The Sweet Passing of Time, стр. 3
‘She looked back out at the ocean. “Things will never be thesame again”, she said again. I didn’t say anything; I just let herhave her moment to reflect, and I understood what she was trying tosay. We’d heard all the stories from France, and how they’dcapitulated. And England was probably next.’ He turned to hisdaughter and shrugged. ‘It’s easy in hindsight to say that it wasnever going to happen, but at the time it was the unknown. And forus here on Jersey, invasion was a mere formality. We just didn’tknow what it meant for us, whether we would be allowed to continueto live out our lives here or be sent to mainland Europe somewhereand be…’ his voice trailed. ‘Well, thrust into the greatunknown.’
‘You were both very brave and courageous.’
Heshrugged. ‘I don’t know about that. But I do know that in thatmoment down there at the water’s edge, I saw your mum in a verydifferent light. She seemed so very grown up. And…and I just knewshe was the one.’ His lower lip started to quiver, and his eyesglazed over. ‘So many memories.’
‘I know you miss her a lot, dad. Just…Just hold onto the goodthoughts, OK?’
Henodded. ‘You can’t ever forget something like that. I know itsounds stupid now, but at the time, I didn’t even know if I wouldsee her again after that day. The Germans were sure to come backand bomb the place again, and we were fearful they would send usback to the stone age and kill everyone.
‘She then asked me if we were all right- my mum, dad andbrother, that is. That’s the kind of person your mother was; alwaysasking about others and never really bothering about herself. Itold her that we were all fine and that none of the bombs had comeclose to where we lived. “That’s good,” she said, “Because you canbet a bloody pound of butter they’ll be back here again tonight.And they’ll probably bomb this beach into the middle of next weektoo for good measure.”
‘I told her that she shouldn’t think like that. I said thatJerry probably dropped a few bombs here because they were testingthem out before trying their luck with London. But of course- andyou know what your mother was like- she didn’t see it that way atall. She knew it would only be a matter of time before they arrivedand took over. And she said something to that effect.’ He chuckled.‘There were a few swear words chucked in for good measuretoo.
‘She asked me if I was scared, and I just tried to act all bigand tough. I told her that I wasn’t going to worry about Hitler’splanes and bombs, and that Jerry probably couldn’t get their aimright anyway. She had a bit of a laugh at that, did yourmum.’
‘You were always making her smile with your words,’ said thewoman.
‘But it all changed for us afterwards, didn’t it? It wasn’teven three days later before we surrendered, and the whole placewas crawling with infantry and anti-aircraft defences after that.Anyone would think the crown jewels were being kepthere.
‘And of course, we all know what happened to your grandfather.’He shook his head. ‘Imprisoned for such a trivial matter too, noless. But that’s what it was like under occupation, you know. Evenfailing to surrender your wireless got you locked up, or worse.It’s a wonder we didn’t have to carry around paperwork just to beallowed to breathe.’ He looked down at her cup. ‘Are you sureyou’re not hungry?’
‘I’m fine, dad, really. Just being here listening to you isenough. I don’t need to eat.’
‘Well I’m getting peckish. We’ve been here ages and all I’vedone is gabber on. You must be getting sick of listening tome.’
‘Dad, it’s fine. I like listening to you.’
He pattedhis stomach. I might just have something light then. I reallyshould be watching how much I eat anyway at my age.’ He chuckledagain. ‘Your mother would be making me eat salad for breakfast,lunch and dinner if she saw the state of me now.’
‘You’re not that bad, dad.’
‘No? And what about compared to that chap over there?’ Henodded his head in the direction of an old man who was slowlyeating a sandwich. ‘Skin and bones, that one. He obviously didn’torder a lamb roast with all the extras. I think I’ve let myself goa little since your mum passed away,’ he said.
‘She’d still love you no matter how you looked,’ said thedaughter. ‘Of that I’m sure.’
‘You’re very kind.’ He went to say something else, but hesensed a figure approach him from behind.
‘Everything all right, is it, Mr Sinclair?’ said a man’svoice.
‘Oh yes. Fine thank you,’ he replied. ‘I am getting a littlehungry though and wouldn’t mind ordering something. Just for me,however. My daughter says she hasn’t really got an appetite and isquite happy with her tea. Unless she’s changed her mind?’ Heglanced over to her and widened his eyes.
‘I’m fine, dad.’
‘Very well. Then I’d like to look at your specials first ifthat’s all right.’
‘Now, now, Mr Sinclair. No specials today.’
‘Oh, that is a shame,’ he replied.
The manleaned over and placed a small round plastic container onto thetable. ‘Have your pills first, Mr Sinclair. Then I’ll go get yousomething to eat. A pickle sandwich all right?’
‘No, it isn’t! I want to see the specials.’
‘Dad, do as the nurse says please,’ said the woman. ‘It’simportant.’
‘But I want to see the specials,’ he protested.
The nurselooked at the woman and gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I’ll comeback in a few minutes,’ he said softly.
The womannodded and reached over to her father. He seemed a littledistraught and confused and she rubbed his back for comfort. ‘Comeon dad, have your medicine.’
‘But I want to see the specials,’ he repeated. ‘Your mother andI always looked at the specials first. It’s what we always did whenwe came here.’
‘I know,