Free Sentimental Journey (Home Front - Book #1) by Barbara Bretton Page B

Mrs. O’Neil’s cabbage soup and the way the landlady’s son looks at me when I get in at night. No one talks to me and if it weren’t for Aunt Anna in Mastic Beach I’d feel so lonely I would die. I manage to get over there at least once a week. I’ve sworn Aunt Anna to secrecy—if Mom knew I was homesick she’d worry and she does enough worrying as it is.
    Cathy didn’t say anything but I could tell she’s having a lot of problems at the factory. She works six days a week and sometimes she doesn’t even take all of Sunday off. She’s skinny and short-tempered and for the very first time I could understand how much she has on her shoulders. I wish she’d tell Daddy just how hard it is on her. Mom doesn’t pay much attention to what’s going on at the factory. When Cathy tried to tell her about a problem with the union organizer, Mom just said, “That’s nice, dear,” and continued rolling bandages for the hospital.
    The men fight Cathy about everything. Back in the beginning, right after Daddy went overseas, they were real nice to her and said “Yes, Miss Wilson” and “No, Miss Wilson” and pretty much kept on their toes. Not anymore. The men who are there are either biding their time until they go to war or else they’re too old or too sick to join up. Whatever the reason, they’re awfully angry about something and now that Lou Alfano is gone, it seems they’re taking it out on Cathy. She used to go head-to-head with them but now I think she’s getting scared (those union organizers are very tough). She’s hired some girls to work on the assembly line but the men kicked up such a fuss that she’s been forced to assign the girls to one area and keep them all together. I guess there’s safety in numbers.
    She’s started asking Eddie Martin (he’s a clerk) to do all the talking for her and that’s making her very mad, let me tell you. They’re working around the clock at the factory and what with the union trying to come in she’s worried that she’ll lose control completely. I guess it’s hard for a man to take orders from a girl.
    One good thing—I think Cathy has finally accepted the fact that Douglas is gone. Sure she was short-tempered and tired, but I didn’t see that haunted look in her eyes that used to scare me so much when I lived at home. She even went over to Aunt Edna’s Saturday night for the Weavers’ anniversary party and didn’t come home all pale and quiet. It’s hard to imagine what her future will be like—for as long as I can remember, it was always Cathy-and-Douglas, like it was one name instead of two. But at least she’s smiling now.
    I should be home with my mom and Cathy. I know that now. I didn’t have to leave Forest Hills to work for the war effort. I could have done that right there at home at Daddy’s factory. Maybe if I was in the office, I could help Cathy with her problem with the men. Right now I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do—or even if my mom wants me to move back.
    But I promise I’ll let you know if my address changes back to the old one, okay?
    In the meantime, please take care of yourself and write to me soon!
    With much love,
    Nancy
    August 1, 1944
    Dear Nance,
    You really have me worried. What do you mean you don’t like the way the landlady’s son looks at you? Did you tell your Mom? Did you complain to the landlady?
    Pardon my language, but I think you should get the hell out of there and fast. I can’t stand being so far away and not able to take care of you. How can you think your mom wouldn’t want you back? Just pack your bags and go home. I bet they welcome you with open arms. (Even Cathy!)
    It took a while for us to get the scoop on D-day. Newspapers take time to reach you on the other side of the world. I’m glad we’re beating the hell out of the Germans but it’s sure going to put the heat on us over here. They’re talking about sending us more manpower and making a push on the Japanese forces in