War Babies by Annie Murray

Mrs Davies. She saw Danny bending down, sorting through his pile of clothes. See you again, Mrs Poulter
had said. This warmed Rachel, made her feel she had a friend. She’d be back to see them. To see Danny. And one day, maybe eventually he’d look at her and speak to her.

Nine
    It took a long time before Rachel managed to get more than the barest nod or half-smile out of Danny. That voice he had had on him before he was sent away still rang out when
it came to hawking his wares, but he seemed to have forgotten how to talk face to face with anyone.
    Rachel’s happiest times were going to the market with Lilian and her mother. At home, she felt alone. The fact that Sidney Horton was now very deliberately ignoring her was the greatest
blessing. He came in and out and moved around her as if she was a shadow. And he seemed to be courting some girl though he was very secretive about it. But she could never feel at ease when he was
in the house. She loathed him. If he came near her the hairs on her body stood on end and she could not relax when he was around. What if he started on her again?
    She could never have said she was not cared for, not in the basic things of life. Fred and her mother made sure she was fed and clothed, and Peggy was always happy to give her a few pennies to
go out with the Davies family. But now that her mother was with Fred Horton and taken up with him and his business, she had almost no time to spare for her daughter and barely more than a passing
interest in her.
    ‘I’ve got a proper life now,’ she said occasionally. She had the safety and comfort she deserved after all the impoverished suffering and striving of her years as a widow. And
nothing and no one, she seemed to imply, was going to get in the way of it.
    Through the winter Rachel went to the market almost every Saturday with the Davieses. She would slope over to Gladys Poulter as soon as she could and Danny was always there too, looking busy and
remote. There was never much time so she could not stay and she started to resent going with Lilian and her mother. She felt disloyal for feeling that, but the pull of Danny was so strong. There
came a day when Mrs Davies and Lilian were not going to town, but Rachel told Peggy they were. The lie sat in her throat like a toad but she made it jump out just the same and received sixpence
from Peggy. She knew what to do now. She was not afraid of going into Birmingham by herself.
    Before going to the bus stop, on a February afternoon from which the fog had barely lifted, she went into a newsagent’s on the Coventry Road. She spent two of the precious pennies on a
present for Danny, which she tucked inside her coat to keep it dry. She did not question whether he would like what she had bought. Somehow she knew he would, even though he looked so grown up and
distant. He had to like it!
    Soon she was jumping down from the trolleybus and hurrying across the Bullring. As she walked into the Rag Market a surge of happiness filled her. She was here! And, much as she liked Lilian and
her mom, she didn’t have to trail around with them – she could go just where she liked.
    Before many seconds had passed, she made out Danny’s voice: ‘Gents’ clothing – all good quality – nothing over ten bob! Come and have a look – don’t be
shy!’
    Her heart picked up speed. Something about Danny’s belting voice had always thrilled her, since the first time she heard it. She stood in the crowd, watching from a distance. Gladys was at
one side, with the women’s clothing and bedding. She had made room for Danny to trade at the other end. He seemed to be standing on something; he looked so tall, a black jacket hanging from
his thin shoulders, his eyes alight and intent.
    ‘Come on now – come and have a look! Best gents’ suits – don’t miss a bargain!’
    He might not be very talkative, she thought, but he can certainly still holler! The other times she had been all she had managed to