大象传媒

I got up one morning during the war and groaned to myself because it was a wet day and I knew I would have to wear my wellies. I had my porridge and Mum said 鈥淒on鈥檛 forget your boots 鈥檆os it鈥檚 raining.鈥� I grimaced and ate my porridge, and Dad went off to work. Mum did the washing up, and said 鈥淕o and put on your boots.鈥� In my room I put on my Mac and my shoes, hoping that Mum would not notice. Fat chance! She must of heard the difference in the sound of boots and shoes, as she appeared at the door of the kitchen. I began the whining process, 鈥淥h Mum, my feet get all hot and I can鈥檛 run鈥︹�� When, RATATATATATATAT! Mum flew down the passage and picking me up almost threw me into the Morrison indoor shelter, as the Luftwaffe鈥檚 finest zoomed over head and into the distance.

Mum crawled out of the shelter wagging a finger at me. 鈥淵ou stay there,鈥� she snapped, and going to the front door began a conversation with the neighbour across the road. I crawled out of the shelter and heard the neighbour say, 鈥淭here must be a God I tell yer. There must be.鈥� The street had been full of kids all going to my school who were all taken by surprise by the enemy plane, but had not had time to take cover. People were coming out of their houses expecting to find the street littered with tiny bodies, but the only casualties were the baker鈥檚 horse and the lady driver. The horse had collected either shrapnel or a lump of the road, and lay screaming horribly while the driver sat in her seat crying in shock.

As we ate our evening meal Mum told Dad about the attack. 鈥淚 had to laugh,鈥� she grinned. 鈥淭he baker took cover under his silly little handcart鈥�. Dad laughed and remarked, 鈥淥nly one plane though. It dropped a bomb between here and the school, and killed three ducks in someone鈥檚 back yard. If that鈥檚 the best Gerry can do!鈥�

This story was entered on the People鈥檚 War Website by Stuart Ross on behalf of Michael Papworth. Michael fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

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