Free Put Out the Fires by Maureen Lee

haven’t you, girl? Everyone could tell.”
    Eileen said quickly, “I think I’ll just pop upstairs a mo and see if our Tony’s all right.”
    Tony was fast asleep, one hand under the pillow clutching the tin gun he took to bed each night. She kissed him gently on the cheek and whispered, “Hallo, son,” but he didn’t stir.
    George was just about to leave when she went down.
    “Tara, Eileen.” He threw a pretend punch at Francis. “See you, mate. Perhaps you’ll feel up to a bevvy at the King’s Arms by tomorrer night. Oh, by the way, I’ve arranged for a stirrup pump demonstration on Saturday afternoon. I think we should organise a Pearl Street fire-fighting squad between us.”
    Eileen promised she would be there, as she had no idea what to do with the stirrup pump the government had issued should the occasion arise to use it. She saw George out and when she returned, Francis was in the back kitchen.
    “I boiled the kettle for some cocoa earlier on. Would you like a bit of toast for your supper?”
    “No, ta, I’m not hungry, but I’d love some cocoa.” She remembered she’d eaten nothing since breakfast, but the thought of food made her feel sick.
    “Put your feet up, princess,” Francis called. “I reckon you need a rest after all that hard work.”
    It was strange, really strange, but no matter what a person might have done in the past, even if they’d nearly murdered you on one occasion, it was difficult to remain cold and aloof when the person was making a determined effort to be friendly. Indeed, after the frosty reception she’d had from Nick, it was almost pleasant to have someone fussing around attending to her needs—even if it might only be a pretence, she quickly reminded herself.
    “The work’s not hard once you’re used to it,” she said. “I really enjoy it. In fact, I was made chargehand today.”
    Meeting Nick had pushed everything else to the back of her mind and she’d actually forgotten.
    Francis came in with the drinks. “Chargehand, eh?” He chuckled. “That’s quite a responsibility. Y’know, luv, I’m not going to be in hospital for long having me eye done.
    I’ll be well enough for work once me discharge comes through in a few weeks” time. There’ll be no need to keep on with your job once I’m earning a wage again and getting a pension from the army. You can take it easy at home.”
    Eileen did her best to remain calm. “I don’t want to take it easy, thank you, Francis,” she said coldly. “I didn’t go to work just for the money. I wanted to do me bit for the war effort and I’ve no intention of giving it up.”
    “If that’s the way you want it, princess, it’s fine by me,”
    Francis said easily.
    Hard luck on you if it weren’t, thought Eileen. “By the way,” she said, “in case you forgot, the Mersey Docks & Harbour Board have been paying your wages ever since you were called up and I haven’t collected a penny.
    There’ll be a nice little windfall waiting for when you go back.”
    “Perhaps we can buy something for the house?” Francis suggested.
    “There’s nothing I need.” The all-embracing “we” made her squirm inside. “How’s Tony been?” she asked.
    For the first time, Francis looked slightly peeved. “I’ve scarcely seen him since he came home from school. He popped in a minute about five o’clock to collect something, and I thought he might stay once he saw me. ‘Stead, he went over to Jacob Singerman’s. Jacob brought him back just in time for the raid and we sat under the stairs till the All Clear. Seemed a bit late to me for a lad of his age.’
    “I don’t think bedtimes are relevant any more, Francis.
    No-one’s had a decent night’s sleep since the bombing started.”
    He smiled. It was a dazzling smile, warm and utterly convincing. “I reckon you’re right,” he said. “Though there’s no need for Jacob to look after Tony from now on.
    I can take care of me own son.”
    “I don’t think so,