大象传媒

This story was added to the People's War site by a volunteer from 大象传媒 Newcastle on behalf of Mary Charlton. Mary Charlton fully understands the site's terms and conditions and the story has been added to the sire with her permission.

"'Aunt Nellie' is staying with us. She had bow legs with funny blotches. She says its from sitting too close to the fire. She has a pilot in the RAF. "The Few" Churchill calls them. He has big fur boots and a funny hat. He lets me wear them. He gives me two model planes - one a Spitfire and the other a Stuka. I smash that one. That felt good until afterwards - it was just a toy.

Dad's back! But I'm sure he'll leave again. Like before. Why can't he stay? Betty Henderson's Dad is here all the time. It's not fair. It makes Mum cry.

I'm home. I'm sick. Some big kid swapped me my Dad's knife for something he said I wanted. I don't want it anymore. How will I tell my Dad? Big kids are rotten. I'm stupid, stupid, stupid!

I had my first kiss. I'm going to marry Betty Henderson. We'll live in the air raid shelter.

"We've smashed the hun" Churchill says. "Our men can come home". Except my Dad. He's gone to fight someone else. It's not fair. Does he have to do everything?

We had to take a can to school. No one said why, but Mam got a note. I wasn't in trouble this time and the school nurse didn't find dickies in my hair and me Mam is happy. It's cocoa! A can for every kid and apples! From 'Canada', part of the empire. Honest! I didn't get as many apples as our Margaret or the other kids on the street. Honest! "I don't feel well".

The Rington's tea man is in the back lane (that's where we live) We play "doors". Each kid has a door. You can score a door on anybody's door except your own. I'm too little to have a door but Richie Keith says I can be on his side. Some big kids are good. He sticks up for me. I think he wants to marry our Margaret. Anyway, the tea man is here. His coach is black and gold. His horse shines, his harness is polished and has real silver in it. Honest, it was wonderful!

Me Mam gives him our ration books. He gives her some tea, and then he looks round and gives her some coupons. There is a black market. I've never seen it but our Margaret knows. Me Mam says some people have more money than sense. She has mouths to feed and kids to clothe. We don't need much tea or sweets, whatever they are. Our Margaret says that's what used to be in the empty machines at the station. After the War when Dad's home we can get some. Everything is "after the war". Our Margaret's going in the Land Army and I'm going in the marines, but we have to go to school first.

It's Friday and the fishman is in the lane. He's not like the tea man - him and his horse and cart smell - but fish isn't rationed, not really. He's an old man, he wears medals and he won't let people be greedy. "There's a war on and more streets than Corbridge Street. But you've got kids missus. You can't be picky". Cod, herring, whatever they can sneak out and catch.

We had a cat. Her name was Queenie. Lovely white fur. She's gone missing. Me Mam says she's found someplace better.

It's near Christmas. We're going to a pantomime, a British tradition. The "hero", Robin Hood, Aladdin, Dick Whittington, is played by a woman. The mother (there's always a mother) is played by a man. He's funny, "she" has long legs and a short jacket. But halfway through this show, Queenie, our cat strolls across the stage and steals the scene. If you lose your cat it's good to know she's made the big time.

Sometime you wish you could change things. There's a big kid

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