Lizzie's War by Rosie Clarke

Hopefully, we’ll have something to settle Matt’s tummy by then.’
    Beth nodded and kissed her son before Lizzie whisked him off. Going out into a morning that for almost the first time that year had a hint of spring about it, Lizzie nursed the child who was beginning to whimper again.
    She walked the two streets to the doctor’s surgery, noticing the gaps where houses had once been, feeling sympathy for the people who had lost their homes and blessing her lucky star for keeping her family safe.
    Though the doctor himself was too busy to see her, the nurse invited Lizzie in and took a look at Matt. He’d already filled his nappy again and the smell was sour.
    â€˜He’s given us another nice surprise,’ Nurse Henderson said and laughed. The mother of four herself, and in her fifties, she was a dependable woman who dealt with the situation deftly, wrapping Matt’s bottom in a soft wad of cotton wool and pulling the rubber pants on over it. ‘He has a nasty tummy infection. I’m glad you brought him in, Mrs Oliver, because you need to be careful it isn’t passed on to the others – be scrupulous about washing his nappies separately for a while and keep all the bottles sterile. I’m sure you know, but just to remind you. I’ll give you something for his sore bottom and we’ll make up a mixture for his tummy.’
    â€˜Thank you. I was a little worried, because he was screaming so much. I thought it was temper, but then when I saw his bottom – and the nappy.’
    â€˜Yes, that smell gives it away,’ the nurse said. ‘I’ll wrap this soiled one in some newspaper for you – but remember what I said. Give it a good soak in cold water and a drop of disinfectant.’
    Lizzie thanked her again and left the surgery, carrying the soiled nappy in her string shopping bag. She hurried home and gave Beth the welcome news that it wasn’t serious but they had to be careful about not passing it on to the other two.
    â€˜The nurse said it was a good thing I took Matt, because it might have been serious if we hadn’t realised he was unwell.’
    â€˜Matt is always the one that screams the loudest,’ Beth said looking concerned. ‘It’s a lot for Mum to cope with – the three of them – and I suppose she didn’t realize he was ill.’
    â€˜I wasn’t sure which of them to see to first this morning, and I thought Matt was just having a tantrum. I expect that’s why your mum hadn’t noticed he wasn’t quite right.’
    â€˜We’ll have to think hard about the future,’ Beth said. ‘Mrs Jones from down the road popped in a few minutes ago. She’d heard about Mary and said she would look after the children for a few hours if I wanted to go up the hospital. I think she might help out on a regular basis if we paid her. She told me she’d had to give up her job at the jam factory because it was too hard on her feet.’
    â€˜What a shame for her. It was good of her to offer,’ Lizzie said. She didn’t tell Beth that she considered Mrs Jones a well-meaning woman, but a bit slapdash. Although she’d only been to her house once, that had been enough for Lizzie; everywhere had been in need of a clean, and the kitchen smelled of old greens. ‘We shall have to think about it for a while. Now, I must get off – remember what the nurse said about keeping Matt’s nappies separate.’
    â€˜I’ll do them later,’ Beth yawned. ‘I’m going to have a rest in here with the kids, catch up a bit on the sleep I lost. Mum said she would come round when she could, but it depends on how bad Mary’s baby is and if she’s perked up at all…’
    Lizzie nodded. The children were in the playpen, Jenny and Betty curled up together like a pair of little kittens, while Matt rocked himself and grizzled but less loudly than before. It seemed that the