Free Josie Under Fire by Ann Turnbull Page A

all the items were put into boxes to be sorted and sent on by the WVS.
    The girls began leaving for home. Josie saw Alice going out of the door and willed her to be quickly on her way.
    Edith was in a huddle with Pam and Clare.
    “We’re going to the bomb site,” she told Josie a few minutes later.
    “The one we went to before?” Josie was alarmed.
    “Yes.”
    “But – we’ve been warned…”
    “The teachers won’t know. It’s the holidays. No one can write or complain until we go back, and that’s ages.”
    “I don’t think—”
    “Oh, come on, Josie. My friends want to go. It’ll be something to do.”
    Josie knew they were hoping the boys would be there. She half hoped that, too; but also half feared it, because of what had happened at Hampton’s. But at least, she thought, if we go to the bomb site we won’t be pursuing Alice on her way home.
    The boys were not there. Some younger children were playing in the ruins, but there was no sign of Vic and his friends. The girls played tag, clambering over the rubble, hiding, shrieking when they were caught. But it was not the same without the boys. If the boys had appeared the shrieks would have been designed to attract their attention; the game would gradually have moved closer to them; and in the end it would have been abandoned in favour of chatting, giggling and showing off. There would have been a sparkle in the air.
    But this was just a girls’ game that soon became boring. Josie, with her eyes shut, counted to a hundred, opened them, and saw – walking along the road, head down, satchel across her shoulders – Alice Hampton.
    She knew what would happen now – and felt a surge of irritation against Alice. Why couldn’t the girl have found another way to Belmont Gardens? Perhaps she’d thought her enemies wouldn’t dare go to the bomb site again. Well, they’d catch her now.
    Pam came out of hiding. “Hey! There’s Hauptmann!”
    The others emerged.
    “She’s going to her coaching.”
    “Doesn’t she know it’s the holidays?”
    “Ve never stop vork. Even in ze holidays.”
    They began moving towards the girl.
    “Oh, leave her alone!”
    Josie tried to sound commanding, but she knew it was hopeless. Suddenly the bomb site had ceased to be boring. If they’d had the company of the boys, the girls might not have bothered with Alice; but now Alice would provide the missing excitement.
    “Let’s get her.”
    They began to run. Josie shouted, “I’m not coming! Edith, I’m not coming with you!”
    But Edith followed her friends.
    Josie watched them reach Alice and circle round her. She heard their taunts – “Hauptmann!” “Nazi!” – and saw Alice struggling to push past them. Edith gave a Nazi salute. They sang:
    “ Vhistle vhile you vork
    Hauptmann is a tverp… ”
    Pam seized Alice’s bag and tipped its contents on the ground.
    It was then that Josie knew she had to do more than stand aside. She ran across the bomb site to where the others had now begun to kick Alice’s books around.
    “Stop it!” she shouted – with such passion that they were startled and stared at her. “Her family aren’t Nazis! You know that. And even if they were” – she began picking up Alice’s books and brushing the dirt off them – “it’s just stupid! Stupid!”
    “Oh, run home to Mummy, Four Eyes!” said Pam. “We don’t need you.”
    Josie had often been called that name before. It always hurt.
    “Four Eyes!” echoed Sylvia, giggling.
    Josie didn’t look at Edith; she was too angry with her. Alice had her books now and was fastening her satchel as she moved away. Josie walked beside her.
    “I’ll go with you,” she said to Alice. “I won’t let them hurt you.”
    “I’m all right,” muttered Alice. She quickened her pace, making Josie run to keep up.
    Josie, determined to make amends, scurried beside her.
    “I’m all right !” Alice snapped. “Leave me alone.”
    She began to run. And then, suddenly, she stopped