Circular Quay, January 1942
Simon watched Katie approach as she ignored the wolf whistles of some soldiers walking by. He smiled at the sight of her, feeling rather self-conscious that this beautiful nineteen-year-old was having lunch with him, a twenty-four-year-old man not even in uniform.
‘Hello, Katie-bird,’ he said, standing up and giving her a kiss on the cheek. ‘You’re looking very summery.’
She gave him a little pose. ‘I copied Katharine Hepburn,’ she said, holding her hand at the tiny waist of the rose-pink dress and smiling at him from beneath the wide-brimmed white hat. Simon found himself staring and immediately snapped himself out of it, pulling back a chair for her.
‘Well I’m sure she never looked as nice as you,’ he said, trying to be suave but blushing profusely. He was terrible at compliments. Fortunately it was Katie and she never seemed to notice when he tripped over himself.
The waiter came and they ordered, both deciding on the fish.
‘Have you got long?’
‘Oh, about an hour,’ he confirmed. ‘I have to get back and sort out the problem with these transmitters.’
Katie tilted her head. ‘I really don’t know how you do it,’ she said, fixing him with one of her curious, contemplative looks. ‘I think I’d go mad working on little wires all day and half the night. It would make my head spin.’
‘Well, they’re not things you’d like to cross incorrectly.’
‘No. Fortunately for the army they have someone like you who can do it. Mum told me you’ve been made head of development.’
‘Well, yes. It’s just a glorified title really–’
‘Nonsense. Dad always says intelligence wins wars–’
‘And stupidity causes them. My dad says the same thing,’ he finished, smiling.
‘Well I think they are quite correct.’ She smiled back. ‘Our boys all need radios and transmitters just as much as they need guns. And clever men like you to make them work.’
‘Pity it doesn’t come with a uniform,’ he said quietly, then wished he hadn’t. She didn’t need to know about all of that.
‘Well if it did you’d have lots of bars on your sleeve, that’s for sure,’ she said loyally. ‘Now, guess what I’ve got in my purse?’
She pulled out a newly arrived letter from Pete and they read through it as they ate.
Dear Mum and Dad,
Well, it’s Christmas Eve and I’m thinking of you all, gathered at Greenshades and dressing up for the singalong. I’ll bet the house is filled with the smell of ham and turkey. It’s enough to make my mouth water just thinking about it.
It is very quiet here now compared to battles we’ve been through in Libya, Greece and Crete. It was madness at first, of course, but now we are twiddling our thumbs in Syria and waiting each day to hear when we can come back to defend home. It’s hard to understand why the politicians and generals are taking so long now that the Japs are on the rampage. Wasn’t Pearl Harbor enough? We feel like a bunch of nursemaids here, holding things as we are. They seem to know nothing about war. Maybe we should get them all to come spend some time in the trenches, eh Dad? Maybe then they would see that we need to come home and finish things off and put an end to the whole thing.
Katie paused, looking out at the boats nearby. ‘I wish they would come home. Why on earth are they keeping our soldiers on the other side of the world?’
Simon shrugged. ‘The English politicians don’t always take the Australian politicians seriously. Luckily the Americans do. They’re on their way, don’t worry,’ he assured her. Katie nodded at him, still frowning, then continued reading.
You might not think it but it is bitterly cold here. Tell May I loved the scarf, even though it does have an ink blotch or two, and I wear it every day. As for the news that Pete the Crayfish Number 4 has kicked the bucket, I think it may be time for James to investigate new pets for his ‘quarium’. Katie, what I wouldn’t give for some of your biscuits and cakes right now. I wish they could make the journey. Tell Simon to eat my share while I’m gone. He could use some fattening up.
They laughed at that. ‘Hey, I’m doing my best right now,’ he protested, patting his slender belly.
I can hear the fellows singing ‘Good King Wenceslas’ next door and I think I’ll go and join them, although they are doing a woeful job of it compared to you, Dad. Wish you were here right now to show them how it’s done.
Mum, I miss you every day.
Keep safe and keep me in your prayers,
Your loving son,
Pete
Katie wiped at a tear and Simon looked down, missing his friend.
‘Well, at least he’s out of the fighting for now,’ she said.
He nodded, looking up at her lovely face and wishing he could bring her brother home. Just then a woman came over to their table and Simon looked up in surprise as she handed something to him. She was gone before he had time to hide the white feather from Katie’s eyes.