大象传媒

The Hard-hearted Landlady - An inhuman interest story

In 1941 I was stationed at a RAF bomber station at Lindholme in Yorkshire. I had managed to find lodgings for my new young wife and myself in Hatfield Woodhouse near to the RAF station, and had permission to 鈥渟leep out鈥�. We settled into the digs OK and had a small bedroom with use of the kitchen.

I had some leave due so we came back to Ewell for a week. When we returned to Hatfield Woodhouse it was snowing and very cold. Due to the weather and wartime conditions the train was late and we arrived back at the digs about 10.30 pm. I knocked on the front door and eventually an upstairs window opened and the landlady poked her head out. She informed us that she had taken the bedding away and that we should have to find somewhere else for the night, but after much pleading she let us in out of the snow. We found that she had taken all the bedding out of our room and wouldn鈥檛 give us any more. We lay all night on the bare iron bed cuddled together to keep warm. The next morning, with much cajoling and offers of more rent money she agreed to let us stay. It was a terrible experience for a couple of newly wed kids.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.