Rosie James - Front Line Nurse

‘I think I am going to really like living here, don’t you, Ruby?’ Angelina said, licking sugar from her fingers. ‘Everyone is so kind and seems to like talking to us.’

Ruby nodded as she finished the last of her bun. ‘And look over there, Angelina – I can see swings and see-saws. That must be a park over there, like the one we used to go to when we were at the Garfield.’

Angelina stared across. ‘Yes, of course it’s a park – and there are sure to be seats where we can sit when the weather gets warmer.’

There was silence for a few moments after that, with Angelina being acutely aware that, suddenly, her recent high spirits had dropped like a stone. And she knew it was because of that certain memory, two years earlier, which had refused to leave her, even though it was childish and silly.

It had been a lovely Saturday afternoon over Easter, and they had all gone to the park in the care of Miss Jones. Unusually, Miss Kingston had accompanied them as well. Everyone was especially happy because, after all, they had a week’s holiday from school, and each child had received a big Easter egg, with smaller ones inside, some of which they’d taken with them to eat in the park.

Angelina and Ruby had been swinging contentedly together, side by side, to and fro, when in the near distance but away from the play area, Angelina had suddenly spotted two figures she’d recognised only too well. On one of the long benches beneath a huge sycamore tree, Alexander had been sitting there with Honora Mason. Beautiful Honora, his girlfriend. He’d had his arm around her shoulders and was looking down at her, and she was gazing up at him and smiling. Every now and then she would laugh her tinkling little laugh and she’d seemed so happy, so sure of herself and of what her future held.

Angelina’s mouth had suddenly gone completely dry as she’d witnessed the scene. For her, the afternoon had been completely ruined. She’d known she was being silly, because everyone knew that those two had always been meant for each other, and that one day they were sure to get married. But as long as Angelina didn’t actually se e them together, she could put that thought from her mind, could pretend that it wasn’t true, after all. But that day, she couldn’t deny the sight of her own eyes, and it was no good. She had never had any real chance of being anything more to the man of her dreams than one of his father’s orphans whom he’d taken it into his head to be especially kind to. And had she been making that up, all this time, thinking she was someone special? Because he’d talked to other children as well, had seemed to take a real interest in what they were doing. Why had she allowed herself to fantasise that one day he would put that silver slipper on her foot and take her away to his palace and that they would live happily ever after?

She’d stopped swinging and Ruby had stopped too. ‘Are you going to eat one of your chocolates now, Angelina?’ Ruby had said.

‘No,’ Angelina had replied. ‘I just don’t feel like one, Ruby.’

‘Have you got a tummy ache?’ Ruby had asked as she’d started carefully removing the silver paper from one of the little eggs in her pocket.

‘Not a tummy ache,’ Angelina had replied, ‘but I want to go home, now. I hope it’s nearly time.’

As they’d all trooped back, Angelina had heard Miss Kingston talking to Miss Jones about Honora Mason and about what a lovely girl she was. And wasn’t it charming to see two young people so much in love?

Now, as they were strolling back home, Angelina tried to shake off her pointless memories. She glanced down at Ruby. ‘Isn’t Miss Kingston clever to have found us somewhere like this to live, Ruby? I know it’s a very long street and the grey houses look exactly the same – all those windows like beady eyes staring down at us are a little bit threatening! But it already begins to feel like home. It really does. Do you feel like that, too, Ruby?’

‘’Course I do,’ Ruby said, tucking her hand into Angelina’s arm. ‘As long as we’re both here together, anywhere will always feel like home.’

Angelina didn’t say any more, thinking that one day soon, Ruby would have to get used to being a bit more by herself. Because a day didn’t pass without Angelina envisaging herself dressed in a nurse’s uniform …

But before that, next week, she must start working at the hotel, and the idea didn’t appeal. It seemed such a waste of time when she could be starting on her proper career. But as Miss Kingston had advised, Angelina must be patient. She was still very young – perhaps too young – for St Thomas’s to take her.

Angelina narrowed her eyes at her own thoughts. Just you wait, St Thomas’s. However hard you try, you won’t keep Angelina Green away. Not for long.

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