The Vistor

by Fiona Beddow

Thirteen-year-old Clara is desperate to do her bit for the war effort, but her family has other ideas ...

World War Two is at its height. Girl guide Clara has been seconded to the Searchlight Regiment and loves her work there. When she is relegated to ‘more ladylike’ desk duties at the request of her father, she is devastated. Then a chance encounter with a mysterious visitor (and unlikely feminist) turns her world around ...

Set in Kearsney Abbey House near Dover, where the ATS Searchlight Regiment was stationed during World War Two. This short story (725 words) was previously published in The Rivall, the village magazine for the Kentish village of River.

7 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2017

About the author

Fiona Beddow is an ex-musician, teacher and author who writes dystopian adventure novels for 11-14's. When she is not hunched over a computer keyboard typing with four fingers, she works as a home tutor, specialising in helping children with special educational needs and building confidence in literacy and numeracy skills. She gives writing workshops with a musical twist, and talks to children and adults about the adventure of writing. She believes that both boys and girls need to talk about 'girl power', and is an advocate for the rights and aspirations of girls around the world.