Free The Clippie Girls by Margaret Dickinson

believe that?’
    As Bob handed her his trilby, Rose added, ‘My, we are smart tonight. Were you hoping to take her out?’
    ‘I was, but the weather’s too bad. I don’t want to drag her out in this. Maybe later in the week, when the snow’s cleared a bit.’
    ‘Come through.’ Rose opened the door into the living room and ushered him in. ‘Sit by the fire and get warm.’
    Bob nodded to Grace and Myrtle. ‘Evenin’, Mrs Booth. Hello, Myrtle. Busy with your homework?’
    Myrtle glowered and lowered her head. She was now in the fifth form and determined to do well in her School Certificate exams, which were scheduled to take place in June.
    ‘Myrtle, say hello to Bob,’ Rose prompted.
    Without looking up the girl muttered, ‘Hello to Bob.’
    ‘Ee, she can be right mardy sometimes. You keep a civil tongue in your head, young Myrtle,’ Rose admonished her younger sister, but she was smiling as she said it. Indeed, she was keeping a smile firmly fixed on her face. ‘I’ll just get our Peggy. I’ll take over with the drying if they’ve not finished.’
    As she moved towards the door into the small back kitchen, Mary appeared, ‘All done. Oh hello, Bob. Peggy, love,’ she called over her shoulder, ‘Bob’s here.’ There was a pause, but Peggy did not appear. ‘She’s just putting the pots away. She’ll be here in a minute,’ Mary explained.
    ‘I’ll do it,’ Rose offered and left the room.
    Pushing the door closed behind her, she hissed, ‘Peg, what’s the matter with you? Bob’s waiting for you.’
    ‘So? He can wait a minute whilst I put the pots away, can’t he?’
    ‘Well, if it was me—’ Again Rose bit back the words. Oh, she was going to have to be so careful.
    Peggy sighed as she closed the cupboard door and took a last look round the kitchen. Everything was neat and tidy. ‘I’m coming.’
    Back in the living room, Bob half rose to his feet as the two girls came in, his eyes alighting on Peggy’s face. Rose’s heart twisted painfully as she saw the adoration in his eyes directed at her sister. Why couldn’t it be me? she was thinking, but she turned away, sat down at the table beside Myrtle and picked up a book. The printed words danced before her eyes and she couldn’t concentrate on the story as she listened to what Bob was saying.
    ‘I’d thought we might go out but the snow’s still deep in places where folks haven’t cleared their fronts. Anyway, I just thought I’d pop and see how you all were.’
    ‘I don’t expect you did much “popping”,’ Grace muttered. ‘It’s nearly a mile to your place, isn’t it? It must have taken you an age in this weather.’
    Bob grinned. ‘Not quite a mile, Mrs Booth, and yes, it was a bit slow going.’ He glanced at Peggy and the unspoken words hung in the air. But it was worth it to see Peggy.
    A few days later, when most of the snow had cleared and the city’s transport was running normally once more, Bob called again on the Friday evening. This time he suggested a trip to the cinema. ‘But I’m not sure where we can go,’ he said as he hovered near the door. All places of entertainment had been closed on the outbreak of war.
    Myrtle glanced up from her books. ‘They should all be open again by now. They started reopening as early as last September. They were only closed for a couple of weeks when war was declared.’
    All eyes turned to look at her.
    ‘How d’you know that?’ Grace asked.
    ‘There was an advert in your newspaper. Obviously – ’ sarcasm crept into her tone – ‘you don’t read it very well.’
    ‘Less of your cheek, young lady.’
    Bob’s face brightened visibly. ‘That’s all right then. Shall we go, Peg?’
    ‘If you like.’
    ‘You might sound a little more enthusiastic,’ Rose couldn’t stop herself saying.
    ‘Perhaps you’d like to go somewhere different,’ Bob said.
    ‘ Aladdin is still on at the Lyceum,’ Myrtle said with deliberate wide-eyed innocence. ‘Or you could go