Snippet of memory

Music drew me out of bed to creep across the landing, crouching on the top stair listening - mother playing piano - father making sweet sound on violin.
People made their own entertainment - no television then - WAITING FOR THE WAR TO END
I couldn't believe that real live pictures would one day be seen, there from that polished wood box, with its' tiny glass screen, which on the sideboard stood blankly - WAITING FOR THE WAR TO END
Father, on leave in his soldier uniform, took me to the seaside at Littlehampton
But oh for me such frustration! There stretched an expanse of beautiful hard sand, I stamped my feet in a tantrum - I wanted to paddle - could not understand that danger was hidden - barbed wire stopped us walking down to that wonderful blue sea - WAITING FOR THE WAR TO END
Down our garden, hidden by brambles, was a stuffy damp air-raid shelter where grandparents, parents, baby and dog all slept under corrugated iron, in company with spiders and many crawly creatures. Condensation ran down the walls and dripped from the ceiling, radio our contact with the outside world. When the awful warning siren started to wail, any passing tradesmen or neighbours would join us, usually joking and laughing, many tales were exchanged, while WAITING FOR THE WAR TO END. Grandpa stood watching bombs going over roof tops - we called them "doodle bugs". When the noise stopped they dropped, a tremendous bang, the ground shook like an earthquake. Grandpa blown off his feet into the shelter onto his backside - then the long note of the "all clear" siren meant we could tentatively climb out again.
Our house was safe, but all windows were broken, how terrible for next door whose home was flattened - just a pile of rubble would stay there - until THE WAR SHOULD END.
No more to go fighting Father cam home crippled with arthritis and asthma to overcome. He patiently made models and many wooden toys. He mapped the army progress made with tiny flats pinned onto a map. WAITING FOR THE WAR TO END.
One day at school we were given sugared almonds, just a few each, wrapped in a twist of paper -for us such a treat, from our American friends whilst WAITING FOR THE WAR TO END.

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