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My father was home on leave — being a small child and only daughter I adored my father and dwelt on his every word.

I was sitting on a stool in front of him: ‘You see, Shirley, you have a very important job to do today’, he said. He gave me three half crowns, a lot of money then. ‘Go to this house in Soundwell'. He explained to me exactly how to get there. ‘Do not speak to anyone, or stop and talk — it is very serious, because you could get into trouble’, he carried on. ‘There will be a parcel in the porch of that house, just leave the money under the mat, pick up the parcel and hurry home’!

I was terrified, but excited at the same time. Being given such a responsibility above my elder brother, I felt ten feet tall. I marched off to do his bidding, and returned home triumphant, job accomplished.

We all gathered around the table to share the unwrapping of the parcel — A LEG OF PORK! My one and only taste of the Black Market - and such a delicious leg of pork it was.

Never Forgotten. Very scary!

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