Chapter 20. Market garden


    The next morning Finn and Nain Joan walked down to a


    farmers market in town. The markets were held every weekend


    in a paddock near the train station. As Nain Joan looked at the caged


    birds, Finn heard the stall holders talking amongst themselves.


    This was going to be the last market for awhile until somewhere else


    could be found to set up - the army wanted to use the open paddock


    space.


    "This War is going to bring food shortages." Nain Joan said.


    Finn had noticed the freshly turned garden beds and newly built


    chicken coops in the house yard.


    "Who''s going to work the farms and get the crops in when all youStolen story; please report.


    men go off to your War, and it won''t just be England either, it''ll be all


    the European countries that are involved. Even the folk in Germany."


    That was something Finn hadn''t considered.


    He was still thinking about it as he walked back up the


    hill carrying bags of market produce.


    He helped set up a trestle table undercover at the back


    of the house and watched as Nain Joan sorted out the


    different vegetables. Some to go into the garden beds as


    root stock, the others to go into the kitchen pantries.


    ''''Hello, is anybody home?" There was some one at the front door.


    "Coming." Nain Joan called out.


    "Go and see who that is Finn will you. If it''s the market people


    with the hens, tell them to come around the side of the house."


    Finn wiped his hands and went to see. At the front door he was surprised


    to see a school friend he hadn''t seen since they''d both left to go to university.


    ''''Hello Bish."


    Bish smiled. "I thought I saw you and Nain Joan at the markets this morning."


    "Still studying Law at Cambridge?" Finn asked.


    "I am, or rather I was. I enlisted, my call up is at the end of next week. Are you


    still at Oxford?"


    "I enlisted too." Finn said." My call up is in a few days as well."


    "We''re having bit of a get together up at the house. Most of the family have


    moved back here to St.Ives to get out of the way of all the War business in


    London. It would be great if you could come along tonight."


    "Thanks for invite Bish, but I was planning a quiet night in."


    Bish grinned. "My sisters have invited quite a few of their unattached female friends."


    "Have they now?" Nain Joan said.


    Finn laughed, of course she was standing behind him.


    "It''s very nice to see you again Nain Joan."


    "And you too Bish."


    Nain Joan produced a bottle of whiskey from behind her


    back and handed it to him. "Finn will be there at eight."


    *