大象传媒

Chapter 18

Cook

Molly entered into her cooks role very seriously. She was very inexperienced, her training under Marie had been very useful but whereas the men had to be content with what could be produced for such a large number with the size and number of utensils available, the girls she could foresee would look forward to more of a variety as was possible.
After one or two disasters, a particular one lodging itself in Molly's memory was the time she made a rice pudding. Simple enough in itself. Molly must have misjudged the measurement of rice or milk. The pudding looked golden brown and delicious as it was set upon the table, however as Betty plunged her serving spoon into the attractive looking top of the pudding the spoon almost bent. Molly had misjudged either the mike or rice or perhaps both. As the meal had been eatable until then all was forgiven with a laugh and Molly vowed shed do her best in future.
Her scales were due any day, from then on many an evening saw her tucked up in bed thumbing through a cook book which Mrs Griff had lent her sorting out her menu for the next day or two. Baked potatoes in their jackets with a hole in the centre containing either egg or cheese. Kedgeree, Sponge Puddings topped with either jam or golden syrup all became firm favourites. She remembered complaining the butcher after she had made her first Irish stew as it was called then instead of the present day casseroles. It was lovely and tasty Percy she told him but there wasn't enough meat, they all wanted more it was so tasty I should blinking well think so replied Percy, that wasn't stewing beef gel, that was a piece of topside, you stewed it and it was so tender it almost disappeared, no wonder they liked it. After that day Molly was careful to enquire what the meat was intended for roasting or boiling.
Moll kept her kitchen clean, she scrubbed the shelves and wooden floor. The gastove looked clean enough, indeed after cooking for twelve people and washing up all the dishes, upon reflection it it hadn't been for the fact she got on well with the girls they were a friendly crowd, she did her utmost to feed them as good as was possible, it was almost like doing jankers every day some would have reckoned.
There came the day when a very grand senior officer came to inspect the whole unit. Messages flew around orders were given out. All to be shining and ship-shape everywhere. Molly donned her clean overalls and made sure no hair showed beneath her white cooks cap. She surveyed her kitchen, stove, shelves, pans shone, even the floor which she had left till late last night so no one would mark it until after the big high ranking officer had been and gone, showed a vivid one side ---- the other side line at the doorway where she had finished. The doorway led into the hall and after all the kitchen was her domain. She felt very proud of her efforts and although in awe of the expected visitor she hoped he approved of her kitchen. She heard voices and the tramping of feet on the stairs. Captain --- looking very self-conscious preceded the very important person with Reg sergeant major Smutty following behind. The V.I.P was indeed a grand figure, quite old, a veteran of the last war guessed Molly and with his decorated uniform looked as if he meant business. As the captain entered the kitchen and the V.I.P. stood in the doorway eyeing everything in sight Molly stood to attention and timidly asked would you like a cup of tea sir? One could have heard a pin drop in the short silence that ensued. Molly glanced at the captain and RSM and guessed, by the stony look on their faces, shed done the wrong thing. The V.I.P. took one step inside her precious kitchen raised his stick? And hooked it through the handle of the little cupboard which was under the sink.
With the trained eye almost snake-like the V.I.P. bent forward and with a grunt flicked out a small crust of bread from within the cupboard. It was almost concealed by the pipes to anyone elses untrained eye, but hed spotted it. Molly had thought that little area belonged to the plumber and as she never needed to the door was never opened. The V.I.P. turned (without a word) on his heals and made his way downstairs. The RSM lingered just long enough to hiss between his teeth to an already uncomfortable red faced Molly are yer tryin to do me out of me job. Molly pondered after that in her despondency, did he mean he might get disciplined for not inspecting her cupboard before, or did he mean he was the person to ask the V.I.P if he wanted any tea?. Molly put matters right and the offending pipe cupboard looked a picture. The next time the kitchen was inspected this time by a female member of the upper crust, Molly received a compliment from her. She was years younger than the previous V.I.P. but just as zealous. She scrutinised the whole kitchen then as to say as a last resort as if to say Ill catch you here she opened every drawer in the chest. To her surprise there were bags of pulses, rice and flavourings all neatly filed away. Hers had been a surprise visit. Molly's confidence was restored.
The rest of the women were responsible for the cleaning of their bedrooms and they all shared the cleaning of the sitting room and bathroom. One day a new volunteer arrived. Molly was pleased, she was from her home town, in fact a school-mate. Her duties were to take over the work of cleaning the flat apart from the kitchen. That meant Molly had company. She hadn't realised how alone she had been working away in that kitchen preparing all meals for twelve. Now she had someone to share a mid morning cup of tea with.

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