Beyond a Misty Shore Read Free Page B

’omes of their own, even though it’s all over now.’
    Sophie glared at the woman, her dark eyes filled with grief and anger. ‘Don’t you dare say we had it soft on the island, missus! My poor pa risked his life to keep fish on your tables and then he went down with the
Tynwald
off North Africa. And I’m a widow! A widow at twenty-four and with this child to bring up alone. My husband’s boat was dragged by its nets to the bottom of the sea by a U-boat! The whole crew drowned!’
    ‘And your government dumped all those foreigners on us. We had internment and POW camps!’ Maria added, although there was a note of sadness in her voice.
    Mollified, the woman nodded. ‘I know and I’m sorry for yer loss, girl. Where is it you two’re hoping to stay?’
    Maria fished out the scrap of paper from her coat pocket. ‘Sixteen Harebell Street,’ she informed their travelling companion.
    ‘That’s near Stanley ’ospital, it’s Bootle,’ the woman informed them, then, pausing, she frowned. ‘Bootle ’ad it bad but I don’t think them “flower” streets were hit. Not bad ’ouses either from what I’ve ’eard.’
    Both Maria and Sophie were very relieved to hear this.
    ‘Is it far from the Landing Stage?’ Sophie enquired. Bella was now shivering and clutching her old rag doll tightly to her.
    ‘Well, it’s too far to walk, I know that. You’ll ’ave to get a tram from the Pier ’ead, it’s the terminus so just ask one of the conductors or drivers which tram to get. Tell them where yer want to get off too.’
    The deck was now crowded with people and Maria increased her grip on her small suitcase as the ship came alongside, shuddering as it hit the huge rubber tyres attached to the side of the stage that acted as fenders, throwing everyone off balance.
    ‘We’ll be crushed to death before we even get near the gangway at this rate!’ she cried.
    Sophie bit her lip, realising her sister was right and terrified that Bella would be separated from her. She might even fall and be trampled in the rush for the gangway. ‘See if you can catch the eye of one of those deck hands and ask for help. I’ll have to keep hold of Bella and our luggage.’
    Bella was shivering with cold and fright, terrified by the unfamiliar noises and the press of people who all seemed to tower above her. She had never been away from Peel in her life before. ‘Mam, don’t leave me! I don’t like it here,I want to go home! I want to go back to Granny Sarah!’ Her big blue eyes filled with tears and she hugged her doll to her as she clung to Sophie, burying her face in the folds of her mother’s skirt.
    Sophie drew her closer. ‘Hush now, it’s all right. Mam’s not going to let anything happen to you and we’ll soon be off this ship and in Aunty Lizzie’s house.’
    Maria had no trouble at all in attracting attention. She had been considered one of the prettiest girls in Peel. A good-looking young lad, wearing a thick woollen jumper emblazoned across the chest with the Three Legs of Man, pushed his way towards her, smiling broadly.
    ‘Why did I never meet you strolling along the Lock Promenade in Douglas?’ he asked, admiration evident in both his eyes and voice.
    ‘Because I come from Peel and why would I be bothered going all the way to Douglas to walk along a promenade?’ she quipped, smiling archly and fluttering her long dark lashes. ‘Will you help us to get down the gangway in one piece, please? My sister has her luggage and my little niece to see to.’
    Thus appealed to, and as they were both very attractive girls, he immediately took both Maria and Sophie’s cases and began to shoulder his way through the crowd shouting ‘Make way there, folks! Make way! Follow close behind me. Where are you going?’ he shouted to Maria over his shoulder.
    ‘Somewhere called “Bootle”, we’ve to get a tram,’ she informed him.
    ‘Took a bit of a hammering did Bootle, so one of the shore lads told me, especially the