The Free Spirit

Hope Clinic, 1962 (Part One)

"Though she be little, she is fierce..."

I'm going to (at least attempt to) keep this chapter rather short, as I plan on only covering the first seven weeks of the year 1962 and because this chapter will not feature my husband, whom I may mention in passing.

After dropping off my children, I returned to London to finish working up until the day we were set to travel to South Africa. I was called out to a birth on the edge of Poplar, but concluded that the mother was only experiencing what are known as Braxton Hicks contractions - quite painful, but not true labour quite yet. As I was on my way out the door, I opened the door and nearly whacked a young redheaded woman with the door, and it was only after I had apologised profusely that I realised who she was. "I'm sorry, love, I didn't see you there," I said as I realised I had nearly hit Ginger McAllistor with a door.

"That's all right," she said kindly in her charming Welsh accent. She had a very high-pitched, gentle voice that was very soothing to listen to. "Is Mr. Lewisham's daughter in labour, yet?" She must have noticed my nurse's uniform.

"Not quite, I'm afraid. Mrs. Steinowitz is only experiencing what's known as Braxton Hicks contractions. Not quite there yet," I replied kindly, keeping calm. After being married to an Everly Brother for nearly five years, it was easy to keep calm around celebrities. Of course, Ginger McAllistor was a different kind of celebrity than what we were used to.

"You look very familiar... Have we met?" she asked me, trying to pinpoint where she'd seen me before.

"If you frequent the East End at all, it's possible," I said with a chuckle. "I do believe we met, though, personally about four years ago-"

"I know where, you were on that Christmas carol service that was broadcast last year! The one where the Everly Brothers appeared!" Ginger exclaimed as she finally recalled.

"Goodness, you remember that atrocity?" I said with a laugh. "Yes, I was on that, but we also did meet back in '58. You wrote a song for my husband and his brother. I believe the title was 'All I Have To Do Is Dream'."

"Yes! You're that very kind English woman that was married to Don Everly! I do remember you now," she said to me charmingly. "I wasn't aware you were a nurse as well as a singer."

"I'm not a singer, I'm afraid. Just a nurse."

"You should be a singer. I'm sure you've heard it before, but you've got a very rare and beautiful voice type."

"So I've been told by my husband," I said with a laugh.

"I do have the ability to connect you with a record company."

"I much rather enjoy nursing more than I do singing, Miss McAllistor, but I do appreciate your offer. I'm sure if I change my mind, I could simply ask my husband as well."

"But the Everly Brothers... Aren't they getting to be a bit outdated? No offence, but they've had a very long run of it as it is," she told me, sort of shocking me into silence.

"Well... I mean, I suppose you aren't wrong... But really, I'm no singer. I'm better suited as a nurse, and a mother. I haven't the time to be a singer."

"What's your name again?"

"Catherine Everly."

"What's your maiden name?"

"What do you need to know my maiden name for?" I asked the young girl.

"If you ever do become famous, are you going to go by your maiden name or your married name?"

"I'll cross that bridge when I get there, love. For now, I'd best be on my way. I'm afraid I'm on call and have to go."

"I won't stop pushing you to sing," said Ginger with a mischievous glint in her eyes.