Come Home Soon by Emily Sharratt Page B

couple of woodpigeons from the trees nearby. She spun around giddily, kicking up piles of fallen leaves as she went.
    â€œYou’re mad, you are!”
    Ellie shoved him back and they tussled their way through the trees, eventually stopping at a sunny clearing, where they slumped with their backs against the same pine.
    â€œAny word from your dad?” Jack asked.
    â€œNo,” Ellie said, her heart contracting. “Have you heard anything from Will?”
    â€œLast letter was about a week ago. He never gives any details either. I’m sure he’s doing it on purpose,” Jack grumbled.
    â€œHe is! And you know the reason why. It’s not to spite you!”
    â€œI suppose not. It just seems so unfair that he’s there and I’m not.”
    Ellie frowned. She had thought that with a bit of time, not being old enough to join the army would cease to bother Jack. But if anything, he was becoming steadily more obsessed.
    â€œYou know, you might be glad in the end that you didn’t go!”
    Jack snorted. “I doubt it!”
    â€œWell, maybe you don’t know as much about it as you think. I heard Miss Smith and Mr Thompson talking at school. The Germans were well-prepared and the war is not going as we all thought it would. They think it might drag on until after Christmas now.”
    â€œWell, that’s not so bad. More fun for them!”
    Jack was still grinning but Ellie could feel her temper rising. “Fun! It’s not fun, Jack! It’s men shooting at each other. Killing each other! Have you not even heard about that battle by some river or other in France?”
    â€œYes, I have, as a matter of fact.” Spots of red appeared in Jack’s cheeks. “Marne, it’s called. And it was a victory for the allies!”
    â€œBut at what cost? Mr Thompson said thousands of men were killed. Killed! Not to mention those who were injured.”
    â€œThat’s what happens to soldiers, Ellie. That’s why what they’re doing is so important!”
    â€œJack, stop it!” Ellie could hear her voice becoming as shrill as her mother’s. “It’s not just some game! Our fathers and brothers might come back with horrible injuries, or not come back at all. What purpose does that serve?”
    She was on her feet now, standing over him, her hands clenched into fists. If she had thought she could beat him into understanding her, she would gladly have done so.
    â€œEllie. . .” Jack began, his hands raised pacifyingly.
    â€œNo, you listen to me for a change!” Ellie shrieked. Her stomach was churning, but some part of her was glad to be able to shout and stamp. “No one ever listens to me!”
    He was listening to her now, his forehead knotted in concern.
    â€œYou’re just like little George, banging away on your tambourine, thinking it’s all such good fun. It’s easy for you to say, your father isn’t out there, risking his life, is he? If war is so very noble, why is he still in The Dog and Duck every night, far from danger?”
    Jack winced as though she had hit him in the gut. Ellie felt a corresponding pain in her own chest, but she couldn’t have stopped now, even if she had wanted to. “It’s not as if he has stayed at home to look after his family. Everyone knows he’s a terrible father. It’s you and your mother bringing in the money. And now Anna. . . ” Ellie scowled. She considered it a dreadful shame that bright Anna Scott had to drop out of school. “We all know everything your father earns he drinks away. . .”
    â€œThat’s enough, Ellie,” Jack said quietly, staggering to his feet.
    Ellie paused for a moment, breathing heavily. In the silence her words seemed to echo over and over again in her ears. She swung round and ran from the forest, before Jack could see her cry.
    She ran all the way home, stumbling and landing on her ankle