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'This story was submitted to the People's War site by Rick Allden of the CSV ´óÏó´«Ã½ Coventry and Warwickshire Action Desk on behalf of Tony Walker and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions'.

It was the Germans of course, again: up to their usual tricks, but this time it was manna from heaven for us, the people underneath…………………They had shot down the barrage balloon that had hung like silver-grey gloom over the station and Auntie and all the others were going to get a slice of the action.

Moving with a speed and agility that was unexpected for her size and shape she responded to the rumour: Hettie donned hat, coat and gloves, whispered quietly to the other women, and was gone. The door was closed quietly as were others along the lane.

Above in the skies, had the German pilots still been watching, they would have seen ant-like movements . . . . . . . busy, busy.
Was it the thought of approaching winter that drove the women on: drove them to the edges of the dead skyfish’s smooth shiny silver skin? Or was it a hunger brought on by shortages and the rationing? Auntie’s busy hands had been empty too long: children had been growing and clothes like tempers had been wearing thin.

They worked round the edges like leaf-cutter ants — planning and snipping: hat for mum, shopping bag for Nana, bathing hat for Lesley, overshoes for me . . . they thought. Make do and mend was, just for the moment, lost in the feeding frenzy, lost in the enormity of the kill. Gorged and strangely jubilant, one by one, the creatures, now tired and heavy, walk awkwardly away into the anonymity of the darkness.

This story was donated to the People’s War website by Tony Walker, of the Leam Writers. If you would like to find out more about Leam Writers call 0845 900 5 300.

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