大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Lin Freeman of Radio Derby CSV on behalf of Olive England and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I stirred and my wooden bed creaked. Opening one eye I looked at my watch. 鈥淕oodness, it鈥檚 never that time鈥�, and I jumped out of bed 鈥� must have missed the rising bell. 鈥淩elax, it鈥檚 Christmas Day鈥�, so I sank back on the hard bed again. A few minutes later (or so it seemed) there was a banging on the door.
鈥淲ake up, the Officer is coming round with a pot of tea鈥� shouted Vera.
鈥淕o away, it鈥檚 Christmas Day, not the first of April鈥� I replied.
鈥淚t鈥檚 true, they鈥檝e just gone to no.5鈥�. Time for action indeed, better wake Ciss up first, her temper and language is unbearable first thing in the morning.
鈥淲ake up, Ciss鈥� I shouted 鈥淥fficer Watkins and Sergeant Mac are coming round with tea and you mustn鈥檛 swear鈥�. Now who next? Joan is a deep sleeper. 鈥淲ake up Joan, cuppa tea is coming round鈥�.
鈥淐rikey鈥� said Joan, 鈥減ass me my mug, my teeth are in it!鈥�
In a few minutes flat five pairs of bleary eyes and five chipped mugs at the ready faced the door.
鈥淕ood morning, girls, Merry Christmas鈥�.
鈥淢orning, Ma鈥檃鈥檙m. Morning, Sarge. Mac鈥� we replied in chorus. As the door closed we sipped our warm, sweet tea. This was bliss indeed. Breakfast anytime up until 9a.m and dress informal, no buttons to polish. We strolled down to breakfast. There was another surprise. A real egg and marmalade. This was a change from golden syrup, which always ran into your baked beans before you could sit down, and no queue at the tea bucket. Afterwards as I lay on my crumpled bed and added 鈥榥o bed to barrack鈥� to my list of joys, my eyes wandered to a Christmas card on a nearby shelf 鈥楶eace on earth, goodwill towards man鈥�.
Was this the wonderful feeling of Peace and Goodwill towards man?

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