SECOND CHANCE
Lisa and
Norman met in the war. There story is a unique one and very much their own, one
story amongst millions in a world at war. This is what happened to them and how
they met.
In a time of
war, Norman had done his basic training as an infantryman in the Manchester
regiment. This unit was the closest to his small town of Ashton. He joined up
and did his bit when his eighteenth birthday came by; still a boy not knowing
how to shave or what a woman was. He was young, keen and very inexperienced. A
green soldier, who wanted to learn and serve his country, like his mates had
done. He was only a kid.
Rifle drill
was Norman’s favourite topic, how to load and fire an old Lee Enfield rifle.
Handling and stripping the weapon soon became second nature to the young man.
He got the knack like his older brother had with many a loose woman, he knew
the score and became competent. With women, Norman was the opposite of his
brother, being shy, inexperienced and woefully useless. Norman’s brother served
in the Royal Navy.
Walking down
the parade ground on a quiet Tuesday morning, Norman grumbled to himself. I can handle my rifle with no trouble,
strip and assemble it as fast as anyone in my squad, even at night. I can fire
accurately at a target five hundred yards away. I’m a good soldier, surely
better than any German is. So why do I feel bad? Why am I so bloody depressed?
Is it that nice young girl I saw in town the other month when I was in the pub
with my buddies? I know she was looking at them and not me. Why would she ever
want to look at me? I mean... I’m nothing am I? Just a bloody soldier.
Suddenly it
started to rain, this darkened his mood. He spat and swore, glaring down at the
black tarmac parade ground. “Bloody rain. Why do I have to do guard duty on a
Tuesday morning when my mates are learning about the Bren gun? It’s just me and
my rifle out in this bloody rain!”
Norman
carried on marching, pacing up and down doing his stint guarding the base.
Orders were orders and his turn in the Bren gun class was the following week.
He was an intelligent lad and knew he’d get the hang of the powerful weapon. His
impatience made him curse the rain, his boss and having to wait for the Bren
gun class. Then he thought about the girl again and he cursed again. He aimed a
green spittle of phlegm and sent it flying. Bloody
rain, bloody guard duty, bloody girl won’t want to date me. Bloody everything!
Up and down
he marched, rifle on his shoulder. The rain increased in ferocity.
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Lisa was
doing her nurses training. She wanted to serve her country but military roles
available to her, were very limited because she was a woman. It was either
serving tea or scones at the NAAFI (Navy, Army, Air Force Institute) to men in
uniform, working in a grimy dangerous munitions factory or becoming a nurse.
She chose the last option and joined on her seventeenth birthday.
With her
schooling behind her, Lisa knew what she wanted to do. She was a quick learner
but struggled with the varied role of being a nurse though confident in her
responsibility. In time she hoped to be qualified and able to make fast life
and death decisions. Time would tell but one small distraction troubled her.
I wonder who that quiet shy lad was I
saw when we were in the pub. He seemed to notice me and I think he likes me. He
looks so dishy! Lisa
thought, her eyes becoming misty. She allowed herself to swoon for a while.
The bossy
Matron brought the girl back to reality. Classes on how to give wounded
soldiers a bed bath were in ten minutes and Matron was demanding everyone be
clued up and alert.
Blast it! I’ve got to get ready for
this. I hope I see that nice lad again when we’re in town again! I’ll ask him
out. I don’t care who sees me, I don’t!
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Guard duty
over, Norman relaxed in his barrack block with his mates. As usual, the topic
was bints and who had slept with the most women. Norman kept out of this talk
and as usual, this gave the more seasoned worldly-wise men a chance to take the
mickey and put him down. It wasn’t his fault he was a virgin!
“Hey Norman,
is it true that you’re a virgin?”
“Do you want
to shag my mother Nornam? She likes younger men!”
“Do you know
how to do it?”
“Have you
even kissed a girl?”
They taunted
him mercilessly but he ignored them, though he wanted to cry. Not being a
fighter or even tough, Norman sat there in silence reading a dog eared Bren gun
manual. He didn’t want to use his close quarter hand to hand fighting training,
not against his mates even though they took the piss out of him. Give me a Bren gun and I’ll show them, he
angrily thought. He took their petty jokes.
“You won’t
find out about birds in that book Norman. Here’s a rude magazine for you,”
shouted one of the lads, throwing a tatty stained mag of dubious subject
matter.
Norman never
even glanced up at the lad or over to the rude magazine, which was open on the
floor. A curvy brunette smiled from the page, her assets were on show and it
was obvious she wasn’t shy.
Seeing that
their taunts weren’t fazing Norman, the other soldiers left him be. He read the
manual on the Bren gun but his thoughts were elsewhere, on a certain girl.
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The next day,
Matron relaxed her strict attitude and confirmed that the next leave was on the
coming Friday, when the girls could have a night on the town. The nurses smiled
and clapped with happiness.
I can’t wait! I really hope I see that
soldier then, he’s so cute! Lisa
thought, smiling to herself.
She knew she
would have to wear something nice and smart to get his attention. But what? Hmm, decisions, decisions. I only have one
nice frock and it’s my old nineteen twenties one that belonged to my mum. Dare
I wear it? Yes I will!
Lisa got on
with her training with extra vigour, knowing she would be having a night out
when the Friday night leave came round. She buzzed with anticipation and
vibrancy. In her bones, she just knew her soldier boy would be out. Something
told her, a feeling deep inside that she couldn’t describe. Thinking of her
soldier brought pimples out on her arms; such was the effect he had upon Lisa.
In her mind,
she daydreamed of him. Together, with her nameless brave handsome warrior, she
was safe in his arms while they danced to some old fashioned music from the
30s, in the pub where she first saw him. She was wearing her mum’s old yet
superbly stylish dress; he was in his army uniform making him look smart and
brave. He was a soldier serving his country, what a noble act! Goodness me, what is happening to me? she
thought, becoming flustered.
Matron
noticed the strange look upon Lisa’s face and kept an eye upon the young girl.
She was very experienced and knew the signs of new love and how it came upon
vulnerable, impressionable young women. Lisa hadn’t cocked up her nursing
duties yet but there was time. Yes, I’ll
keep an eye on this one. I could cancel her leave and put her on house keeping
duties but that would be a bit premature right now. No, I’ll watch her and see
how she progresses, we don’t need any distractions. There’s a war on!
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“Right lads,
you’ll be glad to hear that we have a night off from our duties this Friday. I
expect you all to get pissed and chase women. You’ve got some intense training
coming up next week and you’ll need all the concentration you can for it. So
now, I order you to enjoy this coming Friday and get any urges, desires and
drinking out of your system. The week after will be your hardest yet, as
soldiers in His Majesty’s Army. Do I make myself clear?” lectured the Sergeant,
to his young soldiers.
Every eye was
fixed upon the tall, slim, tough Sergeant. As one voice, fifty soldiers roared
together, “Yes Sergeant, we will get pissed and have fun!”
“Good, good,”
he replied. “I personally will hand out your leave passes at fifteen hundred
hours exactly. Remember what I said, have fun. You’ve a busy week ahead of
you.”
“Yes
Sergeant,” the voice roared, full of pride and admiration, for their Sergeant,
their army in which they served and foremost, in their country. They were the
last hope to stop Hitler and his Nazi’s in their tracks.
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In the pub
called The Witchwood, in central Ashton, the members of the Manchester Regiment
met for a drink or ten. They were following orders, to have fun and drink. All
of the young soldiers knew to do this, that the week ahead would be tough and
no laughing matter. Not like real combat but just a step below. Like many
thousands of other young men thrown together in a war they didn’t want, they
lived for now and looked after one another. They were family.
Drinks flowed
forth and Norman closely watched everyone in the pub and those who entered by
the main door. He wanted to see his nurse but she wasn’t there, just yet.
“Hey, Norman.
Here’s a pint of stout,” commented Rico, offering Norman a glass of warm beer.
Looking up
from where he sat, Norman took the pint and thanked the big soldier.
“Cheer up man,
she’ll be here. In the meantime get drunk,” consoled the other man, smiling.
Rico was the toughest and biggest man in the squad, a talented boxer and
excellent shot. He played the tough guy card to the max but really, he cared
for his other pals. The free beer was an example.
“How an earth
do you know?” stuttered Norman. He wondered how the hell Rico knew he was
waiting for the girl.
“Come on man,
we’ve trained together for nine months. I know you better than your mother
knows you,” chuckled Rico, rolling his eyes.
“That’s true,
I guess you do. She means a lot to me, you know?” Norman replied, finishing his
original beer and starting the second.
“That’s good
she means a lot to you. When you see her, don’t blow it and good luck.”
“Thanks Rico,
I’ll try not to. I’m new to this, you know with girls.”
“Kid, you’ll
be fine. Smile and charm her. Listen, I’m off to the brothel with some of the
other guys. Don’t end up like us, if you get the girl, keep hold of her. For
good. I’ve seen how you look at her, before. She’s a catch. See you later.”
Rico joined four of the other soldiers and they downed their drinks and left
the pub.
“I won’t blow
it, oh no,” Norman replied, to himself. It was scant reassurance. I can’t do this! I’ve never even kissed a
girl. Maybe I should go to the brothel with Rico. What would he say though? He
seemed to mean what he said to me, I don’t want to meet his bad side.
Five minutes
later, the door of the pub suddenly opened and six girls entered. They were all
nurses and one in particular locked eyes upon Norman. Whispering something to
her colleagues, she walked over to join him. He was sat on his own.
“May I join
you?” asked the young lady.
Norman was
like a goldfish, mouth open in shock and surprise. When the woman asked again,
he dumbly nodded.
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Earlier in
the day, Lisa got ready in her private quarters that she shared with five other
trainee nurses. She wore her mother’s old stylish dress and lightly did her
make up. A touch of blusher and red lipstick added five years to her youthful
looks.
“Wow! You
look terrific sis,” complimented one of the other girls.
“Are you
hoping to see your soldier tonight?” asked another.
“Thanks Stacy
and yes Angie, I’m hoping to see him. You think he’ll like me?” replied Lisa.
“Oh yes,”
said the other two, together.
Looking at
herself in her small make up mirror, Lisa smiled. This is the best I can possibly do. At least I’ve done my best. Time to
wait for the other girls to be ready so we can go out.
It took the
other trainee nurses half an hour to be ready. Leaving their quarters, they
left the hospital grounds and signed out at the security gate. They had six
hours in which to enjoy themselves before they had to return for the midnight
curfew.
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Lisa sat down
on the vacant chair at Norman’s table. She smiled and looked the young soldier
up and down, catching his gaze for a little too long. He looked away
momentarily; He must be a bit shy! I’ll
have to be careful with this one then, Lisa thought.
“Hi there,
I’m Lisa,” Lisa said, introducing herself. She held out her right hand
demurely.
“Hi,” replied
Norman, a little unsure of what to say. He took Lisa’s hand and shook it
politely. He noticed it smelt of some kind of perfume, maybe lavender.
“Are you here
on your own?” asked the girl, smiling.
“Er... no, I
mean yes. Well, that’s to say I was here with my buddies but they’ve gone to
the broth... to another pub,” stuttered Norman, going bright red. Oh shit! Why did I nearly say brothel?
“Right. Did
you say brothel? Or pub? How come you’ve not gone with them?” answered Lisa,
now it was her turn to struggle with a sentence.
“Shit. Yes,
they’ve gone to the brothel up the road, a few of them go there regularly. I’d
rather stay in the pub. I like it here, it’s nice and quiet,” he said, almost
whispering. He didn’t catch Lisa’s eye.
“Okay
then...” she commented. She knew this wasn’t going well. “Fuck it!” she blurted
out.
“What?”
Norman gasped, shocked that a lady knew such strong language.
“I meant
this,” replied Lisa. She suddenly leant over and took Norman’s neck in one hand
and brought his head to hers, over the table. Her kiss was long and passionate,
she felt him resist but she soon overpowered him.
When their
embrace was over, Norman looked dumbstruck. It was his first time ever kissing
a girl or woman, as in this case. Finally, he really took notice of who was sat
opposite him at the small table. A beautiful young lady, in a stunning green
dress and with the looks of a princess; she was simply unbelievable.
“Wow! That
was amazing,” Norman said. Now he was sure of himself.
“Good. I’m
glad you enjoyed it, it saves me from having to uncomfortably explain how much
I like you and how long I’ve waited to do that,” Lisa laughed, taking hold of
the man’s hands.
“What’s your
name? I’m Lisa, I’m a nurse. Well a trainee one. My friends are over there, by
the bar,” she indicated with her head.
Norman looked
over and saw several girls chatting to some men, at least two of the men were
from his unit. They hadn’t gone to the brothel with Rico; obviously they didn’t
want to pay for sex. Norman didn’t talk to them though, he kept himself to
himself.
“I’m sorry; I
didn’t mean to be rude. I’m Norman. I’m a soldier and I’m doing my basic
training. We’re almost done with that and soon we’ll get posted to a battle
zone.”
“Oh right, I
thought you were a pilot or something. A soldier. My, that’s a dangerous job. I
hope you’ll be okay,” gasped Lisa, quite shocked. The reality of the war struck
home, again to her.
“Yes, I know.
Some of the guys go drinking in their uniform, myself I prefer a shirt and
trousers. It takes my mind off the war,” he replied. “It is dangerous. We lost
two men while training. God knows what combat will be like.”
“Goodness me.
You mean killed? While training?” Lisa gasped again.
“Yes, both
killed outright. It was awful. Still, if I get wounded in battle, you will fix
me up, won’t you Lisa?” Norman said, trying to joke about the seriousness of
war.
“Yes, I’d
look after you. I pray you’ll never be wounded, not ever,” Lisa, whispered.
Unable to help herself, she took Norman’s face in her hands and kissed him
again. She became a little emotional.
He felt her
warm tears on his cheek. And he melted again into her kiss, his young mind and
body so very unsure of how to respond to the beautiful woman before him. I don’t understand what is happening, his
mind screamed.
When their
second embrace was over, something had happened within the two young people.
One a soldier and the other a nurse, both with totally opposite jobs, one
trained to kill, the other to heal. Was this the reason they had become so
close, so quickly? Was it the bloody awful war?
Lisa was
still crying, unable to stop herself. Her make up ran and her eyes were read
and puffy. She didn’t care who saw her.
“This awful
bloody war,” she sobbed. She looked up into Norman’s eyes and saw many
confusing emotions. It was obvious to her, he felt like she did but at the
other end of the scale. She was trained to fix wounds; he was trained to
inflict them. Her friends looked over briefly from the bar but didn’t
interfere.
“Don’t cry,”
Norman said. He moved his stool right next to Lisa’s and put his arm around her
and held her close. Her body shook while her crying continued. This had never
happened to him before.
“Shhh, it’s
okay. Nothing will happen to me, I promise,” he said, trying to sound like a
man. He was almost in tears himself. He knew why they both felt like this; it
was this awful war started by Hitler. That crazy bastard! Why couldn’t we live
in peace?
For thirty
minutes he held her, while she wept for something that touched her very soul
but that had the possibility to utterly destroy them both. The war brought them
together in this small pub in a northern town and the war would soon separate
them. Norman would be posted to the front line, she would finish her training
and then join the war, maybe not near him but in some hospital or field medical
unit to treat wounded and dying servicemen.
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When Lisa had
composed herself, she left the pub with Norman. He bought a bottle of whiskey
from under the counter, this was illegal and on the black market. He led her to
the small park in the centre of town. It was quiet and no one was about.
As they
drank, she told him about herself, of how she had wanted to serve her country
and help win the war. Now she realised this was a folly, a silly naive idea
which would put her at danger on the front line if she served in a military
hospital there. Lisa mentioned her youth and how happy her childhood had been.
“It must have
been a nice time you had, growing up,” Norman replied, looking down at Lisa who
rested safe in his arms.
“Oh yes, it
was idyllic Norman. Living on my parents’ small farm,” she commented, thinking
back. “Yes, it was wonderful.”
He took a
swig of neat whiskey and offered Lisa some. She took the bottle and drank
deeply. They were both deeply affected by the last hour, a line had been
crossed. Were they no longer children?
They kissed again.
Long, slow and passionately.
Suddenly it
happened. The Air Raid siren started to roar to life, like a wailing monster
emerging from the deep black ocean to do evil. Hungry for the blood of the
innocent. The sound rose and rose, echoing over the dark streets. Distant
voices were heard as people rushed to the shelters.
“Oh shit!”
swore Norman. “A fucking raid. I hate those bastards.”
“I know I
hate the raids too. And I’m not too fond of Germans either. Listen, let’s stay
here and drink the whiskey,” Lisa whispered. She kissed him on the lips
repeatedly.
“But it’s
dangerous and if we get caught by the Air Raid warden, there will be hell to
pay,” he stammered, knowing full well what could happen. He’d experienced three
raids before and it wasn’t pretty.
“I want to be
here with you. I know it’s dangerous, we’ll be okay. I promise. And we’re in
the middle of the park. The Warden will be walking the streets, looking for
people not in the shelter. He won’t go to the park,” she said.
“Okay, you
win. We’ll stay here. Have some more drink,” he urged, giving in to the beauty
by his side. She took the bottle again.
“Thanks
Norman. For the drink and staying with me in the park.”
For a few
minutes they drank and listened to the siren. Then another sound was heard, something
ominous and otherworldly. It was distant Nazi bombers high up in the sky! Were
they the target? They themselves, the small town of Ashton or an even bigger
prize – the city of Manchester?
“This does
mean a lot to me, you being with me too,” he whispered. “Save me from the evil
Nazi’s,” he added.
“I will
always love you Norman and always save you, which I promise. Now tell me all
about you,” Lisa said.
The aero
engines got louder and some anti aircraft guns started firing, an awful noise.
More awful, was the whistle of bombs and sound of explosions, quite far off. To
the east, two search lights sprang forth, groping for the unseen German planes.
Behind the trees and buildings, an orange glow could be seen. The raid was
under way.
The couple
was equally scared and fascinated. The war was them and they were the war; the
air raid was part of them also. Norman was a soldier, trained to kill Nazi
soldiers who were part of the German war machine, just like the bombers that
bombed without mercy. One huge war machine.
“I grew up in
a town up the road and have lived in the Manchester area all of my life. I’ve
been in Ashton a couple of years. I’m eighteen and a half. I joined the army on
my birthday. I wonder if I made the right choice but I couldn’t work inside a
war factory twelve hours at a go, no way. I like the outdoors and walking in
the countryside. In the army, we’re outside a lot when we do training and
manoeuvres. That’s okay but I don’t want to go to war or kill anyone. It’s too
late now though, I’ll have to do this. I hope it’s over soon,” he said, loudly
over the bomb explosions and barking guns. The siren had stopped its eerie
wail. Enemy aircraft were now overhead.
“It’s good
you like the outdoors. I like it too, from my time on the farm. I never wanted
to be a farmer, my dad expected me to though, being a farmer’s daughter. I’d
rather be a nurse than a farmer; I don’t like the war either. I’m not sure if
I’d like to work in a factory or mill. They seem dark forbidding places and the
Nazi’s bomb them,” Lisa replied. “And it’s good you don’t want to kill anyone.”
“I think
you’d make a good farmer, even if you’re a girl. That’s better than being in
the war as a nurse, seeing badly hurt soldiers. You should have stuck to being
a farmer, its safer Lisa.”
“I don’t know
Norman. Anyhow, I made my choice. Like you, I’m in the war, whether I like it
or not. We have to see it through to the end. Shit! Listen to that! A bomb is
coming!”
“Oh my God!”
Norman screamed, listening to the scream of a large bomb that seemed to have
their name on it. It grew louder and louder. He threw himself upon Lisa,
shielding her with his body. He felt her wriggle and squirm but he held her
tightly.
The bomb
whistled down at great speed and dug into the soft earth of the bowling green
and detonated behind their bench. They explosion was thirty yards away from
them. By a quirk of fate, the bomb hit the grass and went off four yards
underground. The ground shook like an earthquake, earth, grass and shrapnel
whooshed upwards and fell in great thuds all around. If the bomb had hit the
paved footpath, Lisa and Norman would have been blown to bits, ceasing to
exist.
A large clod
of earth fell on Norman’s back. The air was knocked out of him. He held onto
Lisa for dear life. Finally the debris stopped falling.
Lisa was very
still. Was she hit? Norman panicked, letting go of her. She didn’t move.
“Lisa! Lisa,
are you okay? Lisa, answer me. My dear, are you alive?” he shouted, his hearing
ruptured by the blast.
After long
seconds, she moved. Hair covered her face, Norman brushed it aside. Mud covered
her cheeks, giving her a vivid scary appearance. Finally she spoke, “I’m okay.
My hearing is busted. Are you fine?”
“Yes, I’m
okay, other than my hearing. It was the blast. Come on, we have to go to your
hospital. They’ll check us out. Come on Lisa,” Norman urged, standing up.
“Yes, you’re
right. It was a foolish idea staying in the park. I can’t hear you very well. I
feel very faint,” she replied, trying to stand. She nearly fell back onto the
earth covered bench.
Norman caught
her. He struggled to pick Lisa up and carry her. It was four hundred yards to
the hospital. It was a dark night but burning buildings illuminated their way.
The whiskey bottle was shattered, luckily they had drank the contents.
Drunkenly he staggered through rubble filled streets to Lisa’s hospital.
“Lisa, I know
you can’t hear me but I want to ask you something. I want you to marry me and
be my wife. In a few weeks I’m off on a secret mission. I could be killed. I
love you and want you to marry me,” Norman whispered, incoherently.
His drunken
vision blurred, he almost stumbled and couldn’t hear anything. Flames reached
for them from a burning gas main. He had to walk round rubble and huge smoking
bomb craters. A stick of bombs went off, a mile away. The blast wave sent
debris rattling down, a hundred yards from the injured couple. It was like
being in Hell.
Did Lisa her
answer his question? Was she alive? Her lovely green dress was in tatters. What
would become of them both? War held the answers.
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