I'll Be Seeing You

Tea for Two

"Phoebe where are you I need you to get your mothers lunch ready before we open" he shouts at me from upstairs "Coming Dad" I call back as I head upstairs I prepare some soup for her made from the vegetables from Dad's allotment. I pop it on a tray with some bread giving Mam some butter on it to  try and keep it appetizing for her because she eats very little all ready. I take the tray to Mams room she hasn't been able to get out of bed today the pain is too bad. "Here you go Mam" I say to her as I take the food to her "Thanks Phoebe love" she says faintly "Off you go then time to open up" Dad says "I'll see to your mother" he says and I must stand a minute "Well go on" he shouts, I notice Mum give me an awkward smile she knows what he is like.

I head down to open up and as always there's my queue of regulars waiting for their half of mild to go with their newspaper and their cigarette. I liked it when they smoked though it reminded me of Jimmy because he does, I have the occasional puff when I'm with him but if Dad knew he'd go mad. "half of mild please Phoebe love" they all ask of me in turn "Here you go Stan darling that's tuppence farthing as always" I say "what no discount"he asks as always "sorry love" I tell him.

And then that's it, I don't have to do anything else as of a lunchtime it's just them, only refuel them when their tanks run dry, the only other punter I get in is the one I can't take my eyes off "Hi Phoebes" he says as he walks in taking my breath away as he does "Jimmy hi, shouldn't you be working" I ask him "Dad let me have half an hour for dinner" he says "he's in a good mood today then" I tell him and he laughs "what you doing this afternoon" he asks "nothing really after we close here why" I ask him "would you like to go out for tea" he asks "tea" I say "yeah Dads off meeting some fella about a car so I can sneak off for a few hours" he says I'm not sure "what if we are seen" I say to him "we won't be trust me" he says "I just want you to myself for a while Sweetie I've missed you" he says coming close "but you see me in here every night silly" I say "but I can't hold you in my arms I can't kiss you" he says making me go all bashful "go on Phoebes for me" he says "alright but what do I tell dad" I ask "tell him we are at the public meeting at the town hall there's a rally on going against Chamberlain and all his bloody nonsense your dad would agree with all that and it doesn't arouse suspicion then" he's got it all worked out then "but what if he knows someone who's been there and asks them" I say to him "darling it's going to be that packed there nobody will be able to name everyone that was there" he says "don't you want to come with me Sweetie" he says giving me those eyes that make me surrender to anything "of course I do Jimmy more than anything" I tell him "then stop worrying" he says as he takes my hand across the bar.

"Not working today Jimmy" Dad voice booms at him from behind me as Jimmy snatches his hand away "Yes Mr O'Connell just came to ask Phoebe if she fancied....." Dad stops him "Fancy how would you know about what she fancies" he asks "Dad" I shout at him "I wanted I ask Phoebe if she would like to come to the meeting at the town hall their rallying against Chamberlain and his plans to negotiate with the Germans" he says "You can't negotiate with the likes of Adolf Hitler" Dad says "Well this is why they are having the meeting and I think we should make a stand" Jimmy says "Well fair enough it's for a good cause, you make sure you're back here by six to open up though gel do you hear me" he commands "yes Dad I promise" I tell him as he heads off to see his regulars Jimmy and I just smile at each other "Are you having a drink Jimmy or you gonna stand at my bar free of charge" Dad asks him "Yes I am don't worry half of best please Phoebes" he says and I pull his drink "you having one" he asks "yeah I'll have a ginger ale thanks Jimmy" oh how I wish I could run around the bar now and have him hold me but we can't it's just too dangerous. Jimmy leans on the bar just looking into my eyes Dad too enthralled in her chit chat to notice "You look so pretty today"he says "stop it" I blush "but you do sweetie I can barely take my eyes off you" he says "You soppy hay-path" I call him. I spot a smudge of grease on his cheek from working at the bus depot and garage that he runs with his Dad I check to make sure no ones looking and take my tea towel wiping his face "thank you sweetie" he says finishing his drink "I'll come and collect you at say two thirty" he says "yeah can't wait" I tell him "me neither" he says rubbing my hand once more sneakily "right well I'll see you later Phoebe" he shouts this time getting everyone's attention "see you later Mr O'Connell" he shouts to Dad "behave yourself Jimmy lad" he says oh he has no idea. I rest my elbows on the bar with my hands under my chin looking into thin air "what's that soppy look on your face my girl" Dad says "nothing Dad" I say nothing that he would understand anyway I was just thinking about my afternoon tea.