The Spitfire Girls(8)
‘It sounds like a much smaller raid,’ Ruby’s mother replied. ‘Surely we’ll see some real progress in this war soon?’
‘I’m certain of it. Now, Ruby, do tell me how your volunteering is going, dear? It must be very stressful trying to sort through all those letters.’
Ruby smiled politely, reminding herself that without this woman, she wouldn’t have her Tom.
‘Oh, it’s going fine,’ she said, deciding not to pull out the magazine and show them the advertisement. She found her role with the post office boring and nothing like her pre-war job as a flying instructor, but she was pleased to be doing her bit and getting on with things. ‘It’s nice to know I’m helping our soldiers stay in touch with their families.’
‘Of course,’ Carolyn said, reaching over to pat her hand. ‘It’s wonderful you young women are stepping up and being so brave.’
Ruby refused to look at her mother, knowing her expression would only make her laugh. She doubted her mother would ever think the job brave, but if Carolyn chose to think so highly of it, then so be it. Necessary may have been a better, more accurate description. Necessary to the war effort, but so very, very boring.
‘Actually, talking about being brave,’ Ruby said, choosing her words carefully. She paused to take a sip of tea before setting the cup and saucer down, rattling them with her shaking hand. ‘I saw an interesting advertisement today, looking for more women pilots to join the ATA. You don’t even need to be a qualified pilot to apply now.’
Carolyn’s face froze for a second, then carefully composed itself again. ‘Oh, well, no wonder they’re having to advertise. They’d be hard pressed to find respectable women ready to brave the skies during wartime. It’s hardly proper for women to do such a thing. Would you believe, I heard them recruiting on the BBC the other day? The BBC of all places!’
Ruby took a deep breath, deciding to contradict Carolyn for the very first time. How had she missed the recruitment messages on the BBC when her father had the wireless on all the time, and why hadn’t her darling mother-in-law-to-be thought to tell her about it in the first place? Anger flared within her; her cheeks burnt.
‘I, um, well,’ she stuttered, digging her nails into her closed fists. ‘I was actually wondering whether or not I should apply.’
Carolyn’s cup clattered to the floor with a smash. ‘Absolutely not!’
The silence that followed was almost painful, until her mother dropped to her knees and started to collect the broken pieces of china from the small puddle of tea on the wooden floor. Ruby unfisted her hands, but she couldn’t stop them shaking.
She bravely stared at the woman across from her as a wave of calm swept through her. It had only been a thought, something she might never have actually done; but the moment Carolyn forbade it, it was like a switch had been flicked within her. She cleared her throat and sat taller. She might not be good enough, but it wasn’t for Carolyn to decide. That was for the ATA.
‘Carolyn, I, ah . . .’ she struggled with her words before forcing them out. ‘I understand that it might come as a shock, but I’m actually a well-trained pilot and I’d quite like to give this a go. I have over three hundred hours of flying experience, and I think it would be amazing to assist those incredible women who are already . . .’
‘What would Tom say?’ Carolyn interrupted. ‘If he was your husband, he wouldn’t hear of any of this nonsense, I can tell you that. And I will not hear of it, for that matter. I’m speaking for him in his absence, and I expressly forbid you to register.’
Ruby bit her tongue and bent to help her mother to give her something to do. Short of saying that it was none of her or Tom’s bloody business what she chose to do, and that they weren’t married yet . . .
She scooped a piece of china into her mother’s hand and touched her shoulder. She watched as a tiny prick of blood pooled on her finger where the china had pierced her, and tears filled her eyes.
‘Mother, may I ask what you think?’ she asked quietly. ‘Would you be proud to see me ferrying planes to our boys fighting at the front? Or do you think I should ask Tom whether he forbids it or not?’
She was being rude, but she suddenly couldn’t help it, even though she could feel how red her cheeks must be. Would Tom dare to tell her she wasn’t allowed to fly? Was it so wrong for her to want to help her country with other brave female pilots? All those women were doing was helping their boys do their own jobs well by ferrying planes to them!
Her mother looked like she’d rather not answer the question, but she did so anyway. ‘I wouldn’t choose the role for you, but I’m very proud of those young women who’ve taken to the skies. It’s your choice, if you’d like to apply.’
‘Surely you’re not going to let her do this, Sally?’ Carolyn exclaimed. ‘This is – well, it’s, it’s simply preposterous! I can’t believe you’d allow it.’
Ruby sat down again and looked directly at her future mother-in-law, biting her lower lip before finally responding. ‘Carolyn, I was a respected pilot before the war. Tom and I fell in love because of our mutual love of flying, and when he left, the hardest thing – other than not having him – was no longer being able to fly myself, when the airfield was closed to civilian fliers.’ She spoke quietly and reached for Carolyn’s hand, looking into her eyes, speaking the truth. ‘I know in my heart that he’d be proud to see me flying again, especially if it meant helping the war effort in such an incredible way. And I want to do this. If I can be of service to the military, then I feel as if it’s my calling.’ She paused. ‘Please can you accept my decision?’