Chapter
18
Ian
returned home a few days later,
"How
did it go" Martin asked as he sat at the table
"The
office said that you have to go, they also said they wanted to call you up when
you turned eighteen earlier in the year but because of the wedding they left it
a little longer" they looked at each other
"That
was nice of them, I wouldn't expect them to do that" Martin said "I'm
going to go, it was only a matter of time before I was called up anyway, I've
been expecting it but also hoping it wouldn't happen"
"And
Ellie" Ian asked, Martin sighed
"She
doesn't like the idea, she got upset but it's only to be expected same with
Lindsey and Jenny" There was a long pause, then Lindsey walked in to the
room
"Dad
you're back" she gave him a big hug "did you get Martin out of going
to war"
"No
unfortunately, but it's not just Martin that's been called up, a lot of
eighteen year olds have whether they are going to the front line or not"
Ian looked at Martin "so you're not the only one"
"I
know" he looked at his father "Promise you will look after Ellie and
the baby" he asked
"Of
course I will" Ian hugged his son
"I
will too" Lindsey said
"I'm
sure you will" Martin hugged his sister
Jennifer
appeared in the doorway
"Dad,
welcome home"
"Hello
sweetheart" Ian went to hug his daughter, but before he could she stopped
him.
"Dad,
I've decided I'm going to go work in the shop full time, I've given it a lot of
thought and it's what I want to do"
"Jenny,
darling are you sure"
"Yes,
I'm fourteen dad, anyway I will be needed there full time when Ellie gives
birth as she will be out for at least a few months" she looked at her
father who wasn't sure of what she wanted to do,
"Dad
it's ok everyone at the age of fourteen leave school and go to work"
Martin reassured Ian
"Ok,
if it's want you want to do" Ian looked at his daughter
"Yes
it is" she smiled
"Wait,
am I going to have to do the same thing when I turn fourteen next year"
Louis asked standing in the
"Yes
Louis you are" Ian replied
"Ok,
just don't send me to a factory ok" Louis asked
"You
won't be going to a factory, you will be working full time on the farm"
Ian told him
"Yes"
Louis celebrated
"At
least one person's happy around here" Martin smiled at Louis dancing in the
hallway. Ellie walked in to the dining room as she and Chrissie dodged Louis's
dance moves
"What's
going on" Chrissie asked
"Louis
is celebrating the fact he won't be going to work in a factory next year when
he turns fourteen" Ian said
"Well
of course not, we need him here on the farm" Ellie looked at Ian and
smiled "Welcome back Ian, any luck" she asked
"No,
I'm afraid not, but Martin isn't the only person who has been called up"
Ian replied
"Really"
"Yes,
about 200 odd 18 year olds have, some to factories, some to the front
line"
Ellie
looked at both of them "Ok, well
he's already said he's going so that's that then. Right I'm going to put dinner
on"
"I'll
give you a hand. Jennifer followed Ellie into the kitchen.
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