Freebie!

So have you bought Dark & Fluffy yet. Did you enjoy it? (I still want those comments about the ending of the The Rue Stone!!) Or are you still unsure whether it will be your sort of thing, how about a freebie story to try first? OK, here’s one – New Shoes.

New Shoes 

            They stood on the quayside, two tiny figures amongst the hordes of others waiting to board the ship. She clutched her handbag tightly. It was brand new. A going away present bought for her by the family. It was cream coloured, soft and comforting to touch. Her uncle said that it was leather, but she was unsure. Surely that would have been out of their price range, even though all of her family had contributed. She didn’t say anything of course; she didn’t want to appear ungrateful. She’d kissed them all in thanks and promised that they would contact them to let them know that they had arrived.

The bag contained very little, but what it did contain was very important. There were the tickets for herself and her son, her husband had sent the £56 20s that they had needed for them, and there was a little money for emergencies. She had kept the tickets with her since she had bought them, frightened that such expensive items may be stolen or lost.

 She was wearing her Sunday best and she had added a fresh red hibiscus flower to the grey hat that she wore. If she could find a little glass and some water for it, she hoped that it would last the journey. She wanted to look her best when she saw her husband. They had been apart for such a long time and she could hardly wait to see him again. She straightened her smoky blue jacket and hoped her clean white gloves would be just as white when she arrived.

At her side her young son fidgeted and shuffled uncomfortably in his leaving present; new shoes. He too was wearing his Sunday best, although she had wanted him to wear long trousers, he had been so insistent on wearing shorts that she eventually gave up.

Her husband had said it wasn’t so warm where they were going and they had to be prepared, so the trousers were carefully packed in their suitcase.

She looked down at her boy; he looked so small, so innocent; she hoped he would settle ok.

As if in response to her inspection, he looked up at her.

‘How long will we be gone for mama?’

‘We’re going forever son, remember, we talked about this?’

‘What if we want to come back?’ He tapped his feet irritably.

‘We won’t want to, your pa’s there, your uncle is there. We’ll all be there as a family. It will be home. Now come on move up a little, it won’t be long now.’ She pressed on his shoulder gently guiding him forwards.

They shuffled further up in the chaotic queue.

She had wondered where they would be sleeping on the ship and what they would be eating. The crowds around them were mainly servicemen which had unnerved her. There were very few women and even fewer women were travelling by themselves with children. However, she had been assured by the officials that ladies would have their own sleeping area, but they would have to eat in the canteen with the men.

She glanced up at the ship and the sun punished her eyes. There were lots of young men leaning over the railings, their ties and open jackets blowing in the blustery winds. Those wearing hats had to hold onto them whilst waving to the crowds below with their free hands. They all looked happy enough and for most of them this was the second time that they had made the journey. They knew what it was like. Surely they wouldn’t go back if it was so bad. The thought cheered her slightly. She looked at her child again and saw that he was waving at the men on the boat.

‘Don’t wave son,’ she chastised him, ‘we don’t know those men.’ She didn’t want to appear overly familiar in the overwhelmingly male surroundings.

He stopped waving with a sigh.

‘Tell me again what it says on the ship mama?’

The crowds started to move forward at a faster pace as she read out the small black words that sat on the large white expanse in front of them. She gripped his hand tightly.

‘It says Windrush son, the Empire Windrush. Now come it’s time to get on the ship.’

 

Don’t forget to let me know what you think in the comments.