A Moment to Remember (13 page)

Jane was thrilled when Milly told her, and that afternoon they went off with Jane holding a basket of goodies on her lap.

Elsie was very surprised when she opened the door to them. ‘Milly. Miss Jane.’ She looked flustered. ‘Fancy you coming to see me.’

‘Betty’s done you up a basket,’ said Jane, holding it out.

‘That’s very kind of her, and of you for bringing it to me.’

Two little tots came up to Elsie and held on to her skirt.

‘Why is that lady sitting in that chair with wheels?’ asked the older of the two.

Elsie looked embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it.’

Elsie began to look agitated and pushed the children away. ‘I’d ask you in, but I can’t get your chair through the door.’

‘No, that’s all right,’ said Jane quickly.

‘How’s your husband?’ asked Milly.

‘Not too good. Don’t know when I can get back.’

‘Betty said for you not to worry about it.’

‘Thank you.’

Milly turned Jane’s chair round. ‘We’ll be off now.’

‘Bye,’ said Elsie, clutching the basket. ‘And thank you.’

‘That was a nice outing,’ Jane said.

Milly was thinking how hard things must be for Elsie and her family. She could understand her not wanting them to go into her house. Milly’s mother would have died if anyone had wanted to go into their house.

Jane was still talking, and Milly listened.

‘It makes a nice change for me to go somewhere different. We’ll have to go out again, now that Mama trusts you pushing me about.’

‘That’ll be good. Just as long as Walton doesn’t mind. Right now, hold on, off we go.’

Jane was laughing as Milly pushed her a lot faster than Walton would have done.

 

Walton had begun to look tired and worried.

‘Don’t know what’s wrong with her,’ said Jane to Milly one afternoon when they were alone.

‘Perhaps things aren’t very good at home.’

‘Could be. Don’t know much about her home life. I suppose she must have one.’

‘Where does she live?’

Jane shrugged. ‘Don’t know. Must be quite near, though she doesn’t say a lot.’

‘Perhaps she has a secret,’ said Milly.

‘Could be a lover, and . . . ’ She beckoned for Milly to come closer. ‘Perhaps he keeps her up all night, you know!’

‘Miss Jane, you are very naughty,’ said Milly, laughing.

‘I need something to talk about. Every day is the same and so boring. We must go out together again.’

‘I’ll see what your mother has to say about it.’

 

Milly had been pushing Jane round the garden.

‘Come on, time to go back,’ said Jane.

‘It’s not like you to want to go in on such a lovely day. You look a bit flushed. Are you all right?’

‘I’m fine. I just want my tea.’

‘Right. Hold on.’

The girls were still giggling when they went into the drawing room. Miss Dance walked in after them.

‘Miss Dance,’ said Milly, looking surprised. ‘Is everything all right?’

‘Yes thank you.’

‘We don’t usually see you here in the afternoon.’ Milly began to pour the tea. ‘Would you like a cup?’

‘Yes please. This is a special afternoon.’

Milly looked at Jane, who was sitting on the sofa grinning. Even Mrs Green and Walton were smiling. Then Betty came in and joined them.

Milly looked bewildered. ‘What is it?’ She didn’t know why, but the thought that quickly went through her mind was that they had found Aunt Doris.

‘Millicent Ash, it gives me great pleasure to hand you your certificate. You have passed your exams.’

Everybody clapped and said congratulations as Milly stood looking bewildered. She now had a real certificate to tell everyone how clever she was. ‘Thank you. This is lovely,’ she said, gazing at the paper. ‘I shall keep it for ever.’

‘I’ll get the cake,’ said Betty.

‘A cake?’ repeated Milly.

‘Yes, I’ve made a special one.’

‘Well this does call for a celebration,’ said Jane. ‘After all, I can’t believe that the scruffy cockney girl I found in the park could turn out not only to be very clever, but a beautiful swan.’

Milly blushed. ‘Thank you.’ She clutched her certificate and held back the tears of joy. She realised how lucky she was. Jane had rescued her from the park and given her an education. She could now go out into the world and be someone. She went to Jane and held her tight. ‘Thank you so much for everything. I shall be in your debt for ever.’

Jane held her friend close.

‘You’ll have to write and tell Richard,’ she said.

‘I don’t suppose he’ll be interested.’

‘I think he will.’

Milly was thrilled that Jane had suggested she write to him.

For Jane too this was a wonderful day. If only they could go shopping, say, or to a restaurant
—
really celebrate.

 

Summer, when it arrived, was hot and sultry. One June afternoon Jane was looking through the window and seemed very unhappy.

‘I’m sick of sitting in this chair,’ she shouted at Walton, who was doing some sewing.

‘I’m so sorry, Miss Jane.’

‘I want go to the park and watch the children running around.’

‘Just let me finish this first, then we’ll go.’

‘No. I want to go now. Get Milly to take me.’

‘You know that’s not possible.’

‘I want Milly. Get her in here now.’ Jane was shouting.

Walton rang the bell.

Milly was in the kitchen, preparing the afternoon tea trolley.

‘Now what does she want?’ said Betty, glancing up. Her face was red and she looked very hot and bothered.

‘She was in a bad mood at lessons this morning,’ said Milly.

‘Must be the heat getting her down. Poor girl, stuck in that chair all the time.’

‘I’ll go and see what she wants.’ As Mrs Green was out, they both knew it was Jane who was ringing.

Milly pushed open the drawing-room door.

‘About time too.’

Milly was taken back. It wasn’t like Jane to speak to her like that. ‘Is something wrong?’ she asked.

‘I want to go to the park, but Walton here is too busy, so you can take me.’

Walton looked bewildered. ‘I’ve asked her to wait just a moment.’

Milly looked surprised. ‘Jane, you know I can’t do that.’

‘Why not?’

‘I’m only allowed to push you round the garden and just a short way round the roads. Besides, it’s almost teatime.’

Jane began to cry.

‘Miss Jane,’ said Walton, going to her. ‘What ever is wrong?’

‘This damn chair. I hate it. I hate it.’ She banged the arms. ‘I want to be like other girls. I want to run and dance.’ Her sobs were sad to hear.

Milly stood bewildered. She had never seen her friend so upset. ‘Look, let me take you into the garden and we can have our tea under the tree. Would that be all right, Walton?’

‘I think that is a very good idea, Milly.’

Once they were outside, Milly bent down and said, ‘Now come on, this isn’t like you. Dry those tears.’

‘I’m sorry. It’s just that I feel so helpless sitting here on such a lovely day. I want to run and be with other people.’

‘I know that. Perhaps we could try and think of some games you can play. Did you ever play games with Richard?’

‘We’d play hide and seek when we were little.’

‘Well we can play that.’

‘No, I don’t want to. It’s childish. Besides, there’s not many places you can hide a wheelchair.’

‘That’s true.’

‘What games did you play with your brothers and sisters?’

‘Never had time to play games. We were all too busy doing our chores and trying to earn some money.’

‘You must think I’m very selfish.’

‘No, I don’t. I think you’re a very nice person and I like you very much. Now I’d better go and get the tea trolley. It’s a good thing we have these ramps to get you in and out.’

‘Milly.’

‘Yes.’

‘Come here.’

Milly did as she was told, and Jane took hold of her face with both hands and kissed her cheek.

Milly stood up and put her hand up to her face. ‘What was that for?’ she asked softly.

‘For being my friend.’

She stood for a while looking at Jane, then turned and hurried away before the tears fell. First Richard and now Jane. She felt so happy here; nobody had ever been this nice to her before. But at the back of her mind was always the fear that something might happen to put an end to her comfortable life.

T
HERE WAS GREAT excitement in the Green household when the telegram arrived informing them that Mr Green would be coming home for the Coronation.

‘It will only be for a few days,’ said Mrs Green.

‘Will you be going with him?’ asked Betty.

‘Yes. I’m really looking forward to it. It should be a very grand affair. I shall need new outfits and we will be staying at a hotel for two nights.’

‘Will you get to see the King and Queen?’ asked Betty.

‘I think so.’

‘It must be very exciting for you,’ said Milly.

‘Yes, it is. Milly, I want you to help Walton with Jane while I’m away.’

‘Of course I will.’

‘Mr Green will only be coming here for two days, then he has to go back to Germany.’ She gave them a beaming smile and left the kitchen.

‘It’s going to be such a sight,’ said Milly. ‘Jane was saying how much she would love to go.’

‘It’s such a shame, poor girl, she misses out on so many things.’

‘I know.’

When Jane and Milly had been discussing the forthcoming event, Jane had said that her father was going to bring her back a souvenir. Then she got very angry. ‘I wish I was going instead of being stuck in this bloody chair.’

Milly was taken by surprise. She had never heard Jane swear before and she looked around quickly. Fortunately Walton and Mrs Green had just left the room.

‘Jane. For goodness’ sake don’t let your mother hear you swear. She’ll think I’ve been teaching you.’

‘No she wouldn’t; you can’t do any wrong in my mother’s eyes.’

‘Come on, cheer up.’

‘I want to be there.’

‘I know you do. Look, why don’t we get Walton to take you round the shops? They must look really lovely with all the decorations.’

Jane half smiled. ‘I suppose that will have to do. That’s what I love about you, you always come up with something new to do.’

Milly knew that if it was up to her, somehow she would try to make Jane’s life a little more interesting.

 

After Mr Green went back to Germany, everything in the household drifted along pleasantly. Richard was happy at the military school and occasionally enclosed a letter for Milly in with Jane’s. They were always very light-hearted, telling her about his fellow students and what they all got up to in their spare time.

The summer was full of sunshine, and many people were complaining about the heat. Milly and Jane, though, were looking forward to when Richard came home for the holiday.

The two girls were now sixteen and their friendship was very special to both of them. More and more Milly was taking Jane out for short walks. Those afternoons were always full of laughter as the girls giggled and played about like children. Sometimes Jane complained that she wanted to go to the park, but despite the trust Mrs Green had in Milly, that was only allowed when they were with Walton.

‘Milly is taking me out today,’ Jane said to Walton one afternoon.

‘If you say so, Miss Jane.’

Milly looked at Walton, who appeared to be very down.

As they were getting ready to go outside, she said to Jane, ‘Do you think Walton is worried about losing her job?’

‘She shouldn’t be. Who else could put me in the bath or massage my legs and bottom and the many other unpleasant things she does for me?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘I wish my legs would work properly, then I wouldn’t have to have Walton around.’

Milly could see Jane was getting distressed, and that always upset her. She hated to see her friend like that. ‘I’ll have a word with her when we get back and put her mind at rest.’

‘All right, if you must.’ Jane was obviously put out. ‘After all, she should be pleased that she doesn’t have to push me around the whole time and listen to all my silly comments.’

Milly laughed. ‘I can see you’re getting cross, because when you’re annoyed your head wobbles, and then that starts your bow wobbling as well.’

Jane laughed. ‘Does it? Push me to the mirror so that I can see.’

Milly did so, and the two of them were laughing at themselves in the hall mirror when Mrs Green came along.

‘What’s going on here?’ she asked.

‘Milly was saying that when I get cross, my bow wobbles.’ Jane moved her head about.

‘Yes, it does,’ said her mother. ‘Now why are you cross?’

‘Just wish I could go somewhere exciting.’

Mrs Green looked sad. ‘I wish we could find some way of taking you to somewhere exciting.’

Jane looked down. ‘I’m sorry. I know you do all you can for me.’

Mrs Green bent down and hugged her daughter. ‘Perhaps one day. Who knows.’ She stood up. ‘So where are you off to today?’

‘Not too far,’ said Milly quickly.

‘That’s good. Remember, Betty has done a nice tea and Mrs Robbins and Catherine will be here for tea.’

Jane screwed up her nose. ‘She’s such a bore.’

‘Don’t be unkind, Jane. Now, be off with you both.’ Mrs Green stood at the door and watched Milly skilfully manoeuvre the chair down the ramp. It upset her when Jane was down; she always felt that she was to blame for her daughter’s condition. Thank goodness for Milly; she was such a tonic for Jane. But increasingly she had fears about Milly’s future. Now that she was better educated, would she leave them one day?