Ethel and George - The music boxA Story by Wild RoseThe Music Box
The music box sat on her bedside table It had been there since the time he left For where? For how long?
Every night She would turn the key It would tinkle it tune Beautiful Dreamer, awake unto me
He came home for a weeks embarkation leave The place they were going was unknown Their task was an official secret Only known to the Army top rank
He went shopping with her She saw the music box and liked the tune 'Beautiful Dreamer wake unto Me' Each night as she got into bed She would turn the box on to play its tune
The days turned to weeks - months - years No letters to say where or how he was Her letters were returned 'Unable to deliver' His army pay was paid every month without fail He was alive but where?
She rose every morning at six o'clock Made her breakfast Prepared something for the evening meal Then left for her work Assembling instruments for aircraft
Years later One evening after work
There was a knock on the door Who is it at this time I hope not a telegram We have to inform you...... She opened the door
Standing there was a man in navy uniform Who can this be? She looked again Was it her man he looked familiar but; Different This man was bronzes but thinner The uniform of a naval officer Her man was a sergeant in the army
He spoke "How are you Ethel" He knew her name It sounded like his voice She asked "Is it you George? Its been so long" "Can I come in" He requested "Oh yes! Of course! Its been such a long time!
G) "I cant tell you anything about where I have been, Only That we arrived back in UK yesterday afternoon and I have to be back by eight o'clock Monday morning I am not supposed to be here. I got a train to York last night > I missed the last connection and walked here." E) "But York is over thirty miles! And you walked all the way home? G) "The only way I could get here. Oh and I had no money to pay for a ticket, so I had to sneak on board. But we have been doing lots of that" E) "You must be tired do you want a lie down and I will stay home today, I will make you a meal for when you get up"
Ethel got his nightclothes out and layed them on the bed ready for him. Then wound the music box. When George was in bed she turned the music box on
It played is little tune George listened to it then asked "Is this the music box I bought before I left" Ethel replied "Yes dear I have played it every night when I got into bed to remind me of you and our love"
Sunday George left to return to his unit before he was missed - This time he had a single ticket paid for by Ethel He played the music box before leaving "Soon we will wake up to each other" he remarked It was a further two weeks before he came home for good
Ethel and George - The homecoming
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, a 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? Ethel said. "Lets go up - I will set the Music Box"
Wild Rose March 2019 © 2022 Wild RoseFeatured Review
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2 Reviews Added on March 8, 2022 Last Updated on March 8, 2022 Author
Wild RoseLake Disrtict, Cumbria, United KingdomAboutBA (Hons)Management studies Open University Full tech Cert. Marine: Aviation & Industrial Instrumentation and Conrtol Retired engineering lecturer Ex racing cyclist: fell walker: Camper more..Writing
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