Chapter 17

December 1941

It was almost Christmas. Another year was over and the war's ending was still no closer. Peggy anxiously wondered what 1942 had in store for them. There was little news to be cheerful about as far as she was concerned, although Tony, who she now suspected must have a radio hidden somewhere, insisted that now the Americans had entered the war, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children's lives could possibly be saved and the war might be brought to an earlier conclusion than it would without them.

Any pleasure she might have found in that was diminished when she thought of the men and women who had been killed at the US Navy's Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii. It was strange to think how familiar that name was now; when the news was first reported, she had needed to look it up in their world atlas.

Right now, though, she needed to get ready to accompany Tony into town to find a gift for his father. She also needed one for her mother and sister, and Bobby for his first birthday a few days before Christmas. Unfortunately there was little left in the shops and she had no idea what to buy.

‘I suppose we should be focusing on useful gifts,' she suggested thoughtfully. ‘Soaps, that sort of thing.'

Tony took her hand in his and pulled a face. ‘That doesn't sound very exciting.'

‘It's necessities we need now,' she said recalling some of the beautifully scented soaps she had enjoyed only the year before. ‘Anyway, that's what I'll be hoping to find for my mum.'

‘I suppose the best place for that sort of thing is Boots, then?'

‘That's where I was planning on stopping first. Babs was saying there are a few scented soaps left that would make perfect gifts, but not many.'

‘Well, I'm sure she'll be able to steer us in the right direction. She must have lots of customers needing her assistance at this time of year.'

Peggy supposed she must do. ‘Good, then that's agreed.'

She spotted Babs as they walked into the shop from Queen Street. She was serving a customer but noticed them and gave a discreet wave, which Peggy returned with a smile.

‘We'll have a look around this area,' Peggy suggested quietly to Tony. ‘As soon as Babs has finished serving that lady, we'll nip over to her and see what she can do for us.' Then she noticed a middle-aged woman watching her and Tony, and she let go of his hand.

‘What's the matter?' he asked.

She told him about the woman staring at them. ‘It might look odd if we're seen holding hands when I work for your father.'

‘I'm not sure why.' He looked over her shoulder in the woman's direction and gave her a courteous nod. ‘Then again, I know her. She's one of my father's oldest clients and is a bit of a busybody. She'd love nothing better than to stir gossip, so maybe you're right. Do you think she saw us?'

‘I've no idea.'

‘Ah, well, it's too late now if she did. Let's not worry about it.'

‘Good afternoon, Madam. Sir,' Babs said. Despite sounding formal, she was clearly pleased to be serving them. ‘How may I help you today?'

‘We've come for suggestions for Christmas presents.' She looked at Tony. ‘What exactly are you looking for?' Enjoying herself, too, Peggy spoke loudly enough for the staring woman to hear, since she could tell she was eavesdropping.

‘Something for my father and also my mother,' Tony said. ‘My father has his birthday a few days before Christmas, too, and I was hoping to find a couple of small gifts for him. He said not to bother this year, but it feels wrong not finding something to give him to mark both occasions, don't you agree?'

‘I do,' Babs confirmed. ‘Let me see.' She gave his request a little thought and then, raising a finger, smiled. ‘I think I might have just the thing.' She bent down behind the counter and opened a cupboard. Straightening up, she placed two small boxes on the counter and pointed to one. ‘We still have one of these beautiful shaving brushes left.' She took the other box and opened it, lifting out a small metal contraption: a mirror with a small folding stand.

‘What's that?' Peggy asked, intrigued.

‘Let me guess,' Tony said, as Babs hid the box underneath the counter. ‘May I pick it up to have a better look?'

‘Of course.' Babs smiled at the two women who had been hovering nearby trying to listen in to their conversation. ‘May I assist you, ladies?'

‘Not at the moment,' the woman who recognised Tony snapped. Peggy realised she was with a friend. The two of them seemed rather unimpressed by her, which was odd, seeing that they didn't know her at all. ‘We were just on our way.'

Peggy gave her sister a conspiratorial smile. ‘That was clever. I thought they'd never go away.'

Babs grinned. ‘It was rather, wasn't it? Actually, I'm used to nosy parkers trying to snoop on other customers. Really gets on my pip and I'm always happy to see them on their way.' She looked over Peggy's shoulder. ‘They've left the shop. Thank heavens for that.'

Peggy couldn't agree more. What was wrong with some people?

‘I bet I know what this is,' said Tony.

‘Tell us, then.' Babs said.

Peggy suspected he was trying to distract them and, knowing Tony was good at working things out, nudged him. ‘Go on, tell us what you're thinking.' She peered at it. ‘I haven't a clue.'

‘Is it a little night light?' He held up the small metal object and opened one side to show Peggy the circular holder. ‘I think a candle is placed in there. And this mirror is to reflect the light as much as possible.'

Peggy thought he might be right. ‘But why does it fold up? What's the point of that?'

‘For travelling,' Babs said.

Peggy looked from one to the other of them, unsure whether it would be rude of her to point out the obvious flaw in this gift idea.

Tony smiled. ‘I know none of us are going anywhere very soon,' he said. ‘But my father will love this. He's always trying to persuade my mother to stay positive and hope that this war will end at some point. He'll like having something to keep for when we're all able to travel again.'

Peggy didn't dare admit that she often thought that time might never come.

‘It's also something he can easily store away,' he said, handing the object back to Babs. ‘I'll have it, please,' he said. ‘And the shaving brush. Thank you, they're perfect suggestions and I know he'll be happy with them.'

Peggy waited while Tony paid for the items and Babs put the boxes in a paper bag. She was glad that her sister had been able to help resolve his gift quandary. ‘Would you be able to make any suggestions for something for Mum?'

Babs nodded. ‘I have just the thing. One minute.'

Peggy was unsure whether to buy something her mother would deem necessary and practical, or a gift that would be more of a luxury. She hoped that whatever it was Babs had in mind would solve her indecision.

‘Here,' Babs declared, lifting a box that was larger than either of those Tony was carrying. ‘Again, this is the last one we have.' She lowered her voice. ‘I know we're probably expected to purchase items that have a more practical use, but I think that while we still have things like these in stock, we may as well give them to those we love to enjoy. Don't you agree? And I know Mum will love this. I thought we could buy this for her together.'

Babs turned the box to face her and Tony. Peggy studied the three glass tubs.

‘The fragrance is heavenly,' Babs said, taking out one of them. ‘Lavender. This one is hand cream, this is for the face and this,' she said proudly, ‘is for your feet.'

‘Feet?' Tony shot Peggy an astonished glance. ‘Feet?' he whispered, obviously not understanding why anyone might spend good money for cream for their feet.

Peggy noticed Babs's amusement at his reaction, glad she wasn't upset by his surprise.

‘She'll love this. Although you don't think she might be a bit cross with us for buying something frivolous?'

Babs frowned. ‘There's nothing frivolous about looking after yourself,' she said.

Her sister had a point. ‘Still, it is a time for cutting back and taking care, isn't it?' Peggy said doubtfully.

‘Nonsense,' Tony said. ‘If you think your mother will appreciate this, then buy it for her. Who knows when you'll have another opportunity to give her a gift this lovely.'

‘It is the last one, don't forget,' Babs reminded her. ‘I would buy it myself, but it's a little more than I can afford to spend. Anyway, she can always keep it for special occasions, or as a treat to cheer her up over the coming months…'

Peggy noticed her sister's smile slip, and realised that Babs had stopped herself adding ‘or years'. It was what they all dreaded: years of life as it was now, or worse. She took a calming breath. ‘You're right. She deserves something special after all she's been through. We'll buy it for her and if she isn't happy, which I'm sure she will be, then we can use the creams.'

‘Leave this with me, then,' Babs said. ‘I have a little discount, so I'll pay for it later.' Aware she still had to find something for her sister, Peggy thanked her and she and Tony left Boots.

‘I'm glad you suggested we go there,' Tony said. He passed his packet from one hand to the other and touched the back of her hand with his as they walked. ‘I wish we could hold hands like other couples.'

Peggy nodded. ‘Me, too.'

‘You don't sound very happy,' he said frowning. ‘What's the matter?'

She explained about it soon being Bobby's birthday and that she wanted to buy him something from her family for both then and Christmas. ‘But even if I did know what to get for him, I'm not sure where I'd find it.'

Tony beamed at her. ‘Now this I can help with.'

‘You can?'

He pulled a face. ‘I was a little boy once, you know. Leave it with me.'

‘All right, then, I will.' She looked forward to discovering what Tony came up with and smiled happily.

‘Good,' he said taking hold of her hand briefly before letting it go again. ‘One of these days we won't have to hide our feelings for each other in public.'

‘But not yet,' she said, desperate not to lose her job when she needed it most. It wasn't only that she needed to earn a living now that her father had passed away and her mother was struggling to come to terms with life without him. Going out to work enabled her to support her mother, as well as tiring her out enough to be able to fall asleep at night. Working and thinking about Tony kept her from dwelling too deeply on their miserable situation. She had no intention of giving up either if she could possibly help it.