The Musical Box pt2

Ethel and George - The homecoming

12 March 2019

10:51

Friday afternoon

Ethel had stayed home all day

Baked some cup cakes, an apple pie with a touch of cinnamon, just as George used to like it, a Vanilla sponge and Cheese and celery pie for later in the week

It was to be a celebration of his return

No friends were invited, just the two of them together again

 

She felt excited like she did before her wedding - all those years gone bye

They would have to get to know each other all over again

A restart, a new life - That is what it would be like

She no longer worked at a desk taking shorthand and typing; had been delegated to work in the instrument factory and learn new skills

What about George,

Where had he been? what had he been doing? Why was he in a navy uniform?

So many questions

He would soon be here

 

Four o'clock came and went

Five o'clock

Six o'clock - A knock on the door

Ethel go up from her chair, turned of the wireless,

Straightened her hair, flattened her skirt

Took a big swallow and crossed the room to the door

He stood there in his brown demob suit, a trilby hat, brown shoes, white shirt and loud tie

He looked live a spiv

 

Come in George - You dont need to stand outside knocking - Its your home again now - I will have you a key made

Sit yourself down while I make you a drink

When you are ready we can have tea

I did a ham salad - I didn't have enough coupons, but when I said I was expecting you home Mr James went in the back and returned with a parcel said you had earned a treat whatever you had been doing

G) "Ho I never thought about rationing - I had better go down to the town hall and register first thing - Saturday tomorrow will they be open"

E) "Yes Saturday until twelve o'clock"

G) "Right I will be down first thing - How about that salad? - Do you need a hand?

 

" I think I should tell you a few things - as far as I am able to - much is subject to official secrets"

We were behind enemy lines - No not the "Secret Agents" stuff sort of helping the resistance in different ways - No uniforms - our CO was captured so I became CO and a commission.

Part of the time we were around the docks and dockyards sometimes masquerading as civilian workers

Any way at the end we were picked up by the navy where I learned I was a naval officer Captain

We were dropped off in Portsmouth and taken by truck to a place near Birmingham where I got a uniform

That's about all I can safely say

How about bed - its a long time since I slept with anyone - you couldn't trust anyone, that's how the CO was caught - How about you - I mean do you want me in your bed?

E) Lets go up - I will set the Music Box

Wild Rose

March 2019

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

you are drawing from such a deep well of family history .. i feel a lot of respect ma'am ... George has a crazy story to tell doesn't he!? as i read and picture the scene my thoughts drifted to our WW soldiers and how when they came home they displayed such a stoic resilience ... they pretty much didn't talk about the war .. my Da sure never did ... they just put it away and jumped into life ... i am sure many suffered because of it .. no sensitivity then for PTSD ... no counseling services ... just strengh of Faith and character ..amazing generation of people ... thanks for sharing your stories Wild One .. i know there are those smiling down on you for it!

[Wild Rose]

Thanks M Mr E
> Sorry not family history this time Dad did go away [1941/42 ish to 1944/45 ish] with no home leave we did get letters (& a few parcels)
I worked foe an ex one man submarine pilot who had moved from the army to the navy never said anything about that
Also found out from a cousin that her dad had gone through the concentration camps releasing the inmates > We knew he had been in Malta during the siege
Ans wife's father was in the RAF attached to the 8th Army with a mobile radar truck > They weren't aloud to send mail for long periods [Through Egypt, Sicily, Italy into Austria - He was wounded in the attempts to take Monte Casino helping the Americans

As you say no counselling services " Pull yourself together man and get on with it "

[Einstein Noodle]

wonderful stories ma'am ... and yes .. such a stout generation ... they suffered in silence for the most part ...

[Paul Bell]

Great story. Just to survive is a feat in its self.
Especially in the world of trust no one.
The dirty world of information collecting, never glamourous but essential in saving lives.
But the real hero is the music box, is it not.

[Wild Rose]

Thank you Paul > It all began when I bought her the music box for our anniversary this Feb
read moreThank you Paul > It all began when I bought her the music box for our anniversary this Feb

Imagination running away . but based on truths