So she had to resign herself to living in limbo, not knowing if he was dead or alive and, if he was alive, when or if he’d be back. Meanwhile she had to carry on the pretence of everything being normal, and if people noticed she was a bit quiet they’d no doubt put it down to her brother being killed. Everyone was very understanding – so many others had lost a close family member, it wasn’t as if she was the only one. Mrs Moyes had suggested that she take some time off, but that was the last thing Nancy wanted. Working at the canteen got her out of the house and took her mind off everything else. Now, as the bus approached her stop, she hoped that, despite the heat, they’d be rushed off their feet. That would be several blissful hours of thinking about something else. Wearily she stood, balancing expertly in her peep-toe sandals as she weaved between the seats to the exit.

‘You can’t make me!’ Tommy shouted, his face reddening with emotion. ‘If I’m old enough to leave school, I’m old enough to decide what I do!’

Danny grimaced and tried to keep his temper. He reminded himself that Tommy was far from being a grown-up, no matter what the boy thought, and it was his job to protect his little brother, even if he didn’t want any protecting. ‘It’s no good, Tommy,’ he said as calmly as he could. ‘You are not joining the Merchant Navy. We didn’t send you off to Freshfield for all those years just so’s you could come back and get yourself killed.’

‘It’s not fair!’ Tommy protested, throwing himself angrily into the back kitchen. ‘You’ve all done what you wanted. You all started work when you were my age. Now it’s my turn. The country needs fit young men like me – there’s a war on.’

Danny counted to ten and tried again. ‘I know. It’s hard to avoid. But that doesn’t mean you go and put yourself in the line of fire the minute you get out of short trousers. It was different for Jack and me. Now I wish I’d paid more attention at school. I’ve spent the last two years catching up. No, don’t look like that, try to listen to what I’m saying and get the benefit of my experience rather than throwing a hissy fit.’

Tommy grabbed the handle of the back door. ‘I’m going out. I don’t care what you say, you’re just trying to stop me doing my bit.’

‘Tommy, no, it isn’t like that at all.’ Danny desperately tried to think what would stop his little brother storming off and signing his life away. ‘Look, the thing is, the country does need everyone to do their bit—’