Garrison Fields

Chapter 35 - The best day of my life

That morning Jane was first in line to visit her boys at the orphanage. As soon as the door opened, she went into the office and signed the visiting book. She was known by the staff now and many of the boys who were expecting visits were waiting. This was the only day when they might have a chance to leave the orphanage for a day, the duty officer had a list of boys who might be given a day pass and the name of the person who was supervised to accept them into their custody. She was fortunate that the duty officer was Mr Wigg, she knew him by sight and by reputation the boys had spoken very highly of him, but she had never had occasion to talk to him previously.

'Mr Wigg, I'm Jane Burns, Matt and Luke's mother, I wonder if I might ask you something.'

He looked up at her. 'Certainly, Mrs Burns please ask.'

Her look changed to one of apprehension, she felt her throat constrict. 'My Matt's being sent to the Army soon and next weekend will be his last here. I was hoping that him and Luke might come home that weekend and spend it with his family? you see we don't know when we'll see him again...'

'Mrs Burns, please don't worry, you just need to tell me the address he will be staying next weekend and I shall sign both of the boys out to it. Do you have the details?'

She looked sheepish as she said it 'Yes, it's the General Wolf public house will that be alright?'

'I take it that the boys will be upstairs and not downstairs, so to speak?'

'Indeed Mr Gregson, they'll be in the flat.'

He smiled he had only meant it as a little anecdote, but he could see that the point had been missed.

'There will be no problem Mrs Burns, I shall sign the weekend pass for them for next weekend. If you come between five thirty and six on Friday to the office the boys will be waiting and you should have them back on Monday before nine, will that be convenient?'

It would be more than suitable, she thanked him for his help, he replied with, 'Will you be taking the boys out today?' She was astounded most times when she visited there was always an excuse why the boys could not leave the orphanage, the classic was the church service that they were required for. This was usually down to whoever was on duty. The younger members of staff did not want the hardship of waiting around for the boys to be returned and of course the extra paperwork, which was involved, especially if one did not come back.

'If I could Mr Wigg, it's a beautiful day and we could have a picnic on the beach, their younger brother Ted is there at the moment with my employer and his wife.'

'Do you know Mrs Burns that sounds exactly like the sort of day we should all have, I'll just sign them out in the book, they'll be along in a second, if you could have them back for about half past five.'

'I shall, the coast starts to get a bit chilly late in the afternoon with the breeze from the North Sea blowing in, I will have them back in good time, don't you worry about that Mr Wigg.'

All was agreed, the boys came in and went to see their mother, she told them that Mr Wigg was letting them out for the day, plus next weekend, they would be able to go home for the whole weekend. They were quite shocked by the news, but eminently happy as the smiles on the faces testified to, as they left the office heading for the beach. She was positively beaming all over, looking at them each in turn. They had both grown and she was immensely proud of them both.

'Let's take a tram down to the beach' she stated 'Ted will be so pleased to see you.'

They waited at the corner and within a few minutes the tram arrived. Mounting it, they discovered that there were no seats available. A man offered Jane his seat, she thanked him. her sons stood in the aisle by her and she looked at them continually in their Sailor suits. She saw people looking at them from time-to-time, it was unusual to see boys from the orphanage out. It did not bother her, she wanted the world to know these are my sons and I am proud of every hair on their heads.