Rita’s treasures were kept in a holdall in the motorbike pannier. Over the next three weeks there were other raids but Barrow Lane was spared further damage, for most of the bombs had fallen harmlessly into the sea. The Americans, although still neutral, came in their trucks and diggers and helped to clear the rubble, board doors and windows, and secure Rita’s chimney before it went through the roof. Their arrival caused a stir among the women, who suddenly found an inordinate amount of time to stand on their doorsteps handing out tea in exchange for packs of Lucky Strikes and some earnest flirtation. It was noted that some of the younger women had started wearing make-up again and having their hair set – and this was fuel for gossip, stoked by the fact that these young women seemed to go out at night much more than they had when their husbands and children were at home. The tittle-tattle went back and forth as meaty arms were crossed beneath self-righteous bosoms, chins quivered in delicious disgust and gimlet eyes peered through twitching net curtains at every footstep and door slam.
