大象传媒

I was a child during the War, living in Belfast. We suffered the two Blitzs and that left us all feeling very vulnerable and for a few years we feared more such horrors. But as the days wore on, being a child I completely forgot the war and was only aware of the shortages and the blackouts, always needing a torch when going out at night. Like most parents, mine gave me all their rations of things like butter, sweets, meat etc. It was grim for them I know. But then around 1944 the Americans arrived and for me it was a wonderful time.

My mother did housework for a lady who for years I thought was very grand. I realised when I got older that she was living just a few streets away and just one of us. But she had a very pretty daughter who was a dancer and this girl worked in a nightclub in the centre of Belfast which was very popular with the Americans. This girl was only about 16 and was chaperoned everywhere by her mother and soon they both were making friends with the Americans and they would invite them to their home. They always brought lots of things which were very difficult to get, sweets (my introduction to Spangles), chocolate, cakes, stockings, groceries, everything you could think of. This lady's house was like an Aladdin's cave for me. She was very generous to my mother and to me. I remember how upset they were when the Americans moved out. The daughter had one special friend and she was planning to marry him when she was old enough. I often wonder whether this ever happened. The arrival of the Americans in Belfast caused a lot of bad feeling amongst the men. The Americans were so glamourous compared to the locals who had suffered four years of shortages. Girls who fraternised with the Americans were considered very fast and not 'nice' girls. I know my mother agonised a lot when she was given all the good things, whether she should accept them. I, however, had no hesitation and I think that that carried the day.

After the War ended my father returned from working in England building airfields and my mother gave up her cleaning job.

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