Читать книгу GI BRIDES – June’s Story: Exclusive Bonus Ebook - Duncan Barrett - Страница 7

It was over a year since June had seen her last American, and with every day that passed her memories of the ‘friendly invasion’ felt less and less real. All she had left of the men who had wooed her was the charm bracelet made from their insignia that she wore around her wrist. One day, she took off the bracelet to wash her hands in a public toilet, and forgot to put it on again when she left. She rushed back for it moments later, but it was too late – her precious trinket was nowhere to be seen. The only physical token of her time with the GIs had been lost.

In May 1945, the end of the war in Europe was celebrated with an almighty booze-up at the Lister Tavern, followed by all-night partying in the streets, where bonfires had been lit. The mood of elation was infectious, and suddenly the English seemed as friendly and outgoing as the Americans who had once lived in their midst.

But for June, the feeling was short-lived. Her life had now shrunk back to its old, familiar routine – going to work and coming home each day to her parents’ pub, where once again she was called on to help out behind the bar. Her friend Margaret was still seeing her stodgy English boyfriend, so June’s only pleasure was going to the cinema alone, gazing up at the American movie stars and thinking sadly of the dates she had once enjoyed with her GI boyfriends.

One morning, as she got ready for work, her mother called from downstairs, ‘June, love – there’s a letter here for you. Looks like it’s from Europe.’

June ran full pelt down the stairs, snatching the envelope from her mother’s hand.

She ripped it open and pulled out the letter inside. It was from Omar Borgmeyer – aka Borgy – the tall, blond American who had been the very first GI she had met.

‘Hi, June,’ he wrote. ‘It’s been a while. Long time no see!’

June couldn’t believe it – when she and Borgy had gone their separate ways there had been no tearful farewell, no promise to write, yet after all these months it turned out he had been thinking of her.

‘I still remember your perfect little face and your beautiful skin,’ he told her. ‘I was hoping that maybe we could stay in touch.’