Here is another excerpt from my story about Peggy, a little girl about eight years old, set in the early 1950’s. I haven’t decided exactly when but it is probably after rationing has finished in 1954. Peggy and her little sister Barbara are staying with their grandma who lives by the sea and Peggy finds this very exciting. There is a story-line about smuggling, but in this extract there is a visit to the beach:
On the beach it was very exciting. Granny had bought buckets and spades for us to make sandcastles. I said it would be wonderful if we could swim in the sea but Granny said it was too dangerous so we paddled when the sea wasn’t too rough. I told Granny I was a good swimmer but apparently the sea is quite dangerous with currents. Granny and I had a little chuckle when Barbara said she couldn’t see any currants, and we exchanged glances. Granny explained in a kind way and then when Barbara went to build a palace for her doll Granny said I was very kind not to make fun of what Barbara had said.
I think it must be the sea air again, making me kind. Mummy says I’m a show-off when I try and explain things to Barbara even though I am only trying to help her.
After I had paddled and collected some shells and interesting pebbles it was time for our picnic. I love picnics although I’ve never had a real one. The Famous Five often have picnics and I sometimes write about picnics in my stories for school. I tried to be calm and helpful and spread the picnic cloth out on the blanket. The plates weren’t made of china but of a white metal called enamel; I said emanel when Granny told me but she chuckled in a kind way and said it was enamel but she would always think of emanel now! We had meat paste sandwiches and then Flapjack which granny had made- she said next time she made it Barbara and I could help her.
I had read about the tide in one of my books when some children got cut off by the tide, I hadn’t properly understood it but now I understood it when I actually saw the tide go out, it was so exciting but I said it was interesting.
It got a little cloudy and Barbara said it was cold and so Granny decided we should go home as it was a steep climb back up the cliff path. I would have liked to stay on the beach longer, there was so much to do and see, but I knew I wouldn’t be allowed on my own.
I have several ideas of what will happen to Peggy – there has to be some adventures, of course, and I have some thoughts on what they will be. This verse from Rudyard Kipling will give you a clue:
Five and twenty ponies,
Trotting through the dark –
Brandy for the Parson, ‘Baccy for the Clerk.
Them that asks no questions isn’t told a lie –
Watch the wall my darling while the Gentlemen go by !
Lois Elsden 