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made in silence.
    When the lift stopped, Annabelle found herself in a large staff dining room. It was nowhere near as nice as the restaurant that the customers used, but she made her way to the counter all the same and ordered a cup of tea. Then she stood indecisively looking around. Tables covered in plain oilskin cloths were dotted all about the room, but she saw that the place was saved from looking drab by the panoramic views of the city from the windows. The rest of the staff were sitting in little groups chatting and laughing, and she suddenly felt like a fish out of water; all her confidence fled.
    Seeing that Annabelle was looking uncomfortable, Dotty decided to forget her haughty attitude in the lift and suggested, ‘Why don’t you come and sit with me? We could go over there – look. There’s a table by the window.’
    Annabelle followed her gaze and shrugged; she didn’t have any better option and there was only one other girl sitting there. As they walked towards her, wending their way through the tables, Annabelle saw that the girl was actually quite pretty, or at least she could have been if she’d known how to look after herself. She had quite striking green eyes and her hair was a lovely auburn colour, but she had pulled it back into a ponytail; she seemed to be the only person sitting alone in the whole room.
    ‘Would you mind very much if we joined you?’ Dotty asked politely as they neared the table and the girl smiled.
    ‘Actually, I’d be really grateful if you would,’ she admitted. ‘I’m feeling a bit strange sitting here all on my own but I only started today and I don’t know anyone.’ She beamed at Annabelle.
    ‘So how are you finding your first day?’ Annabelle asked eventually, although she wasn’t really that interested.
    ‘I’m quite enjoying it actually, but I’m not so sure my floor manager is that pleased with me,’ Lucy confided. ‘There’s so much to remember and I keep putting things in the wrong places. He sent me downstairs for something earlier on and I actually got lost trying to find my way back. The store is huge! Still, it’s early days, isn’t it? I dare say I’ll get the hang of it, although I never realised there was so much to shop work. I thought the assistants just stood about all day until there was a customer to serve.’
    ‘Oh, there’s much more to it than that,’ Dotty piped up. ‘We aren’t allowed to be idle for a second, especially since they are so short-staffed. I’ve been here for two months already, but I’m still only allowed to serve a customer if the rest of the senior staff are busy.’
    ‘Well, I think it’s disgusting!’ Annabelle rubbed her sore feet under the table. She had to grudgingly admit that Mrs Broadstairs was right when she said that high heels weren’t a good idea for work. Her feet were throbbing already and she still had the biggest part of the day to get through. ‘I certainly don’t intend to spend my days dusting and stocking shelves,’ she huffed.
    Lucy and Dotty exchanged an amused smile. Both of them were just grateful to have jobs, but it certainly didn’t appear to be the same for Annabelle. They watched as she took a cigarette from her bag and lit it, then she stared at them through a haze of blue smoke as she asked, ‘Do you both live locally?’ She felt she ought to at least make an effort to be friendly.
    The girls nodded in unison but before they could answer, Annabelle went on, ‘I live in Cheylesmore with my parents and I don’t mind telling you, this job wasn’t my idea!’ She sniffed indignantly. ‘Daddy has cut my allowance so I had to get a job. And all because of this bloody stupid war! It’s all a waste of time, if you ask me. After all, nothing’s even happened yet, has it? No bombs – nothing! And half of the kids who were evacuated are coming back already. I mean, what’s the point of them staying away anyway? I reckon it will all be over in no time and then we can get