Chapter Text
She’d insisted that he take his time the next morning, offering up both hers and Mr Farnon’s share of the hot water for a shower and to shave. He tried to decline of course but the look she gave him he thought it best not to argue with her about it wit’ this being his last day.
“If you are going back out there, you best be presentable.” She had told him before laying his newly washed uniform on the bed like it was his first day at school. By the time he left the bathroom an extra set of clean undershirts and boxers had also appeared near his kit bag.
“Mother…” he quietly chastised her as she walked back into the bedroom. He gave her a little shake of his head to so she could see he weren’t happy.
He weren’t gonna turn ‘em down obviously, as they looked brand new, but still.
“I know you’ll be short of stuff.”
“Aye but…”
“Shush, please… just let me…” He’d then watched her force the items into his kit bag so fast that he almost missed it.
By the time he’d repacked the kit bag he could see she were close to tears again and given the quiet mumbling he’d overheard from her and Mr Farnon after the end of her shift last night, she had been since the previous evening.
“Come ‘ere,” he told her, not even asking this time, he reckoned he didn’t need to now. He could tell she weren’t sure at first, like if he touched her she might just fall to pieces, but they were alone and it were quiet, and because he felt like he needed to, he gathered her up tightly in his arms and just held on.
By the god.
She were shaking like a leaf.
“Don’t cry Mam. Please.” He felt her head roll against his chest at the sound of his voice, then there was a soggy heave of a sob that was so loud he it felt in his gut. “Please Mam.”
“No… it’s not you son… this blasted war…”
He weren’t going to argue with that.
“With you and Tristan away…”
Edward closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Aye,” he said with a gentle huff. “But we both know what we are doing. Sounds like Mr Farnon’s brother is doing alright with his bird teaching. En’ I’m a First Class now so I reckon both of us will be giving ‘em what for.”
If he was being honest he still weren’t sure what Mr Farnon’s younger brother did even though he’d had it explained to him during the air raid last night. Something about pigeons, bombing raids and training others. It sounded far too complicated for Edward to understand, but then like Mr Farnon said, his brother wouldn’t have had a clue about being a stoker on a ship so there was that.
“I know, I know…”
“I’ll be thinking of you lots. While I’m out there,” he told her in as quiet a voice as he could. “En when I get to my first port I’ll try and call, can’t promise ought but I’ll try.”
There were a soggy snort from her this time, the sound of which made Edward laugh a little.
“Not very lady like I know,” she muttered all embarrassed like.
Edward just shook his head and smiled at her. “When you’ve shared a bulk with hundreds of other men you hear worse.”
Nodding her head she then patted his chest and straightened up his collar for good measure so it was neat. “You’re not my little boy anymore are you?”
No, Edward thought, not really and he shook his head to agree. Something had changed between ‘em these past few days though, summat good… ‘lighter’ he thought. He’d been able to rib her a bit about Mr Farnon or how he caught her cuddling the poorly animals in the shed she’d been told not too and thought no one was looking.
He’d never talked as much either. About everything. He felt like he’d given the lass from Heston a run for her money during the air raid the night before and made Mr Farnon promise not to tell her that he were proper chuffed she’d named that cow after him.
A cow!
“Come on, we best get downstairs before Helen burns me toast.” His mam eventually said when she felt his grip relax a little.
“I think that ships already sailed,” he replied with a chuckle. There’s been a smell of burnt toast lingering in the air all morning and judging by how loud Mr Farnon’s voice were getting, it would happening again soon.
He noticed breakfast was a calmer affair. His mam had laid on a right good spread of scran again, but everyone were quieter and more relaxed, even the bairn. He wondered if it was because his uniform was back on and his kit bag was sat by the door. Not that he were trying to leave in a rush but he had nowt else to do until Mr Farnon drove him to the station.
It weren’t long before Mrs Herriot was off upstairs to change the little’en and Mr Herriot was out seeing his first patient. Before they left for the day they both said their goodbyes with hugs and tears and promises from him to stay safe.
“Remember where we are,” Mrs Herriot whispered in his ear as she hugged him tight. Mr Herriot simply shook his hand and gave him a nod that Edward could only bring himself to acknowledge with a quiet ‘’yes sir’.
But now, with Mr Farnon messing with his car outside - no doubt on purpose Edward suspected - it left just him and his Mam alone again.
For half an hour he let her fuss around him again, just like she that first day. She pushed sandwiches, fruit and paper bags full of biscuits in his direction with each pass she made of the table and kept his mug topped up with tea. He did manage to smoke a couple of tabs outside with Mr Farnon without her grumbling, although he thought he heard her have a bit of huff at the other man for showing her he could blow a smoke ring.
“You’re as bad as one another…” he heard her say to him which made Edward smile lots and feel less guilty for just sneaking into her pantry to find more shortbread. It then gone quiet outside and he thought it best not to leave the kitchen or look out the window, he wasn’t sure he was ready to see her or Mr Farnon being overly affectionate to one another just yet.
“Here,” she said when she eventually walked back into the kitchen carrying a woolly hat and gloves. Her cheeks were flushed and she were smiling and Edward couldn’t help but roll his eyes at her. “For when you’re at sea, I know how cold it can get.” She was conveniently ignoring him, he could tell.
‘Thanks Mother, but you really didn’t-.” It was a weak protest Edward knew and she simply cut him off with that look of hers.
“Just… just let me…”
He did let her, he doubted he had no choice, plus he’d sort of liked her fussing around him these last few days. He’d hadn’t realised how much he’d missed her being away at sea.
“Sorry it’s been a brief visit Ma,” he mumbled suddenly feeling guilty that he had to report back. They all knew there was big possibility that he mightn’t be back for while, years even if things carried on as they were going. In fact her and Mr Farnon knew better than anyone, and had told him as much the night before. “I wish I could stay for a bit longer,” he admitted to them both because it was the truth.
She reached for him this time, stroking his hair and gently rubbing her fingers over the top of the rough skin of his scars like she were mapping were they all were. ‘I know lad, I know. Longer than last time though, and you got to meet the family.”
After a few minutes he let her pull herself away and excuse herself to tidy up. He couldn’t help watch her disappear down the corridor until he couldn’t hear her footsteps anymore.
By the Christ.
He knew he’d be needing another smoke before she came back down and would have gone straight outside for one but then that telephone of theirs started to ring throwing him right off his thoughts.
He asked himself if he should he answer it.
He weren’t really sure it was his place to.
No one had said he was allowed too, but then he did remember both Mr Farnon and Herriot shouting if no one picked it up and honestly? And after the cow incident yesterday he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if were an inured animal or summat.
“Come on Dash, you can give me a lift,” he told the dog while taking a deep breath.
“Darrowby 22…97,” he stuttered out into the headset trying to sound as posh as he could.
It were a male voice that answered. “Who’s that?” the voice said and Edward dithered a bit about needing to raise his hand in salute.
“Edward… Petty Officer 1st Class Edward Hall, Sir, can I help?”
The line then went quiet for a moment and Edward immediately wondered if he’d said the wrong thing.
“Edward as in Mrs H’s Edward?” The man eventually shouted in reply. It sounded to Edward like he was on an airfield or something. He didn’t know much about planes but he knew all about the dreadful noise those bombers made when they flew over.
“Yes sir.”
“You’re home?”
“Yes…sir….”
“It’s Tristan, Siegfried’s brother. No one told me you were back old chap.”
Old chap? Edward swallowed hard. The man spoke like some of the officers from the Repulse, god rest them. “Mr Farnon arranged it, I think it were your cupboard I slept in.”
“They didn’t give you my bed!?” This time the man sounded affronted (he’d heard Mr Farnon use that word about the owner of a sow he didn’t like so thought it fit).
“Me Mam offered it me but thought I’d best not considering it were yours. I go back to Liverpool today sir.”
Silence.
“Would you like to speak to Mr Farnon? Him and me Mother are getting ready to take me to the train station. Well me Ma is, Mr Farnon is messing with one of the cars.”
“He’s not taking you in the bloody Rover is he?” The man was shouting again.
“No sir, I’m not sure we’d all fit.”
There was silence again and Edward thought Mr Farnon’s brother had hung up this time. “No… listen, right okay, don’t tell them I’ve rang.”
Oh. Edward hadn’t expect that. “It won’t take me a minute-.”
“No… I was ringing to tell them I would away for a while, I’ve been stationed down south for a few months and may need to go a bit further afield. Probably not a good idea for both of us to be disappearing for a while on the same day. I’ll telephone again in a couple of days.”
The man had a point. “Aye, righto.” Edward replied. It didn’t feel right lying to ‘em all but he got it. He’d sort of worked out that his Mother cared for Mr Farnon’s brother as much as she did him and would be just as worried if he also disappeared for a long time.
“If any asks who called just say it was a wrong number, they’re always putting Darrowby 2298 through to us by accident. And maybe when this shit show’s over we’ll talk more.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Where’s your next posting?”
“The Ramillies, it’s in Africa getting a refit at the moment, I’m on my way to join it.”
“Bloody hell, a bit further afield than me then. I’ll keep my eye out for you… I better go. Stay safe, and give them a hug from me.”
“You too sir,” Edward replied, but the line were already dead before he could finish his goodbyes.
Five minutes later his Mam were back down stairs and dressed in what Edward thought might have been her best blue coat and hat. Anyone would think she were meeting and greeting King George himself and he told her as much just as Mr Farnon walked back inside with that pipe of his fixed in his mouth.
“Don’t be daft.” She had replied and tapped Edward’s good arm playfully.
“Did I hear the phone ring?” Mr Farnon enquired. It looked like he were searching for something. “Have you seen my hat, I’m sure I left it in on the car last night.
“Edward did you hear the phone ring? Where did you have it last? Have you tried on the hook by the door where it’s supposed to be?”
So many questions.
‘The hook in the hallway?”
“Aye…wrong number.” Edward coughed out.
“Darrowby 2298 again?”
“I think that’s what he said.”
“Bloody incompetent fools, what’s so hard about choosing 8 rather than 7?” Mr Farnon continued to grumble as Edward watched him march through the kitchen and into the hall. It were no surprise that he were back less than a minute later with it in his head. “Well done Mrs Hall.”
Listening to Mr Farnon have a go at the telephone exchange Edward didn’t half feel bad about lying, but he understood why Tristan had asked him not to say owt. He would have done the same thing. Some stuff that needn’t be spoke about if it were gonna hurt people.
Like how he’d got the scar on his face.
Or how he had no feeling in the little finger of his left hand sometimes.
Or how fucking awful it had been floating in all that diesel and death after the Repulse went down.
No, they didn’t need to know that.
“Are you ready love?” He heard his Mam ask softly. She were smiling at him so lovely like that all he could do was nod at her. “Good, well come on, we don’t want you missing your train.”
Twenty minutes later he was stood in the exact same spot as he had been two days earlier, only this time he had his Mam and Mr Farnon stood with him. Both looked as nervous as he felt he reckoned. His Mam had been busy messing with her sleeve for five minutes while Mr Farnon was pacing a bit, making chit chat with someone he knew.
“What time do you sail?” Mr Farnon asked him after a while.
“I have to report by 6 o’clock so not long after I think.”
“Arh right, so fairly quickly then.”
It were small talk, Edward could tell, but it if helped to keep their minds off the train pulling into the station he was alright with it.
“Hey up, Jenny’s here,” his Mam suddenly said pointing to the figure hurtling towards them on a bike. “Jenny? Are you okay love?”
The lass still looked a ruddy cute mess but he could silently forgive her this time because it looked like she’d biked all the way from her place.
“I’ve come to give Edward something Aunt Audrey. Can you give me a minute wit’ him?”
His mam nodded but he could tell she were a bit suspicious of it, almost giving him a side eye before Mr Farnon distracted her. Edward then watched the lass turn her back to them both as she pulled an envelope from her pocket and handed it to him.
“I’ve written you a letter. You don’t need for’t read it now, maybe for when you’re at sea or something. But if you want to write back you can.”
Edward reckoned that sounded more like a demand more than a question but he let it go because it were her. “Aye I’ll write. Might be the only time I can get a word in.”
“Behave,” she tutted before gently slapping his chest. “They tell us to write to someone and I’ve got no one to write too. Just tell me about the places you see, the animals and anything else. Not the bad stuff, unless you want to. But I’m 18 and reckon I can read about it.”
“Aye, I reckon so.” He wouldn’t be telling her the bad stuff as she put it and she knew it. His mam, her Da, Mr Farnon and Mrs Herriot would have his guts for garters if he did.
“Anyway I better be off. Me dad doesn’t know I’m here, but I’ll be expecting a letter Edward Hall.”
“Then I’ll be expecting a reply back from ya when I do Jenny Alderson.”
She smiled at him proper happy like, then disappeared as quickly as she’d appeared while Edward took his time watching her peddle off into the distance. Not that he had a lot of time for letters but he decided it might be nice to have someone else to write to while he was away.
Plus he wanted to know how that cow she’d named after him was doing.
“What did she want?”
“Saying goodbye.” It were a bloody miracle his mam hadn’t just seen him pushing Jenny’s letter into the top of his kit bag Edward thought. Judging by the Mr Farnon’s raised eyebrow he had though, and Edward just shrugged his shoulders and smiled at him. He reckoned they all had stuff they wanted to keep private.
“Right well… are you ready?” His mam were fussing again. Running her hands across his shoulders, putting his sailors cap on his head, straightening his pressed collar. She then patted his chest and fastened the rope knot on his collar tighter. “Remember your training.”
“I will.”
“Write and phone when you can. I know you’ll be at sea but just…”
“I will Mother, I promise.”
She then flung her arms around and held on tight. “I love you my darling boy.”
“Stay safe Edward. Please. It’s been a pleasure to have you at Skeldale, the cupboard or even better a bed…will always be available when you need it.”
“Thank you Mr Farnon. Look after her for me will you? She don’t come with a receipt.”
“Don’t be cheeky.”
“No receipt needed son. It is my honour.”
Another round of hugs, tears and kisses followed. “Love you Mam. I best go. Don’t wait for me to do it by the way, both of ya.” He told then both. He weren’t sure if they got what he meant but he hoped so.
And then as he’d promised on the telephone earlier that day another rounds hug and kisses followed.
“I’ll write and call home when I can,” he told them before getting himself on the train and waving his goodbyes. He shouted that he loved em as loud as he did so.
When the train pulled out of the station and he couldn’t see them anymore, Edward opened his kit bag, lit a smoke and re-reread his orders. He reckoned he should probably save the shortbread, Jenny’s letter and the two new tins of baccy from Mr Farnon for later when he were back at sea and waiting for god knows what else this war had to throw at him.