Chapter 5. The Big Secret
One day, Bobbie made some tea for her mother. ‘Thank you,' said Mother. ‘Bobbie, do you think that Peter and Phyllis are forgetting their father?'
‘No!' said Bobbie. ‘Why?'
‘Because they don't talk about him now,' said Mother.
‘We talk about him when you're not here. When you're at home, we don't say anything. We don't want you to be sad,' said Bobbie.
‘Bobbie,' said Mother. ‘Something bad happened to us … to Father … when we left London. It's true. I'm very sad when I think of it. But you must never, never forget him.'
‘Of course not, Mother,' said Bobbie.
‘Good,' said Mother. ‘Your father can come home soon. Please don't speak to your brother and sister about our conversation.'
‘I promise,' said Bobbie.
That evening Mother told the children a story. She told them about their father when he was young. The story was very funny and the children enjoyed it.
We must help Mother,' thought Bobbie. ‘We mustn't ask too many questions because she gets sad. Where is Father? Where can he be? Bobbie was very worried. Soon, she had something different to think about.
The next day, Peter was ill. The doctor came to “Three Chimneys”. Peter had to stay in bed for a week. A week for a ten-year-old boy is a very long time. Peter didn't know what to do.
Bobbie was sad for her brother. Is there anything I can do? she thought. He can't go out. But I can. I can go to the station and find some newspapers for him to read. So Bobbie went to the station.
‘Hello Bobbie,' said Perks. ‘How are you?'
‘I'm fine,' said Bobbie. ‘But Peter isn't very well. Do you have any newspapers I can take home?'
‘Yes, here are some,' said Perks. ‘People always leave them on the train.' So ten minutes later, Bobbie walked home. She had lots of newspapers.
And she had to carry them up the hill. She looked at the newspapers. They were really heavy, but she was happy to help her brother. Then she saw something.
No! What's this? she thought. It can't be him. But it is! And then she started to read. So now I know, she thought.
What did Bobbie read? And why was it so bad? These were some of the words she read:
PRISON – FIVE YEARS – GUILTY
And next to these words was a picture of … her father! I must try not to tell anybody. Not even Mother, thought Bobbie.
When Bobbie got home, Mother was in the kitchen.
‘What is it?' said Mother. ‘I know something is wrong. Your face is red.'
‘Nothing,' said Bobbie. ‘I'm tired.' Bobbie went to her bedroom. She put the newspaper under her bed. Soon it was time for dinner. The children sat at the table with their mother. They did this every day. But something was different today.
Usually, Bobbie spoke a lot, but today she didn't say anything. After dinner, Mother spoke to Bobbie again.
‘There's something wrong. Why aren't you speaking? Why are you sad? What is it? Tell me now!' Bobbie didn't say anything. She just took the newspaper from under her bed and gave it to her mother.
All Bobbie could say was, ‘Read! Read!' Bobbie's mother read the newspaper.
‘Oh Bobbie,' said Mother. ‘Do you believe it? You don't, do you?'
‘NO!' said Bobbie.
‘Good!' said Mother. ‘Because it's not true. Your father is in prison. But he didn't do anything wrong. He's not guilty. He's a good man. Please don't tell the others,' said Bobbie's mother.
‘Of course not,' said Bobbie. ‘We mustn't tell anybody. It's our secret.'
‘That's right,' said Mother. ‘Now I want to tell you everything. Bobbie sat on her bed and listened to the story. ‘The men who came to our house that night … the last time you saw Father
were policemen. They wanted your father. They asked about some letters. These letters were in Father's office. The letters had secrets in them … secrets that another country wanted. The policemen said this to your father:
‘You are stealing secrets. You gave some letters to the Russians. It's true, you're guilty. We found some more letters in your desk.'
‘That's impossible!' said Bobbie. ‘Father loves his country.'
‘Somebody did it,' said Mother. ‘The letters were in Father's desk. Someone put the letters there. Someone didn't like Father and that's the guilty person.'
‘Who was it? Who could do this?' asked Bobbie.
‘There was a man and he didn't like your father. He wanted Father's job. Now he's got it. Your father is very clever. This man didn't like him for this reason.'
‘Can't we tell somebody about this?'
‘Nobody wants to listen,' said Mother.
Well, I know a man, a very special man. He can help us, thought Bobbie.
That night, Bobbie wrote a letter. She gave the letter and the newspaper to Perks at the station.
My dear friend,
Please read the newspaper. There's some news about my father. It's not true. Father never did it. He isn't guilty. Mother says it was another man. This man didn't like Father. This man now has Father's job. You're very clever. You found the Russian man's family. Can you help us again?
Peter and Phyllis don't know anything.
Please help us.
Bobbie
Who was the letter for? Well, I think you know. It was for an old gentleman. An old gentleman who was always on the 9.15 train.
It was difficult. It was very difficult, but Bobbie didn't tell Peter and Phyllis about Father. Must just wait, thought Bobbie. My dear friend can help us. I know he can.
