‘I won’t. I promise.’
‘And don’t stick your head out o’ the train window or you’ll get it sliced off. And don’t forget to write every week and let us know how you’re getting on. You’ll be all right with your pals.’
‘Time to get on your bus, boys,’ Miss Barrymore called.
‘I’ll have to go now, Mam.’
‘I won’t kiss you. Not in front of all your pals. And I won’t cry neither,’ she said, two big tears glistening in the corners of her eyes.
‘Thanks, Mam.’
‘But there’s nowt wrong with a big hug for a smart guy and a tough kid,’ she said, suiting the action to the words.
‘Ta-ra, Mam.’
‘Ta-ra, son. And look after yourself.’
Billy boarded the bus and went upstairs to join his pals. He watched Mam out of the window and could see her looking up so sad and forlorn as the bus pulled away from the kerb.
Five minutes later, they were moving rapidly along Oxford Road towards the railway station.
‘Old Hoppy’s brought his George Formby bag,’ called Oscar, grabbing the carrier bag. ‘And look! He’s brought his bucket and spade for the sands. Isn’t that nice?’
‘So what!’ Billy replied. ‘We are going to Blackpool after all. In case you didn’t know it, Oscar, there’s a beach there. You might find a bucket and spade useful yourself.’
‘The day I need a bucket or a spade, Hoppy, I shall hire yours for threepence.’
‘Hey, look at Potts’s gas-mask case,’ shouted Titch. ‘It’s dead posh. That must’ve cost a bomb, Potts. Let’s have a look at it.’
‘My eldest sister bought it for me for Christmas,’ said
Potts. ‘It’s got a red velvet lining and a little zipped pocket for my ear plugs.’
‘And what about your teddy bear and your little drum?’ said Titch. ‘I hope you haven’t left them behind.’
‘My mother said I had to take no notice of boys who were rude and tried to make fun of me. So I shall ignore you, Smalley,’ said Potts.
At Victoria Station there was chaos as thousands of children in crocodile columns each headed by a Pied Piper marched across the concourse to the ‘Evacuation Specials’, which stood ready and waiting to take them off to their rural and seaside destinations.
Guards’ and teachers’ whistles shrilled at the same time, adding to the confusion of both schoolchildren and train drivers. Amidst the hissing steam, teachers ran hither and thither through the whirling mass like sheep-dogs, trying to head stray children back into their designated places.
The Damian College contingent found their way to the Blackpool platform and a single blast of Brother Dorian’s whistle gave the signal for them all to climb into the compartments of the non-corridor train. A final register check was taken by the form teachers and they were off, clattering out through Salford and Pendleton.
‘This is a great adventure into the unknown,’ said Oscar.
‘I hope it’s not an adventure into trouble,’ said Titch.
Soon they were out into open country, doing at least ten miles an hour - crawling at a snail’s pace through Lancashire’s rustic regions.
‘If we go any slower,’ said Robin, ‘we shall be going backwards.’
Then the train did start to go backwards, and a great cheer went up from every compartment.