Some Sunny Day

‘It was such a shame you couldn’t get away for the carol concert,’ Madge told Basil as they sat having a drink on Christmas night at the end of a day that had left them both so tired they decided to postpone their festive celebrations until New Year’s Eve.

‘The patients all loved the carols and the Gurkhas and Victoria’s beautiful singing in particular,’ said Madge. ‘Thank you, Basil, for that wonderful surprise. Funnily enough, it wasn’t the last surprise of the night because Sally has asked me to be a bridesmaid at her wedding!’

Madge nodded in agreement. ‘It did come as something of a shock. She was the fourth girl in our cabin on the Strathnaver, and a bit of a mystery really. The truth is, I don’t know her all that well, but the good thing is that the actual marriage will be at a church in Chittagong and the reception will be in the hall of the old Governor’s residence overlooking 56 IGH, which means no travelling. I haven’t even met her fiancé yet, but Sally really is lovely so I’m sure he will be too.’

‘Not really,’ replied Madge, ‘I’ve only just found out myself because when I had a quick cup of tea with Vera at the end of today’s shift there was a letter for me from Sally saying that she was getting married and asking if I would do her the honour of being a bridesmaid. She’s such a nice girl and has had such a sad couple of years I couldn’t refuse. Sally has also asked Vera to be her other bridesmaid. You will come, won’t you?’

‘Of course. But you must be careful about when the wedding is,’ Basil said with a twinkle in his eye. ‘We’ve worked for months without a break and I couldn’t help but wonder if you might enjoy a holiday in Calcutta in the New Year.’

‘A holiday!’ Madge marvelled at the idea. ‘Do you think we could?’ Madge knew that they were allowed time off but most of the girls spent it shopping or going out for meals. A trip to Calcutta with Basil would be such a treat.

A few days later they met again when they went to see a pantomime, IGH & LOW, at a local theatre, which was a joint effort between the two hospitals. Madge was particularly keen to see it because the only two women in the cast were both VADs. The couple joined in enthusiastically with the boos and cheers and were still laughing as they left the theatre.

They then went on to attend a six-course feast on New Year’s Eve at the United Services Club in Chittagong. Fittingly, at a traditional Scottish celebration, several officers were wearing kilts and the evening got underway with a choice of several rather fiery cocktails. The meal started with grapefruit and was followed by a good thick Scotch broth. The third course was fried fish with game crisps and the main course of the evening was roast stuffed goose with apple sauce, new potatoes, cauliflower and green peas. Plum pudding came with lively brandy sauce and finally they were served a savoury Scotch woodcock (scrambled eggs on toast spread with anchovy paste).

‘That was lovely,’ Madge told Basil. ‘I can’t say I’d ever tried Scotch woodcock before tonight and I thought the anchovy added the most delicious bite. I have to tell you, this feels like pure luxury. I can’t remember the last time I ate so well. I’m not actually sure I ever have!’

There was a choice of French or Italian wines and sherry and port were also available, along with curaçao and crème de menthe. Basil had even arranged for the pair to have Christmas crackers on the table – a real luxury.

As they waited for the port to be served Madge looked around at couples determined to enjoy themselves on what, for all the world, could have been a most enjoyable New Year’s Eve celebration dinner in one of the Home Counties, Edinburgh or Belfast. Madge allowed her mind to wander, and began dreaming of the kind of future she hoped for. She wanted an end to the suffering of the boys on the wards, and she wanted to be with Mum, Doris and Doreen. But most of all, she found as she gazed across at Basil, she wanted a future that included the kind and charming man who was sitting opposite her. Oh, stop daydreaming, Madge, she admonished herself. You don’t even know if he feels the same way so it’s pointless getting carried away with yourself – especially as the war isn’t over yet!

‘A penny for your thoughts?’ She looked up at a smiling and inquisitive Basil, and she smiled back at him.

‘Sorry,’ she replied, ‘I was miles away.’ But she was saved from having to explain any further as six proud Scots, with their arms aloft and their kilts gently swaying, encouraged people onto the dance floor to join an emotional and increasingly rousing version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Basil put his arm round her waist and looked deep into her eyes as they joined in the last verse.

‘And there’s a hand my trusty friend

And give me a hand of thine!

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

For Auld Lang Syne.’

The 11 p.m. curfew had been put back to 1 a.m. for the nurses at 56 IGH yet it irritated Madge that such a wonderful evening had to draw to a close when there were still so many things to say to Basil.

As the ancient taxi bumped and growled its way back to the hospital complex she ended the evening with a little story that made Basil laugh out loud.

‘I wrote to Mum to tell her that there had been a lot of moans and groans from the nurses about the hospital curfew but added that I did realise it was for our own safety,’ said Madge. ‘When she wrote back she said, “You may be twenty-one now, my girl, but it will still do you the world of good to get to bed at a reasonable time instead of being out gallivanting at all hours of the night!”’

‘I haven’t even met your mum yet,’ smiled Basil, ‘but I like her already!’

Madge’s heart leapt at Basil’s reply. He’s intending to meet my mum. He must see us having a future then. For the first time she was 100 per cent sure that this wasn’t a romance that had bloomed because of the heat of India and the intensity of war. That must mean that he feels the same way I do. She felt a warm glow spread through her as she allowed herself to begin daydreaming all over again.