He picks up his pint glass and walks out with it, scarcity of materials means that punters often have to bring their own glasses.

1945

The news has reached everyone who go absolutely crazy with joy, the war has ended and Tom has now been through two of them. He is standing on Marylebone station while he holds up the letter that told him that Ruby and the girls are coming home. The train pulls in, steam fills the station. People get off; he looks up and down the platform. He looks towards the steam engine then hears “Daddy!”

Turning to look there is Brenda running up the platform towards him, she throws herself at Tom.

“Daddy” she cries

She is followed by Frances who also launches herself at Tom.

“Daddy” she cries. Tom picks her up and holds her.

“We missed you Daddy” says little Frances.

“I’ve missed you too” says Tom. His eyes then focus on the figure who stands behind Brenda.

“Ruby” he says “welcome home”

“Tom” she throws her arms around his neck.

All the way home, the girls recount their stories of their time in Bristol.

The whole street has children returning home and the parents lay on a huge street party. The table runs the length of Portnall Road; flags have been stretched between the houses along the length of the street. There are jellies and chocolate cake; most don’t know where all this food came from nor do they care. Pop for the children, something a bit more substantial for the adults. Frances picks up a Union Jack on a stick from somewhere and is waving it about while Tom laughs at her.

“Well, this is it, I hope” says Tom

“What do you mean?” asks Ruby

“The end of the war. I hope there will never be another one; I don’t think I could cope”

Ruby hugs Tom.

The sun is going down and the street lights come on, the children stand in wonderment at these lights, some being too young to remember seeing them before the war. A big “oooh” goes up as the lights come on. A bit more singing before the children are tired out from their fun, and are taken indoors leaving the adults to clear up the mess. The girls have been put to bed as Ruby slumps into the armchair in the kitchen; the Union Jack is limp against the far wall.

“If you’re going to stay in my armchair then I’m going down the pub” says Tom.

“You go ahead, I’m going to stay here” she says

“You’ll be alright, yes?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine. You go down the pub”

He walks down to the Falcon and thinks the old pub hasn’t really changed over the years. Alright, it’s got electric lights now but the character is still there. He walks in, the air is electric, there is a band playing tonight. Four chaps, banjo, trombone double bass and drums.

“What’s this?” he says to himself

The band finish their number and the crowd slowly calm down. One by one, people notice Tom is at the door as they turn to look at him. When he coughs, the whole pub hears him through the silence. They part to form a channel which leads directly to the piano. He walks slowly past the faces, every now and then; someone would raise a glass to Tom. He sees his three old friends Ralph, Lionel and Vernon, who are now very old indeed. They are a reminder that they survived while many of his other friends didn’t. Apart from Bill who is standing in the crowd and raises his glass to Tom. He gets to the piano, sits down and lifts the lid. He sits quietly just for a moment to remember the war he fought in, the war where he lost so many friends, in fact, many people lost many friends. Many soldiers who’d survived Passchendaele have deep resentment at those who planned the battles, the memories stuck with them forever. Many soldiers still have bad dreams about the battle many years on; they had become insular and suppress their memories of the war, and sometimes wouldn’t talk about it, like Tom. He would always have his bad dreams although his ability to cope with them is getting better. The people at the top who took their countries to war were stupid. He was proud he did his bit for the country but can’t help wondering what was it all for, what had, if anything, been achieved? He looks around at the happy but worn out faces all looking at him. He wonders why he was still here, but quickly dismisses the question because he is grateful that he is still here. He lasted a lot longer than the six months the doctor told him, and he has a happy family. Suddenly, a pint of beer makes a thud on top of the piano; he turns and looks at it.

“Hey!” he grabs it and takes a sup then places it back on the top.