大象传媒

The three of us arrived at Weston-Super-Mare railway station in Somerset, to find that the train was already on the platform. Steam seemed to be everywhere, escaping from beneath the carriage wheels, with the majority coming from the dominating large steam engine that was attached to a great number of carriages. The train was already filling up with troops in 鈥榢haki鈥�. Heavy doors were wide open onto the platform ready to receive them.

My father was dressed in the 鈥淏attledress鈥� of the Royal Engineers, a stranger to me, slim and erect, and very proudly wearing the cap and badge on his head, still looking quite new. He looked around him to see if he could see anyone he knew, drawing heavily on the cigarette that was part of his army rations, mother pressed a small bar of chocolate from my rations and explained that due to the terrible times the chocolate machines on the station platform were always empty these days. I turned round and noticed the sad, neglected machines which were indeed empty, but they still displayed a picture of a large mouth-watering bar of chocolate.

My father picked me up in his arms and kissed me, his rough army uniform rubbing uncomfortably against my skin. 鈥淕ive my love to your brother and sisters鈥� he said. They were at school, but I was only just four years old, too young to go yet.

I was rather bemused by the whole thing. Why was my father going away? 鈥淭o return to my unit鈥� was the answer. He then stepped into the train, he let the window down by its leather strap, and leaned over the door.

My mother began to cry. Why is she crying? I asked myself, I didn鈥檛 understand. The big station clock hands moved to the hour, the guard quickly came along the platform, closing all the open doors as he went. I heard a whistle and the train began to move out of the station, slowly at first, bellowing a cloud of steam, then faster, the train gained speed, the steam leaving its distinctive smell in my nostrils, that which I shall never forget.

More tears from mother, and a lot of waving goodbyes. The train picked up speed quickly disappearing from view. Mother and I waved until we could see him no longer; the tail of the train snaking around the corner of the line disappeared from view.

I glanced up at mother, tears were still rolling down her cheeks, and she held my hand very tightly, but not uttering one word.

Baffled I wondered what was going on, why were we saying goodbye to my father? Why was she still crying? War was not mentioned.

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