Breaking Enigma || The Imitation Game

◈ THIRTY-FIVE- Happy Birthday ◈

April the eleventh, 1941. That was today's date and also my twenty-ninth birthday. I never thought a day would come where I felt so old.

I'd received a card and a present in the post from my family, seeing as though I couldn't make it home. I was now a year older than I was yesterday and I certainly felt it. John was back to his usual joking self and was currently mocking me along with Anthony while Hugh and Carlton sat back and laughed along. Allany, meanwhile, was still fiddling with her machine. Nobody, not even Allany herself, knew when Christianna would be fully completed, but for the sake of the country and everyone at Bletchley Park, it better be soon. Even I was getting tired of the frequent absences.

The Team had collectively chipped in buy me a bag of barley sugars, which I thanked them greatly for. And also thought it was rather funny because I knew that my present was partly for their benefit whenever they felt peckish. I didn't mind, though.

Today was also a Friday. And in my opinion, Friday's were meant for spending time with family, friends, listening to the wireless or for activities (such as art, sports and reading), especially after a gruelling day at school or work. But Hut 8's Friday was just like any other that we have had in the past two years. A routine where everything was the same, but every day the messages are different. This brings a challenge and hopefully, we would decode at least one German Enigma message today. This is what I said to myself every single day and most of the same, the Team actually surpassed that goal and then I raise the standards to at least three messages a day. My optimism was the only thing keeping me going; I was exhausted beyond words.

New leaves had just about finished sprouting on the trees and today must be a good day since the sun was out making everything warm; a wonderful change from winter. The sky seemed brighter and it felt like it was no longer dark most (or almost all) of the day- it was clear, blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. Even the workers, code-breakers and labourers alike, seemed to have an outburst of happiness knowing that winter was gone and the goodness in the year had arrived.

"Hey, Kester?"

I glanced up from my desk to be greeted by Allany, clutching a notebook and some papers in one arm and a brown paper bag in the other while every button on her cardigan was fastened up, like she was venturing on an errand outside.

"Yes, Allany?"

"I need to discuss something with you."

"Like what?" I questioned curiously.

"It's about Christianna and I need your opinion on one or two things" she replied. "And you'll be glad to know that only a few more adjustments need to be made and then she's finished. But I think we should go out in the fresh air so we can think clearly. Yes?"

"Erm...." I gazed around at the Team to see if they had overheard anything or bothered by our planned sudden departure. Hugh and John were discussing numbers and equations, Carlton was eating a biscuit while scribbling down notes and Anthony was using the perforated sheets and muttering something under his breath. The answer was no, they hadn't heard and neither were they bothered.

"Of course," I managed to get the rest of my sentence out, making Allany smile widely.

"Wonderful," she exclaimed, turning towards the doorway. "And bring your coat, it's nippy."

And so I did. I got my coat from the stand, put it on and fastened it up. Following Allany outside the Hut, I was hit by a strong gust that was rather chilly. It blew my hair in the wrong direction and made me shiver, but tried to think of other things that would distract me from the cold.

"You look like you've been drawn through a hedge backwards," laughed Allany, sitting cross-legged on the area of grass beside the Hut and placing her book on top of her papers so they wouldn't blow away. She then put the paper bag down on top of them and folded her arms with a smile still on her face.