“Only if you hear the wooden rattle outside.” Mrs. Weatherford sat on the bench beside Colin. “The ARP wardens are all equipped with one for such a purpose. And I’ve purchased some Anti-Gas Ointment from the chemist. We have approximately one minute to smear it on our exposed skin, which is plenty of time. So you see, there’s no need to worry.”

She lifted the top from the plain box, revealing myriad supplies within. A yellow-topped tin of No. 2 Anti-Gas Ointment, a container of Smiths crisps, a couple bottles of what appeared to be lemonade and a bit of yarn and knitting needles.

“Did you turn off the gas, Colin?” Mrs. Weatherford’s voice was smooth and calm, as if they were not all sitting about waiting to die.

He nodded.

“And the sinks and tub?” She looked to Grace.

Grace nodded also. Viv did likewise beside her before Mrs. Weatherford could ask if she’d completed her task.

“Brilliant.” Mrs. Weatherford edged the box toward Grace and Viv. “Would you like some crisps?”

Grace’s mouth was too dry to swallow her own saliva, let alone any food. Not that her knotted stomach would tolerate anything. She stared down at the teal tin of potato crisps and shook her head.

“Should we put the door into place?” Viv indicated the steel door set to the side of the gaping entrance.

Mrs. Weatherford didn’t even bother to look back at it. “If we hear planes, we will. Otherwise it will be dark as the blackout in here.”

“How can you be so calm?” Grace asked.

“This isn’t the first time London has been bombed, my dear.” Mrs. Weatherford extended the tin to Viv and received another silent no. “Having knowledge is the best way to fight off fear. I’ve spent quite a bit of time bending Mr. Stokes’s ear about how to properly prepare.”

“Mr. Stokes is our ARP warden.” Colin popped the top off a bottle of lemonade and handed it to Grace, who accepted it with an automatic numbness. He did likewise for Viv and his mother before finally taking one himself.

Mrs. Weatherford settled the top back on the box and took a sip from her bottle. “We fill the tubs and sinks to have a means to put a fire out if the water lines are compromised. The windows are drawn open to ensure any fires within can be seen in the hopes they will be put out by authorities. The gas main, well, I’m quite sure that’s self-explanatory.”

Some of Grace’s tension relaxed at Mrs. Weatherford’s nonchalant demeanor. Grace didn’t know that she could ever be as unperturbed about bombs as her mother’s friend, but at least the woman’s no-nonsense approach took the edge off her panic.