Free Poppy's War by Lily Baxter Page A

strolled out of the classroom, smiling and obviously on good terms.
    ‘I don’t care what you say. I’m not coming back,’ Poppy said before either of them had a chance to speak.
    Amy took her by the hand. ‘There’s no need to worry, Poppy dear. Miss Dobson and I have had a chat about you and we both agree that you’re in the wrong school. I’ll take you home now and tomorrow we’ll go and see the headmistress at the girls’ grammar school in Fairford.’
    Sid was leaning against the wall outside the playground with his hands stuffed into his pockets, whistling tunelessly as he kicked windfall crab-apples through the school gate posts. Holding her head high, Poppy walked past without looking at him. She heard him mumble something under his breath, but a frown from Amy was enough to silence him and he ambled off towards the village.
    Guy’s roadster was parked in the lane at an eccentric angle. ‘Hop in,’ Amy said, peering into her large brown suede handbag. ‘As soon as I’ve found the wretched car key we’ll be on our way.’
    The golden September sun had warmed the leather seat, and Poppy settled down, waiting patiently while Amy fumbled in the bottom of her handbag.
    ‘Got it,’ Amy said, climbing in beside her and stowing her bag on the floor by Poppy’s feet. ‘I should either get a smaller handbag or stop putting everything in it but the kitchen sink.’ She slanted a mischievous smile at Poppy. ‘Hold on. I can’t promise to drive this thing as well as Guy, but I’ll do my best.’ She started the engine and after a few bunny hops they were speeding through the lanes, sending up clouds of dust and dry leaves. Poppy admired the way that Amy handled the car, but all the same she could not help wishing that it was Guy in the driving seat. She was immediately ashamed of herself for harbouring such mean thoughts when Amy had shown her nothing but kindness. Even so, she could not hold back the question that was tingling on the tip of her tongue. ‘Has Guy come home?’
    ‘No. He left the car so that I could have use of it while he was away in London.’
    ‘But he will come home soon?’
    Amy was silent for a moment as she concentrated on the road ahead. She changed gear in order to negotiate a steep bend, and once they were back on the straight she glanced at Poppy with a smile. ‘If I tell you a secret, will you promise on your honour not to tell anyone else?’
    ‘Cross me heart and hope to die.’
    ‘Guy has gone up to London to enlist in the Royal Air Force. He doesn’t want Mr and Mrs Carroll to find out until it’s a fait accompli.’
    ‘What’s that?’
    ‘Guy will tell his parents when it’s too late for them to try to stop him. He’s had some flying experience at university, and he’s keen to join up.’
    ‘Hell’s bells and buckets of blood,’ Poppy said with feeling.
    A gurgle of laughter escaped Amy’s lips. ‘It’s not considered polite for young girls to use that sort of language, Poppy. I don’t give a tuppenny damn, and don’t repeat that either, but I’m afraid others might find it offensive.’
    ‘I’ll button me lip in future.’
    Amy crunched the gears as they reached the crossroads and the engine stalled. ‘Bloody thing! One day I’ll get the hang of driving this beast, but don’t you dare tell Guy that I made a mess of driving his precious car.’
    Poppy’s heart swelled with pride. She shared a secret with Amy, and, for the first time since she had arrived in Dorset, she felt a sense of near belonging.
    The headmistress at Fairford Girls’ Grammar School was reluctant to consider taking Poppy as a pupil unless she passed the common entrance examination. Most of the conversation during her initial interview passed over Poppy’s head. She perched on her seat and whiled away the time looking round the oak-panelled study, which was lined with bookshelves and group photographs of past and present hockey teams. A glass-fronted cabinet was filled with