Free Such Sweet Sorrow by Catrin Collier Page B

did.
    The door banged open and William, washed, shaved and dressed in record time, walked into the kitchen as Diana walked out.
    ‘Problems?’ Phyllis whispered as she glanced after Diana.
    ‘Probably upset at the thought of Tony getting a letter.’ William picked up a piece of bread from his plate, pushed the slice of fish Phyllis had dished out on top, folded it over and crammed it into his mouth. ‘You’d better get used to long faces,’ he mumbled after swallowing the first mouthful. ‘Ponty will soon be filled with girls mourning the loss of the handsomest man in town.’
    ‘Girls?’ Megan repeated. ‘I thought you were as good as engaged to Tina?’
    ‘That doesn’t mean that the others can’t view male perfection and dream.’
    ‘Sit down to eat, boy.’
    ‘I will now.’ He dropped his bulging sandwich on to his plate, stood behind the table and bent his knees, lowering his head so he could see his face in the mirror set over the fireplace. Buttoning on his collar, he pulled his tie around his neck.
    ‘Here, let me.’ Megan had to reach up to knot it.
    ‘My little mother.’ He patted her on the head.
    ‘Less of that. You’re not too old to have the back of my hand across your backside.’
    ‘Really?’ He picked his mother up with one hand, almost dropping her when he realised how thin she was beneath her oversized winter-weight skirt and pullover.
    ‘Bye, Mam.’ Diana returned to the kitchen and picked up her bag.
    ‘Not without breakfast,’ Phyllis pleaded.
    ‘Wyn’s coming up this morning to go through the ration books again. He always orders breakfast for both of us to be brought over from the café across the road.’
    ‘I’ll buy something in town as well, if you don’t mind, Phyllis.’ William abandoned the remains of his fish.
    ‘If you haven’t time to eat here, you won’t have time to eat in town,’ Phyllis protested.
    ‘I’ll pick up a pie and eat it as I go. Bye Mam, see you tonight.’ William bent his head and kissed his mother before diving into the wash-house to scrub his teeth with salt.
    ‘Do me a favour?’ Phyllis asked as she followed him out of the wash-house and down the passage.
    ‘For you, anything!’
    ‘Phone Bethan from Charlie’s to let her know your mam is home.’
    ‘Will do,’ he replied absently.
    ‘Try to remember. You’ve a lot on your mind.’
    ‘None of it comes before Mam,’ he called back as he ran down the steps.
    ‘You didn’t expect to go so soon, did you?’ Diana asked William as he caught up with her.
    ‘No.’
    ‘Mam’s not saying much, but she’s taken it hard. You should have written to tell her you were thinking of joining up,’ she reproached him.
    ‘I was going to. I never thought they’d release her so early.’
    ‘Just as well they did. If they hadn’t, she wouldn’t have had a chance to see you before you go.’
    ‘Leave off, Di,’ he snapped, guilt making him irritable.
    ‘Admit it,’ she pressed. ‘You never gave a thought as to how she’d take to seeing you in uniform.’
    ‘So, tell me what I can do about it now?’ he demanded testily.
    ‘You can make an effort to be more thoughtful in future.’
    ‘A guardsman’s mother’s allowance isn’t up to a wife’s, but it’s better than nothing and I’ll send Mam more when I can.’
    ‘It’s not money she needs. I can keep her on what I earn.’ She tried to forget Wyn’s warning about the shop closing.
    ‘Don’t shut me out, Di. I know I won’t be here, but I’d still like to contribute my bit.’
    ‘You will,’ she retorted acidly. ‘I know Mam. She won’t be able to stop worrying about you.’
    ‘For pity’s sake, I feel guilty enough as it is without you rubbing it in.’
    ‘I know,’ she capitulated, ashamed of herself for taking her misery over Tony’s rejection out on her brother.
    ‘Then stop harping on.’
    ‘Write, Will,’ she pleaded. ‘Every chance you get.’
    ‘I promise,’ he murmured.
    ‘See that you do.