Far From Home. Anne Bennett

‘Well, whatever we look like we have to make the most of what we have, and I for one can’t wait. I want to buy something a bit festive as well. I always think the New Year is a special time somehow.’

      ‘Well, it’s like a new start, isn’t it?’ said another.

      ‘Yeah. I mean, I wonder what 1939 will bring.’

      ‘Well, I can’t answer that,’ Susie said. ‘But I can say without any shadow of a doubt that we will all have our wages docked if we don’t get going. It might have escaped your notice, but the supervisor is glaring at us through the glass and if we don’t start work soon we might find that our wages are light this week.’

      There was a collective groan, but all the girls knew that what Kate had said was right. They trooped out to the factory floor, where any chatter was halted, because nothing could be heard above the noise of the machines.

      SEVEN

      Kate and Sally went to town first thing the next morning where as agreed they went first to the C&A store where they bought glamorous ball gowns for the dance that night. ‘Golly,’ Kate said as they settled in the tram to go home, ‘I feel like a real spendthrift – I can never remember buying so many clothes before, and certainly not all in one go.’

      ‘You’ve never had a boyfriend before,’ Sally reminded her.

      ‘No,’ Kate admitted. ‘And I do like looking nice for him. He does notice, and he is always so smart too. He even used to come well turned out to the weekly dance, if you remember.’

      ‘Yeah, him and Nick both,’ Susie said; and then she gave a sigh and said, ‘Pity your Sally is working every evening. She is really missing out. She could have brought her Phil to the New Year’s bash and we could have given him the once-over.’

      ‘Huh, and frightened the lad off altogether,’ Kate said with a grin. ‘Anyway, Sally and Phil will be having some sort of celebration of their own because the cinema manager has invited them all to a party at his house as soon as the cinema closes. I was really glad that something had been arranged for them. Sally said she might not be back till the early hours, so it’s a good job that she won’t be working tomorrow.’

      ‘It doesn’t worry you that she will be out so late?’ Susie said, knowing that at one time Kate would have fretted about something like that.

      Kate shrugged. ‘It is New Year’s Eve,’ she said, ‘and as you are always saying, Sally is a sensible girl and Phil of course will see that she gets home safely. Anyway, I don’t suppose we’ll be back till the early hours either.’

      ‘So, it’s probably a good thing we don’t work on Sunday too.’

      ‘S’pose. Though we still have to get up for Mass,’ Kate said. ‘Bet Sally will be hard to rouse for that, but generally speaking she isn’t really any bother now. She has turned out much better than I thought she would.’

      ‘That might be partly Phil’s influence,’ Susie said. ‘See, there can be advantages having a man at your side.’

      ‘I never said there wasn’t, Little Miss “I told you so”,’ Kate said with a laugh. ‘She will likely already have gone by the time I get home, but I would value her opinion on the dress.’

      ‘The dress is fine.’

      ‘Yeah, I know you said that, but I’m not totally sure.’

      ‘The trouble with you, Kate, is that you have no self-confidence,’ Susie told her.

      ‘I’m not used to buying clothes,’ Kate said. ‘Not clothes like these, anyway.’

      ‘Even the shop assistant said how lovely you looked.’

      ‘Ah, but they are trying to sell the clothes and so they will say anything,’ Kate said.

      ‘She wasn’t half as complimentary about my ball gown, though,’ Susie complained. ‘Even though the geometrical shapes decorating it are all the rage at the moment. Come on,’ she said, suddenly leaping to her feet, ‘this is our stop.’

      ‘You looked beautiful,’ Kate said to Susie as they stood on the pavement. ‘And that dress really suited you.’

      ‘Don’t see why I should believe you when you never believe a word I say,’ Susie said, with a wry smile, and then gave Kate a dig in the ribs as her face dropped. ‘I’m joking, you dope. I’ll see you tonight, and if you don’t look a million dollars I will eat my hat.’

      ‘You haven’t got a hat.’

      ‘That can soon be remedied,’ Susie said, giving Kate a wave as she turned for home.

      Kate smiled, and, despite the bleak coldness of the day, she felt warmed from the inside both because of the friendship she shared with Susie and the prospect of seeing David again in just a few hours’ time. Life, she decided, was very good.

      When she reached the flat, Sally hadn’t left for work, and nor was she scurrying about getting ready to go. ‘Mr Winter owes me some hours for the extra shifts I took on over Christmas,’ she told Kate in explanation. ‘So I’m not on until six tonight. Where did you go?’

      ‘Just into town.’

      ‘Well, I can see by your bags you bought something new again.’

      ‘I did, yes,’ Kate said. ‘I bought another new dress.’

      ‘Good for you,’ Sally said in approval. ‘Go and try it on then.’

      All of a sudden, Kate was strangely reluctant. ‘Oh, no, I won’t bother.’

      ‘Oh, yes,’ Sally contradicted. ‘I want to see it before I go.’

      Kate gave a sigh but disappeared behind the curtained area with her bags. The dress fell to her feet like the dress she had worn to the Christmas dance and rustled deliciously as she walked.

      ‘It’s gorgeous, Kate,’ Sally said, as Kate appeared before her a little self-consciously. ‘I love that soft lilac colour, and all the swirls on it are really pretty.’ She felt the material between her fingers before saying, ‘Isn’t that the fine wool crêpe that’s all the rage at the moment?’

      ‘Yes, the sales woman recommended it.’

      ‘I’m not surprised,’ Sally said. ‘Spin round slowly?’

      Kate did as Sally bade her and felt the skirt fall around her legs in soft folds. ‘I love the embroidery of darker lilac around the scooped neckline,’ Sally said. ‘And those flowing sleeves just make it.’

      ‘You don’t feel the neckline is too scooped, though?’ Kate said anxiously. ‘I would hate David to think me fast.’

      Sally fairly pealed with laughter. ‘Kate, no one would think you fast in a million years, and your neckline is fine. No use in having bosoms if you don’t highlight them now and again. I have just the thing.’ She ran into the bedroom alcove and came out with a pendant in her hand. ‘It has a purple stone in it to match the embroidery,’ she said. ‘And it will set the dress off lovely.’

      ‘Oh, it does,’ Kate said, turning around in front of the mirror so that the stone caught the light.

      ‘Wait till David sees you in that dress,’ Sally said. ‘I just wish I was here to see his face.’

      Sally left for work eventually and Kate got herself ready, but she wasn’t quite finished when David knocked on the door. When she opened it, his mouth dropped agape. He recovered himself and said, ‘Oh, Kate, you look so beautiful this evening that you have fair taken my breath away.’

      ‘Nonsense!’ Kate said, feeling the heat on her cheeks.

      ‘No, it’s not nonsense at all. I’m telling the truth,’ David said. ‘And I must say you look even more beautiful when you blush.’

      ‘David,