Home Front Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Gloucestershire, July 1944

The beautiful weather and the way people lived made the day look like there wasn't a war going on.
That was, if you didn't count the little changes the war had made for the people who didn't fight in the front-line. Men were a rare sight in towns and women took over the jobs of the men.

But also the long queues in front of the store. Women were waiting for the supplies to arrive, and it was the best way to socialize.

Anita Knight and Anne Kowalski both walked to the store. Anita didn't have bread any more and she needed some other important things. So Anita and Anne joined the queue and waited for their turn.

"Miss Knight!" suddenly sounded and Anita turned around. Behind her, an elderly woman approached her. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. Hanson. The girls are a great help to me." Mrs. Hanson was the doctor's wife. She knew almost everything that happened in the village and knew everyone very well. According to her, that was the job of the doctor's wife.

Mrs. Hanson looked to Anne. "I don't think we've met before." she said and she extended her hand. "My name is Henrietta, and I'm the wife of doctor Hanson."

Anne smiled. She didn't had the opportunity to go to the village and introduce herself to the others just yet. "I'm Anne Kowalski, I just moved to Anita's farm."

"I take that your husband is at the battlefield now." said Mrs. Hanson and she looked into Anne's eyes. "I wish you the best." Mrs. Hanson's eyes went down towards Anne's stomach and she started to smile. "Are you pregnant?" Even though it wasn't really visible to the eye yet, the woman knew when a woman was pregnant. She had helped lots of mothers during their pregnancy and she recognized a pregnant woman when she saw one.

Anne nodded. "I'm alright, there is no need for me to see a doctor. Besides, Mrs. Woo is there to look after me if something goes wrong."

"Well, if you need a doctor, my husband is the best in town." said Mrs. Hanson, before she got called away. "Well, I talk to you later."

"Her husband is also the only doctor in town." said Anita with a smile after Mrs. Hanson walked away. "But she is right, Anne. When you feel that there is something wrong, you should go and see doctor Hanson."

Anne gave Anita a little smile. "Don't you worry, Anita. I'll be fine. I live healthy and everything seems all right to me." Ever since Anne was a child, she didn't like doctors. And being pregnant didn't change her opinion. She knew she was in safe hands at the farm. "And Mrs. Woo told me that she had worked for the hospital for some time, so she knows what happens to a pregnant woman."

Anita just shook her head. She wanted Anne to see the doctor, but she can't push the young woman to see one. "As long as you let me or Lucy know when something feels wrong." Anita knew about Lucy's nursing history too, but she still felt responsible for the young mother.

Anne nodded and she looked to Anita. "How do you know Mrs. Woo?" She didn't quite understand the relation between Anita and Mr. and Mrs. Woo. They weren't related in any way and she couldn't really think of anything else.

Anita gave Anne a little smile. "I know Andrew and Lucy because they were friends of my parents. After my parents died, they visited me until the war started. So they are like parents to me at some times."

Suddenly, the line started to move and it didn't take long before Anita and Anne were inside the store. After Anita got her supplies, the clerk gave two letters. "They are for your guests, Anita." he said and Anita nodded. She never really expected a letter from someone, especially now Lucy was staying with her.

"Thank you, Henri." she said and she looked to Anne. "Well, I think we have everything. I'll speak to you later." they said their goodbyes and walked outside the store. Anita looked with a smile to Anne. "It looks like your husband send you a letter." she said and she gave the letter to Anne.

Relief was big once Anne saw the letter. "Well, at least he writes to me." she whispered and she looked at it. "I think I'll wait until we're home before I read it."

Anita smiled. "Well, lets hurry back home then, so you won't have to wait too long."

The two women went back to Anita's farm and while the girls placed the groceries away,  Anita gave a letter to Lucy. Lucy looked to Anita. "Is this from Andrew?" she asked and Anita nodded. Lucy took a deep breath and she carefully opened the envelope. "Dear Lucy," she read and she looked to Anita for a moment, before she continued, "it is exactly one day after we arrived in France. We landed near the city called Bayeux and we managed to take it over, although I have to say that we barely managed it. All of my boys are still alive and well. Even the good soldier Kowalski. I really hope I can write my next letter soon, but I'm needed now. It won't be long before the war is over, my dear. I love you. Andrew Woo."

Anita stood up from her chair and she knelt down in front of Lucy. "He will come back, Lucy."

Lucy wiped her tears away and started to smile. "I know, Anita. I'm just worried about where it will end. What if he has to go to the other end of the world? England isn't the only country in battle." They had heard the news that the American army had their own battle with Japan, but they were willing to help them to fight against the Germans. But it was uncertain where the men would go to after this.

"I know, Lucy, but I don't think they will be going that far. It wouldn't be fair to the men who are on the battlefield." Anita stood up again and she walked to the kitchen to make some tea. War or not, they loved their tea in the afternoon. And luckily, they still managed to make some tea in the times of war. Even though it wasn't very much, it was still better than just plain water.

After she had placed the kettle onto the gas, Anita walked towards Anne's room. "Anne, is everything alright with you?" she said as she walked into the room.

Anne nodded and she looked to Anita with watery eyes. "He is in a good health and they are going towards Belgium next. They want to take over Paris, but that might take some long time. They say that they will be home for Christmas this year!"

Anita decided not to say anything. From the stories from Lucy, Andrew and her parents, she knew that it wasn't true most of the time. And Europe wasn't free just yet. "Tea will be ready in a few minutes." she just said and she walked out of the room again.

She truly hoped war would be over soon.