Mrs Postlethwaite tells him that the war is unlikely to end any time soon as she puts the black pleated gymslip over his head. “But… what if the bomb threat is lifted?” he asked, knowing that some children have already returned home for that very reason.
Mrs Postlethwaite shuffles his gymslip into position and steps back to have a look at him. “The bomb threat has been lifted.” she tells him.
“So I can go home!” Billy exclaimed.
“You could, but your mother and I have agreed that it’s best to keep you here until the war is over.” she tells him.
“Oh.” he whines like an injured puppy. “Why?”
“Because she’s busy working in the munitions factory and you’re busy becoming a young lady.”