Free Poppy's War by Lily Baxter Page B

silver cups, which was depressing as she was not very keen on sport. Amy’s voice never rose above a pleasant murmur but she countered every excuse that the headmistress put before her as skilfully as any lawyer. The conversation turned to talk about fees and Poppy, only half listening, thought she heard Amy promise to be responsible for the financial obligations, but the interview was suddenly over and the headmistress was shaking Amy’s hand. Poppy realised with something of a shock that she had been enrolled as a pupil at the posh girls’ grammar school.
    Without giving her a chance to protest, Amy whisked her off to the school outfitters in Fairford and Poppy was kitted out with a navy blue gymslip, three white blouses, two navy blue cardigans, and several sets of underwear including hideous navy blue knickers with a pocket for a hanky. Who in their right minds would want to tuck their hanky in their bloomers, Poppy thought in amazement? She was still puzzling over that when she tried on a school blazer and a black barathea overcoat. Amy told the shop assistant to pack everything and have it taken to the car, which impressed Poppy no end, but she could not help worrying. This must be costing Amy a fortune. Her worst fears were realised as she peered over Amy’s shoulder as she was about to sign the bill.
    ‘That’s an awful lot of money.’
    ‘What’s the matter?’ Amy hesitated with her pen poised above the invoice book.
    ‘My mum and dad can’t afford all this stuff. I don’t think Dad earns that much in a week.’
    Amy smiled. ‘You mustn’t worry about things like that. I can easily afford to treat you, and anyway this is wartime and we must all do our bit.’ She wrote her signature with a flourish. ‘Come along, Poppy. You need new shoes. You can’t go to school in sandals with the toes cut out.’
    ‘Mum does it with a razor blade,’ Poppy said, hurrying after her as Amy made her way out of the store. ‘It stops me toes from bending double inside the sandals and they do another season. Shoes cost money, a lot of it, and you’ve already spent a fortune on me.’
    ‘As I said, that’s not your problem, Poppy. I’m not letting you start school at a disadvantage.’
    The next stop was the shoe shop, and by this time Poppy was past protesting. She sat in silence while her feet were measured and she was fitted with a pair of black lace-up shoes, plimsolls and hockey boots. She felt quite faint when the assistant handed the sales slip to Amy but, as in the other store, it appeared that Amy had something mysteriously called ‘an account’ and no money changed hands.
    Poppy wished that Mum and Gran could see her now as she carried her parcels to the car. She promised herself that she would go to the nursery as soon as they arrived home. She would sit down to write a long reply to Mum’s letter, which had arrived that morning. She had read it and wept, even though Mum’s words had been encouraging and filled with the hope that they would be together again by Christmas . It was only a few months away, but that seemed like a lifetime to Poppy.
    Poppy started at the prestigious girls’ school on the following Monday. The girls in her class were neither friendly nor unfriendly. She was the first evacuee to attend the school and the girls treated her with a certain amount of reticence, but at least no one attempted to bully her. She actually preferred to be left alone as she struggled to learn the rules and regulations. She threw herself into her studies with an enthusiasm that brought plaudits from her teachers, and her days drifted into a set routine.
    Breakfast in the nursery was delivered by a silently resentful Violet. Poppy left the house alone and unnoticed as she began the long walk to the main road where she caught the bus to Fairford. She returned in the afternoon on the four o’clock bus, and after tea, also eaten in solitary state, she set about her homework, after which she was free to