the edge, as instructed.”

“Excellent,” Rossiter said. “In that case, it’s time for a cuppa.” He pulled up a chair and looked at Dolly. “I do hope you’ll join us, my dear?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” she replied.

“Good,” Rossiter said. “Ron, go and make us some tea will you? The kettle’s already on next door?”

“Right you are,” Ron said, strolling out to the small kitchen area next to the office.

Rossiter turned to Eddie. “Now... er... sorry son, I don’t know your name.”

“This is Eddie Hall,” Dolly interjected, as a way of introduction. “Eddie, meet Mr Rossiter, the station master. Don’t let his gruff exterior fool you. He’s a darling really.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Eddie,” Rossiter said. “Thanks for helping out tonight, only we’ve got a couple of lads off fire-watching and it’s left us a bit short.”

“No problem, Mr Rossiter,” Eddie replied. “Ron told me you were short-staffed, so while I’m here I may as well lend a hand.”

Ron came back in with four steaming mugs of tea.”Here we are then,” he said cheerfully. “Bad news, Mr Rossiter, there’s no sugar left.”

“Oh well. I suppose I can do without,” Rossiter said, patting his ample waist.

“It’s the same everywhere,” Dolly said accepting her tea with a smile. “I’m surprised you manage to get milk, what with the rationing.”

Ron leaned over conspiratorially. “One of our regulars works at the Home Counties Dairy depot at Vauxhall,” he said with a wink.

“Say no more, eh,” Eddie said with a smile.

Mr Rossiter took his mug of tea and sat back in his chair. “So tell us, Dolly. What’s happening up top?” He and Ron sat there expectantly.

“Well,” Dolly said quietly, leaning forward. “I can’t tell you too much, but the RAF boys seem to be giving the Luftwaffe a hiding.”

“Good for them,” Ron retorted.

“So we’re still winning, then?” Rossiter asked.

“We’re not doing too badly,” Dolly replied. “Well, I can’t sit here all night gossiping. I have rounds to do.”

She looked at Eddie as she spoke, then stood, picked up her bags and walked over to the door. As soon as her back was turned, Ron poked Eddie in the ribs. Eddie looked at him in surprise. He was beginning to wish that Ron would develop some other form of communication.

Ron jerked his thumb in Dolly’s direction. Eddie looked at Dolly’s retreating figure, then back at Ron. Ron shook his head in exasperation, and then inclined it toward the door.

The penny dropped.

Eddie jumped to his feet and placed his cup on the desk next to Dolly’s. “I think I’ll go and... er... check that nobody’s... er...”

“Sleeping too close to the edge of the platform?” Ron prompted.

“Yes. Exactly,” Eddie said. “Sleeping to close to the... er... edge of the platform.” He backed out of the office, turned around and began to walk after Dolly.

He didn’t have to go very far. She had stopped a short way up the platform and was studying one of the posters on the wall. She turned and smiled as he approached. He walked up and looked at the poster. It was the one that showed the young ATS girl in the lorry.

“She looks a bit like you,” Eddie said after a while. “She’s got the same hair.”

Dolly inclined her head and pursed her lips. “No,” she said finally. “She’s far prettier than me.”

“No she’s not,” Eddie said, trying not to look away from the poster. He could feel his neck starting to redden again. “Besides, she’s just a picture.”

Dolly looked at him and her smile returned. “Come on,” she said. “You can help me with my rounds.”

Proceed to part 5...