Page 20 - The Spirit of Christmas 1940

Chapter 3

the inhabitants of Church Street Underground were thankful for
small mercies. But never far from the mind of Jimmy and Rosie,
was the suffering and tragedy that was taking place at that very
moment just a short distance away from them. One unfortunate
pub had taken a direct hit as the attack had began. A few defiant
punters were still inside along with the Landlord and his family.
Nobody survived. A few streets away, a gas main was ruptured
causing a fireball that ripped through an entire terrace block.
Mercifully, the families had been evacuated to a nearby shelter and
that particular casualty list consisted merely of bricks and mortar.
But although, in this case, lives were not lost, they certainly were
devastated. It would take many months, in some cases years
before the damage was fully repaired. These traumatic stories
were being told all over the capital during this evening. Every
evening was the same.

Within a few hours, the bombing had ceased, the skies were now
silent and the all clear was, once again, sounded. People started
to emerge from their shelters to clean up the mess left by the raid,
or in many cases to gather up what was left of their possessions.
Rose and Jimmy ascended the stairs back into the main station.
There was still the matter of securing the flower cart for the night
and Rose had no intention of holding Jimmy back in the station for
any longer.

“Jimmy, I need to finish here. Go home. I’ll be fine now.”

“No way, I’ll hold on and give you a hand.” Jimmy was very
uncomfortable leaving Rose on her own.

“You’re very sweet, but I’ll be fine. Beside, I only live a few
doors away. Nothing is going to happen to me walking 50 yards.
Please Jimmy, I would feel better if you got off home.”

Jimmy reluctantly agreed, said goodnight and wandered off
leaving Rose to finish packing away. As she finally bolted shut
the lock-up, she noticed that the soldier was still sat on the same
bench from earlier. Had he been there during the raid? Why was

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