Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ３１ － Ｏｎｅ】

Chapter 31 - One

She wasn't sure she could go back home for the weekend. But not going back meant she could knit until she was out of wool – which she nearly was.

The weekend itself was quiet, as much of Easy Company were off in Swindon on a weekend pass.

The soft click of her needles and the counting of each stitch, each row took all of her attention, not allowing her to think.

It was in the afternoon of the Saturday that she finally ran out, so she hopped up to root around for her money. The pain she got from hopping up made her pause for a moment as she inhaled sharply and closed her eyes, willing it to go away.

Her ankle.

It had only been uncomfortable all week. Why'd it have to hurt now?

The only thing she could think of as the cause was the training.

After some controlled breathing, and collection of money, Margaret began to limp a little towards the shop. Down the hill she went, cursing the uneven and gravely road. It took a while, her ankle becoming more and more aggravated. But she made it to the shop, and in she went to ask for wool.

Margaret went up to the counter, leaning against it and waiting for the owner to come out of the back. A man came hurrying out, doing a double take at seeing an American in his little shop that sold all sorts.

"Good afternoon, son. What can I do for you?"

"I'm not sure, it really depends on whether or not wool is rationed here at the moment, because if it is then I'm afraid I don't have my book nor am I registered with you."

He looked so bewildered, but she wasn't surprised. He opened his mouth to speak, made a noise then closed it again, openly staring at her.

"Don't ask about the outfit, it's a very long story and I couldn't explain even if I tried."

He nodded, and swallowed before coming round the front of the counter to find some wool.

Unfortunately there was only colour. A sort of dirty white. Standard sheep colour.

But they were a good size.

"I have this much," when she'd picked it up she hadn't bothered to count, so held out her hand and let him do it. It was only a few shillings, and a few pennies, and the man counted them before thinking, and then started handing her balls of wool.

"For six shillings, and sixpence, that's 33."

It was her turn to look entirely bewildered.

Luckily, there was around half the amount she could apparently actually afford, but still the man handed her all he had.

"Thank you, I've been trying to shift these for a month."

Laiden with 20 large balls of wool, the man put her change in her pocket before she got a chance to see how much it was. It startled Margaret and the precariously balanced balls fell everywhere.

Swearing, she began picking them up and shoving as many as she could into her large pockets.

As it turned out, she could only fit 6 in her pockets, meaning she still had to carry 14...

But no matter. Maraget just hoped that she wouldn't come across anyone she knew on her way back.

The walk was slow on two counts. She didn't want to drop anything, and her ankle was throbbing incessantly. Just what had she done to it?