24th April 1940 - Final Post

Letter from Susan.  In her heavily pregnant state she has been reading every newspaper she can get her hands on to try and ease the boredom.  She asks if I know anything about this Doctor Bailey and Miss Bradshaw case.  She supposes that it is a common name and that there must be more than one in Worth, but what a coincidence.  I feel sure that she knows something.  I don’t know how, perhaps its making its way around all the LMS stations.  Does Dad know something? I don’t know how to answer her letter. And Mr Hardy had a word with me today.  He says that he was at LDV practice last night and that he heard two of the men talking about Dr B and his poor wife and children.  He warned me that I’ve only been in Worth a few months and that I’m in danger of getting a name for myself.  He said that he knows it’s difficult for pretty girls to keep out of trouble these days but I must try harder. (pretty!)  I just feel awful.

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23rd April 1940

The girl with the teeth from the buffet walked the last few yards into work with me and said she’d seen the piece in the paper and knew I had the doctor “sniffing round” and had put two and two together.  Of course if I’d asked her she would have told me that he was married with children.  And that he had a taste for younger girls.  If she’d have known that I was actually going out with him she’d have been round to tell me.  Apparently he used to be her cousin’s doctor until he tried it on with her.  Ought to have been struck off years ago.

Then Molly from parcels turned up as I was hanging my coat up, like she’d been waiting for me.  She’d seen it as well – knew it was me.  And of course Mr Hardy knew.  I feel like everyone knows and that they all think I was up to no good. They don’t believe me when I tell them that I was about to insist that he take me home.  Mrs F says that it will all go away in a week or two when something else happens.  But I feel sure that Mum and Dad or Susan will somehow find out and think the worst. 

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The published version includes part 2 - only part 1 will be blogged.

22nd April 1940

It was in today’s paper – the local evening one- a big piece on page 4.  It did mention me.  It said that he had been dining with a young lady from the local area named Miss Bradshaw.  I suppose it’s quite a common name.  I haven’t been to work today, I got Joan to tell Mr Hardy that I’d been ill all night but she was very disapproving.  I suppose I’d better go tomorrow.

The full story is now available on Amazon Kindle books:

Click here for Sarah's Amazon page

The published version includes part 2 - only part 1 will be blogged.

21st April 1940

I’ve spent most of today in bed, being spoon fed brandy by Joan and sleeping inbetween.  I had no sleep at all last night but I feel awake now and I want to write down everything that happened.

Dr B collected me at the station, like he said he would.  He was so attentive, I had a rug tucked round my knees and he had a couple of flasks in easy reach, one with tea in and the other with whiskey, which I will never drink again as long as I live.  I can still smell it now.  It was on his breath.  He drove us for miles, right out of town, up into the hills and then a bit further.  I thought we might end up back at home, but we turned off and went the other way towards Wyke.  After a bit we stopped at a big wayside pub.  One of those big modern looking ones set back from the main road with a car park and everything.  So we went inside and it was lovely.  He’d even booked a table for us to have a three course meal.  I let him choose what we had – some locally caught fish then a lovely pudding with custard!  He said we should have wine with our meal so I had a big glass.  After that he took me into the bar and got me a gin.  After the wine I felt all relaxed and didn’t really worry about having too much and what might happen.  He seemed to be sat closer and closer to me until he was practically on my knee.  He ordered me  another gin and then whispered in my ear that he was in love with me and would I like to take a room for the night?  I just didn’t know what to do, I wasn’t expecting that at all and I dashed to the ladies’ room to catch my breath and think what to do.  I had decided  to insist that he drive me home that instant and went back to the bar when I saw that there was a commotion  around the table where we had been sitting.  As I got near I saw that Dr B was just slumped, face down onto the table with his arms dangling down by his sides.  A young woman pushed through them, saying that she was a nurse.  She felt all over for a pulse and couldn’t get one. She said it looked like heart attack.

Well, she was right.  He was taken to the infirmary and I got dropped home by the police, who asked me all sorts of questions about him that I couldn’t answer.  They went to do some investigating and came back later to tell me that he had died of a heart attack and also that he was married with four children.  Mrs F was cross that her evening got spoilt and Joan has been giving me her disapproving look.  I think it will be in a newspaper and what if they mention me?  It’s the curse it has to be.  Even Joan says she’s beginning to wonder.

19th April 1940

Dr B called by my ticket window today and asked me if I wanted to go for a drive with him tomorrow afternoon.  Well, I thought, that would get me out of the buffet girl outing which I don’t really fancy.  And he promised me dinner at a nice pub by a lake, which does sound nice. A change from these grey old streets. He said to come prepared for a nice long drive.  I had to ask him about his petrol ration but he tapped his nose and told me not to worry.  So he’s picking me up outside the station at one.  I’ve told him I’ve got to stay out quite late for Mrs F.  He just smiled and said it was perfect.  Oh well, might get my supper bought too.

18th April 1940

Mrs F has asked if Joan and I can go out on Saturday evening because she wants to have Bill next door but one round for some supper.  Apparently he’s going to coach her on what to do in case of invasion so we’ll all three of us stay safe.  I said didn’t we all ought to be there then but Mrs F said no, we were to leave all the worrying to her as head of the household.  Joan says that there is an outing being planned by the buffet girls who aren’t on shift that we can go on.  I’m not sure I fancy it, especially if that girl with the big teeth is going to be there.  I really don’t like her, she talks down to me.

16th April 1940

Dr B is back.  Says he was called away to Manchester for a few days for a reason he couldn’t say.  As if I’d be interested.  He says that he will come and take me out shortly.  I have to wait on him it seems.  I feel a bit guilty that I didn’t check if he was ill I suppose.  I expect I shall go out with him.  I could prove once and for all that there’s nothing in that curse, that it’s all been coincidence.