The Home Front

Written by Ragtime

"Really, Joyce, I just don't know what makes you think I can arrange that"

Mary Roberts was trying to sound her most officious, hoping that the woman across the desk from her would be deterred.

Joyce Parks, however, was not to be put off that easily. She knew how to get her message across with a few well chosen words.

"Let's say, dear.... cousin, that I'm relying on your - shall we say well developed - maternal instincts? By the way, how is young Michael these days? Are you still keeping him hard .... at his studies? You must be quite proud of how your son has developed - he's quite big for a fifteen year old, seven inches if I remember - very mature. And sixteen year old Maggie, she must be missing her father filling her .... life, just as much as you miss him… and your brother, Matthew, I suppose. With both his mother and his sister feeling so.... deprived, it's probably just as well that Michael keeps his pecker up, eh?"

"Joyce! Really! Not so loud!" her cousin hissed, blushing at the same time " I would lose this job if ever....."

Joyce grinned and kept her voice down to a loud whisper.

"Then all you have to do is get me what I want. There you are, with the ideal war job, assigning evacuees and out of the thousands you have to deal with, I just want to make sure that those assigned to Jack's farm ..."

"...will fit in with you and your lecherous brother and if I don't co-operate, you'll drop a bit of loose talk about my son, daughter and me, is that it?"

"And don't forget your cousin-husband, who spends all of his shore leave in the bosom of his ever-loving family and then there's your brother and his son" Joyce added for good measure, although she herself knew that she had no real intention that family secrets would ever leave the family.

Mary glowered for a moment and then suddenly smiled "But it's safer than going out for it, isn't it? And more reliable - we've taught them everything ourselves. When are you and Jack coming to visit us again? The children do ask after you"

"You and Maggie just want Jack so that he can double up with Michael - one in the front and one up the back!"

Mary ignored her cousin's accurate comment. "It's not going to be easy, you know. Somebody could spot the coincidence"

"Can you, will you or won't you?"

Mary fumbled through her papers "Here's a pair - Tim and Sally North, twins aged just over 14 years, living in north west London. Curious, that - they're well out of the usual evacuation areas. They live with their mother at an uncle's flat since their father got killed at Dunkirk. Can't vouch for what they look like, though"

"What about a second pair to go with them?"

Mary lowered her voice again "My God, Joyce, I thought that my family life was bizarre but you and Jack really do take the biscuit! You want a second set of twin brother and sister so that you can introduce all four into the way you and your brother carry on!"

Joyce conceded the lowering of her voice but maintained defiantly "Why all the fuss? You and your brother, your husband and his sister, your son and daughter, and their son and daughter all do exactly the same thing and I recall us cousins all actually watching your mother, your mother-in-law, and Aunt Josie all engage in the same sibling sport with our father. More to the point, in fact....", Joyce hesitated for moment then clearly changed her mind "It's been some time since we had a family get together. Certainly not since Dad died. We must have a get together soon. If all goes well with our evacuees, it could be quite interesting."

"I think the main difference between you and Jack on the one hand and Lionel, Linda, Matt and me is that my brother and I actually married Lionel and Linda. But never mind. Here's a pair." Mary changed the subject quickly.

The reminder of her and her husband's own incestuous sibling relationships coupled with the prospects of an extended family gathering, to include two new young couples, was beginning to make her feel uncomfortable, in a pleasant sort of way.

"Barker, father returned here from the West Indies. The details suggest that although the twins weren't born over here, they have been brought up as Britons. Stephen and Tessa Barker, aged 15 years. This might appeal to you, though. Their father appears to be a widower but I can't be sure and he lives with his younger sister. He wants to get the kids to safety, he says."

"That sounds very promising. Get them sent to us a soon as possible" "I'll see what I can do - it could be a week or two and they won't necessarily arrive at the same time."

"And I'll get back to the farm and give Jack the good news. I know you'll give my love in a most practical way to your children, won't you, especially your darling son, Michael."......(cont)