Free Come Home Soon by Emily Sharratt

his arm reassuringly. “Go on.”
    â€œWell, Dad and I were in the butcher’s earlier – Mam had asked us to pick something up. While we were queuing, this woman comes up to Dad and hands him. . . She passes him a white feather. . .”
    â€œOh!”
    â€œYou know. . . ?”
    â€œI know,” Ellie said quickly.
    They had been hearing more and more, in the papers and from local gossip, about these white feathers, given by women to able-bodied men who hadn’t signed up for the army. The feather represented cowardice. As far as Ellie knew, this was the first one to have been given in Endstone.
    â€œWho was she – the woman?”
    â€œI don’t know. She was gone before we properly realized what had happened. But she was no one I recognized. I suppose she might have been one of your Aunt Frances’s lot.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Ellie didn’t understand what this could possibly have to do with Aunt Frances. She was sure her aunt would never be so unkind. Not to mention the fact that she was all the way over in Brighton.
    â€œYou know, that Votes for Women crowd seems to be joining forces with the blasted white feather brigade. . .”
    They fell silent again, both deep in their own thoughts. Aunt Frances did talk a lot about the need for women to get the vote, and Ellie knew she had been involved with a group campaigning for this right. But she felt confident her aunt would take no part in humiliating another person, whatever she might think of his actions or politics. It didn’t feel the right moment to argue this point with Jack however. She was just glad they were speaking again.
    â€œWhat happened next. . .” she prompted gently.
    â€œDad went scarlet and stormed off to The Dog and Duck. I followed, but he told me to leave him alone. It’s best not to argue with him when he gets like that, so I did. But he wasn’t home a couple of hours later and I was worried. Mam was worried too. So I went to fetch him and found him like you saw. Ted said he didn’t see exactly what happened but I reckon maybe someone said something about the feather and Dad just went for them. . .”
    â€œJack, does he often get into fights?”
    â€œNo! He’s . . . well, I mean, you know what he’s like. He’s not what you’d call friendly. But he’s not normally violent. It’s just that he’s been getting more withdrawn since war broke out. He won’t talk about it – won’t even talk about Will! He pretends none of it’s happening. His drinking is getting worse too. . .” He glanced at her, and Ellie tried to keep her face as blank as possible. She didn’t want Jack to think she was judging his family again. “It’s getting really bad, Ellie. Mam’s worried he might lose his job, and then we’ll really be stuffed. . .”
    Ellie hated to see her friend so worried. She put her hand on his. “It’s strange for everyone, Jack. We’re all getting used to it. Everything’s so different now. But I’m sure things will get better soon. They have to!”
    He looked up at her and smiled crookedly. It was a ghost of his usual grin, but a smile nonetheless. “Well, you’re the clever one. You’re probably right! I don’t know why he’s so against the war, th—”
    He broke off as Thomas re-entered the room, guiding Joe by the elbow. Joe was holding a cold towel to his eye and his gaze was fixed on the floor.
    â€œLike I said, nothing much to worry about. I’m sure you’ll be pretty sore for the next few days, not least your head. But there’ll be no lasting damage. Erm . . . it might be an idea to lay off the beer for a while, Joe. That won’t help your recovery.”
    Joe and Jack flushed a matching shade of crimson. Ellie knew the embarrassment her friend