Free For All Our Tomorrows by Freda Lightfoot Page B

do about it? You surely don’t want to work at the salon with Mam and me? She drives me mad, don’t you get involved for goodness’ sake.’
    Sara laughed. ‘Certainly not, I don’t have your skills with hair for one thing. Actually, I don’t have skills of any sort to speak of.’ She was frowning, looking quite doleful. ‘I mean, what can I do besides cook, clean, pull pints and mind children? Good for nothing, that’s me.’
    ‘Don’t be daft, there must be something, lots of things you could do. If you like children, why not help out at the school? You could dig for victory on Fred Pullen’s market garden, collect salvage, raise money for War Weapons week, or join the WVS. They are always in need of help.’
    Sara’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, I never thought of that. Do you think they’d have me?’
    ‘Of course they would. Nora Snell is always complaining to Mam how she needs someone to sort clothes, pull back old knitting so she can hand out balls of wool for the children to knit scarves or whatever.’
    ‘I’m not sure I’d be any good at knitting but I could certainly sort clothes and things, or perhaps provide transport for people, if and when needed, assuming the WVS can supply the extra petrol coupons.’ Sara was beginning to get quite excited at all the possibilities. Perhaps she wasn’t so useless, after all. ‘And there’s to be a Salute the Soldier Week next year, I believe, so I could perhaps help fund-raise for that, organise a concert or something.’  
    ‘That’s the ticket. There you are, loads of things you can do. Hugh will be proud of you.’
    It was as if a balloon had burst. ‘Oh dear, he might object to my borrowing the car, or getting too involved with war work.’
    ‘For goodness sake, why on earth should he? He does his bit, why shouldn’t you do yours?’
    ‘You’re right, of course.’ But Sara still looked doubtful.
    Bette put her arms about her. ‘You deserve better, Sis. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating. It does no good at all to have a husband telling you what to do all the time. It worries me how he bosses you about, but he isn’t always in the right, you know. You said he was out the other night till the early hours, well the rest of the life-boat crew were in Safe Harbour, having a knee’s up.’
    Sara thought about this for a moment before answering. ‘It must have been the coast-guard patrol he was on then, or one of his other jobs. Like I say, he works hard and is involved in so many things. And I can’t ask questions, can I? It’s not allowed.’
    Bette sighed with exasperation. ‘Whatever he gets up to, he keeps you tied at home on a very short lead, won’t even let you talk to a few lonely soldiers. It’s ridiculous.’
    ‘Now who’s over-reacting? He may be a bit of a fuss-pot but Hugh is a caring, considerate husband who wants only the best for me. All right, so he’s over-protective but he can’t help being a bit jealous, it’s in his nature, and I do adore him.’
    ‘Yeah, yeah. Say it often enough and you might come to believe it.’
    Sara ignored the jibe. ‘What’s more, he’s your brother-in-law don’t forget, so do try to be nice to him, for my sake.’ She playfully tweaked her sister’s nose.
    Bette pulled away, irritated by her sister’s lack of confidence in herself and not wishing to have her comments so lightly dismissed. ‘You’re always ready enough with advice to me, so let me hand some out for a change. Give yourself a chance, that’s all I’m saying. Who knows what you might be capable of, if you don’t try.’
    They were different in so many ways. Sara so quiet and sensible, a caring mum who always put her husband and children first, with no thought for herself, while she as the younger, unattached sister was, according to Hugh, a complete scatter-brain whose only object in life was to enjoy herself. Maybe his judgement of her was correct, but Bette knew that she also possessed a fierce determination