Evacuee Boys Read Free Page A

week & stay at home for a week, she would give us the weekly Government allowance of 17/- for fares. I thanked her very much though I said that I did not think Daddy would take it.
    For a long time you have not told me how the club was going. I am interested in that. Do not think John can sign this letter & I want to send it now, as I do not want to read it to John in case someone in the house overhears it.
    I do not want to be moved from Mrs. Kelly for I do not think I can get a better home than this one, although I should not like to have another quarrel like this one. I tried to defend myself but he interrogated me whenever I started to speak.

    Write me soon & lots of love & kisses,
    from Andrew

    26 October 1939 – a postcard
    Dear Mum and Dad,

    I am very sorry I am so late in writing but I was awaiting your reply to my letter and the something you going to send. I hope the something stands for money.
    I hope when I get the letter, it will say that I can come down for the weekend, for this is a chance not likely to recur before Xmas and I am very eager to see you.
    If I get your ‘yes’ before to-morrow morning’s school, I shall come straight away. If I get it after school I shall come on Saturday. If I get a ‘no’ than I shall be ever so disappointed.
    There is no other news. Mr. & Mrs. Kelly are still very kind. I wish I could see you this weekend.

    Lots of love from Andrew

    … continued by John on the back of the postcard
    Dear Mum & Dad,

    I miss you terribly come as soon as possible. I feel very well, how are you? It has been rather cold the last few days what is it like in London? Is everybody alright? Please send money as we are very hard up. If you have already sent it take it as unwritten.

    John

    28 October 1939
    Dear Mum and Dad,

    Thank you very much for your letter and the money we received this morning. I am afraid I was rather disappointed that I could not see you this weekend. It was a very good chance that I missed. As a matter of fact, at first I wanted to come, thinking that you wanted me to come only you dare not say no. I feel just the same about visiting you, as you describe in your letter to me. All last night, the night before and before that I was thinking of home, how nice it would be to be home – even thought for a short while – and how I should like to see you again. I was seeing it all in front of me, and I nearly thought myself to be at home as I saw you all before my eyes. I did not forget anybody. I even saw little Tiggy under the bed cover meowing when I touched her. 7 I saw you two, Granny, Mariska, Bene, 8 the whole house, a good Hungarian meal & I felt myself at home I hope I can come for Christmas with Johnny and spend a happy week together.
    This afternoon I went [to] Trowbridge and saw at the pictures, ‘The Four Feathers’. It is an excellent picture. At the same time, I went to Woolworths, bought a lock for the bike (6 d ) at Curry’s a bicycle pump (1/3) and battery (3 d ) for reserve in case I cannot get one later when the first one is exhausted and paid 6 d to go to pictures. I also bought a Scout hat for 3/- and gave John 2/- for saving up for his watch, which he wants to buy when has enough money. (I thus have 2/6 d left but do not be frightened for that will last me until you send some more.)
    While I was in Trowbridge, John borrowed Mr. Kelly’s bike and went to Bath with some other Scouts and went to the Roman bath where he had a little swimming. He learned to dive, to swim on his back, to float on his back and to swim under water. He seems to have had a jolly good time. Usually on Saturdays Mr. Kelly lends John his bike so that we can go for a ride together. We have already been to Calne, Chippenham, Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon and Bath. I shall have to go to Devizes, Westbury and Warminster before I shall finish off all the nearby towns.
    I am now listening to ‘Bandwagon’. It is excellent. Do you ever listen to that?
    I was writing to you before