T.S.

Diana age 18: December 1915

Diana age 18: December 1915

The year had been brutal. But it was Christmas right?

Joy shook me awake slowly. The distant thundering of feet, screams and bullets sounded off. But a nearer sound was the sound of hammers to wood. "They've brought over tunnelers." Says Joy excitedly

"For what?" I slip on my robe, "Not to..."

"No No to build some more space in the infirmary for us and the boys. But they've brought 'em." The glee in her voice was similar to Marjorie's all those years ago. I put on my slippers. "You'll introduce me if they're any of yours won't you?" She says as we walk down the narrow corridor. "I'll probably be too busy kissing my boyfriend, Joy." We laugh as we walk out. I walk between the boys getting a few whistles and jeers; My robe didn't leave much to the imagination. I shivered a bit. "Any of you from the Small Heath battalion?" I shout. The men grumble and nod a collective 'no'. Dejected, I make my way back to Joy's side. "Nothing." I say.

"Will-" but before I can ask anymore, nurses barrel past us towards the trenches. "It's official," called one, "They've just said on the radio." The group of nurses ran off. Joy and I quickly change into some nicer clothes. I put on a black dress with the yellow sash that Polly had gifted me and Joy had a grey pinafore and green ribbons in her curly black hair. With Will by our side we navigate through the trenches saying 'merry Christmas's to all the soldiers. "Will, Take us by the tunnelers will you. The Small Heath ones, not the scouser's." He nods and the small boy ducks as he runs through. We walk for what seems years. Until we finally reach the tunnels. There's no one there.

"They've probably climbed through to party." says Will

"Nah I'll call them back," I duck my head through the whole being careful not to muddy up my coat, "ARTHURRRRR JOHNNNN TOMMMM COME BACK WE'VE COME TO SURPRISE YOU." We wait a while and then we hear the soft squelching of mud. Out pops Jeremiah. "Oh hello." His face is the picture of awe. "My goodness gracious... I'm dead aren't I? The Germans poisoned me and I've died and gone to heaven." He says beholding mine and Joy's sweet faces. Then Will steps out from behind us and Jeremiah scowls, "Nevermind I've gone to hell."

"HEY-"

"Hey nothing. I had a broken and flailing leg and you and your brother dropped me... TWICE."

"TWICE?!" Joy and I exclaim.

"I was having a bad day." he protests.

Jeremiah mutters something in patois before turning around, his locs flying beneath his hat. He shouts down the hole. I retire into a crook in the trench wall. Wooden benches line the trench but I decide against sitting on them. Very slowly men from the Small Heath battalion begin to climb through. Fred is the first of the boys I know. He looks at me and then double takes rushing up towards me. "Oh My God. What the fuck Diana." His hair is cropped up by the ears. I grimace slightly.

"Hey there's a ceasefire. So no dead or wounded means nothing to do." I say brightly

"The others are gonna freak out." He shouts down the hole, "Guys you'll never believe who's here!"

"It wouldn't be that fit nurse from the ward would it?" Arthur's voice is gruff. He stands up wiping crumbs of dirt off himself. Upon looking up he yelps in surprise. "What the fuck? Diana?"

I smile, "Hello Arthur."

Joy steps forwards, "Hello Arthur."

Arthur turns scarlet and greets her with a curt nod. John and a friend of his come through. Unlike the others he doesn't yell. He just laughs, "The fucking Germans got us lads. We're all dead and now we're stuck here." He hugs me all the same tight and crushing with his newly formed muscles. I struggle out of his arms to stare at the hole. The others gather round me like an abstract halo and finally at long last a scruffy Tom climbs out. He stares at all of us stoically before turning back to go through the hole. His eyes are tired. "Tom?"