‘You said your daughter’s coming to collect you, June?’

Millie regarded her new friend with envy, and not just because she was about to be released from the hospital. There were lots of things about June that Millie admired. Both were grandmothers, but June seemed a lot more confident, and younger than her years.

‘Good of her to take time out from her busy schedule. You said she had a good job in an office.’

‘Yes,’ June agreed. ‘Flexi-time, I think they call it. She can come to collect me and put in an extra hour at the end of the day.’

‘Say what they like about office jobs, they’re a lot better than factory work. With me it was half eight to half five, and in trouble if I was a minute late.’ Millie looked towards the open door ‘Was that the tea trolley?’

June placed her folded coat beside the open suitcase on her bed and turned to check the locker. She gathered together some framed photos.

‘Yes, we didn’t get the same choices when we were young. I was lucky. My mother found a way to encourage ambition, even though I was a girl.

Millie sat down on the chair beside her bed. She hadn’t really been able to find out much about June in the two days they’d shared a ward, beds next to each other. Their minor procedures weren’t serious, but what with all the tests and the visitors there hadn’t been much time for chatting.

'How did she do that, then?’

‘She took me to the pictures.’

Millie laughed. ‘Oh, we all went to the pictures then – Odeon, Gaumont, Empire – all deep carpets and gold staircases. It was a real escape, when we scrimped at home to make ends meet. Ooh, I loved those usherettes in uniform with the torches to show you to your seat. Then they'd be out with ice-cream on a tray in the interval! None of that queuing for over-priced popcorn and hot dogs like they do now.’

June closed the empty drawer. ‘Yes,not many people had TV then. But it was the films that I loved, not the decor.’

‘I wouldn’t have thought you’d find inspiration there, though. It was all cowboys and war stories, musicals and weepies, as I remember.’

‘Oh, those too.’ June closed her case and sat down on the bed, still holding the photos. ‘Dad never came back from the war. But mum managed to take me to films about women being strong and successful. I could really make something of myself, make my Dad proud, she said. There were plenty of role models up on the sliver screen.’

‘Role models? Seemed to me the women were in films as an excuse for men to fight over or to go to pieces when there was trouble. The main thing for actresses was to have a good screaming voice. That and big eyes to look up at the heroes.’

June sat back and smiled at one of the photos. ‘Do you remember Esther Williams?’

Millie’s eyes lit up. ‘The Million Dollar Mermaid?’ I certainly do!’

June brushed her fingertips over the smiling face with its centre-parted hairstyle.

‘She was an Olympic swimmer. Not many people realised, but my mum pointed out it wasn’t all ruched costumes and hats with plastic flowers on them. There was a lot of practice behind all those displays.’

Millie looked doubtful.

‘She was American, though, like Doris Day. Right career girl she was, and always got her man, too. It was different in the States. Here, women had to stay home when the men came back, what with all the unemployment.’

‘They weren't all American. You couldn't help admiring some of the English stars. Do you remember a film called ‘Carve her Name with Pride? Virginia McKenna playing a war heroine. She starred in a film where she looked after lions, too: Born Free.

She held up a picture of a woman whose gaze was indeed clear-eyed and fearless.

‘Ooh, a bit too brave if you ask me. Give me a good weepie, anytime.

‘And Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth 1st. She didn’t stand for any nonsense – ran rings round the men and looked after the country.’

A face that seemed to embody strengh of will looked out from the frame that June placed beside the others in her case.

‘Whoa! How many more? You’ve convinced me. Oh, look, here’s your daughter now!’

One last photo, that of a young woman with a frank and confident smile, took its place in the case, before June snapped the catches.

As June took hold of her suitcase handle, Millie stretched out a hand. ‘Just a minute; don’t leave me in suspense. With all that inspiration, what did you choose in the end? Was it swimming, international politics or did you settle for taming lions?’

June smiled as her daughter came through the doorway.

‘None of those. It was a good choice, though - I decided to be an usherette.'