A Che ning Ad nture
VE
Reflections of Hope and Courage
VE
Chapter 3
“All aboard!” came a muffled shout from Mr E. through his facemask. “Can’t stop here all day.”
Actually, the roads had become relatively peaceful since ‘lockdown’ but that had caused its own problems. With so many people told to stay at home, there were parked cars all through the village and the double-decker bus was far too big to navigate it safely. It would have to use the main road instead. People were also driving a lot faster and the bus was in a vulnerable position.
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“A quick squirt of gel and then upstairs all!” commanded the Colonel. “Get as much sunlight as you can with this virus around. Vitamin D does wonders. Isn’t that right Flo?”
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Sarah wasn’t sure about being given a new nickname but then again, being called Florence by the Colonel was quite an honour. On Tuesday it would be the 200th Anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. The World Health Organisation had even called 2020 ‘The Global Year of the Nurse and Midwife’.
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Sadly, just like VE Day, all the celebrations to mark the anniversary had been cancelled. Sarah had spent ages researching Florence in order to give a presentation about famous Christians for homework. What had intrigued her most though, was more to do with the mathematical and scientific analysis Florence carried out, and measures she suggested. Florence had famously said that epidemics could be stopped without curing the disease. Sarah wondered whether that could be applied now - to Covid 19. Will these measures be enough to stop it? Could the Colonel be right about Vitamin D? Sarah made a mental note to do what Florence Nightingale would do – investigate, research and reason.
Just then James flopped, out of breath, onto the chair next to her. Being twins living in the same household, they didn’t need to worry about being too close.
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“I’ve got it!” exclaimed James.
“Well don’t give it to me!” replied Sarah sliding away.
“No silly! The code. I solved it in the cave. I’ll show you when we get back to school. You’ll see.”
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The Colonel climbed the stairs and made for the front of the bus.
“Look over there class,” he said pointing, as they arrived at Bessel’s Green. “That’s where they anchored the barrage balloons; and good job too with the Luftwaffe all around.”
The bus lurched right and the Colonel fell against a metal-framed emergency box. It was the first time the twins had even noticed the peculiar glass case. It seemed strange in that it contained an ancient spanner alongside a faded photograph. Why on earth would you need that in an emergency?
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“Are you OK sir?” asked Sarah, patting the First Aid box.
“I’ll be fine Florence,” he winked.
“What sort of emergency needs a spanner in a box?” asked James.
“Ah – now there’s a story…”
