On a fine spring morning, with sunshine beaming into his bedroom, Brian packs his uniform carefully into his suitcase, along with his other belongings. He puts on a clean white shirt with a big collar and then his sports jacket. Light brown in colour. If he feels slightly intoxicated, it is the heady memories of the previous day rather than any alcohol intake. He will now head back to Birmingham to spend the last three days of his leave with his folks. George and Mary have seen practically nothing of him these last three months.
He leaves the little box room tidy after spending the night there. Then he moves out of the room, carrying his case and goes downstairs to the kitchen. Elsie is there, looking radiant, he thinks, in a summer blouse and pale-blue skirt. She is busily engaged making
