Laurie Graham - The Unfortunates

Miss Landau shook my hand and hoped that I would do what I could for Poland.

‘Poppy is with the Red Cross, of course,’ Ma said. ‘In bandages.’

‘Important work,’ Miss Landau replied, ‘but we all have to ask ourselves what more we can do.’

She had a dry mouth that crackled when she spoke, and slightly gamy breath.

I said, ‘I shall be of age in November. Then I’m going to do something really important.’

‘Indeed?’ Ma said. ‘This is the first I heard of it.’

I said, ‘I’m going to buy trucks, like my cousin Addie, and drive them to the Western Front.’

Ma looked quite stunned. Miss Landau was studying my hair. I had allowed it full rein, and wound through it a twist of satin ribbons in lemon and raspberry. What could not be subdued should be emphasized, I had decided.

‘Don’t vex yourself, Dora,’ my aunt said. ‘Money for madcap schemes will not be forthcoming. I shall speak to Israel about it as soon I get home.’

I opened my mouth to protest, but over my shoulder Aunt Fish had spied another means of silencing me.

‘Mr Jacoby!’ she cried. ‘We had no idea you were here with Dear Yetta. What a pleasure!’

He had separated himself from the crowd and was heading toward us, smiling a little. Judah Jacoby, the real live father of the boy I dreamed about.

I turned scarlet, and Ma and Aunt Fish, in sympathy with me perhaps, glowed pinkly.

‘This is Dora’s girl,’ Miss Landau told him. ‘Seems to have her head screwed on, even if it is trimmed up like a circus pony.’

Mr Jacoby took my hand and bowed. Then he did the same to Aunt Fish and Ma. He was a small, soft, silver-haired man. His skin was buttery and his eyes were dark. He was, in fact, not at all what I had planned him to be. And Oscar had his father’s looks. Aunt Fish had said so.

‘Which lot is your son with, sir?’ I asked him, trying to retrieve something of the Oscar I had created. ‘I heard he volunteered.’

Mr Jacoby seemed pleased by my interest.

‘He’s with the 27th,’ he said. ‘In France, as far as we know.’

‘I pray he’ll come back to you safe and well,’ I said and I caught sight of Ma and Aunt Fish exchanging saccharine smiles, which faded as I declared, ‘I’ll be over there myself before long. I’m going to buy a field hospital, you see.’

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