Cousin Agam Fhein

by Janet Stubbert

During the Second World War, Canadian citizens sacrificed much in order to assist and support the many young men and women who were called upon to defend our country. Women left at home soon found themselves filling the void in the workplace. This indeed was the birth of women’s freedom groups.

Life as we knew it changed radically; food was rationed, money was scarce, and ladies’ undergarments sported buttons where elastic once was.

Halifax Harbour, opened year round, was an important and busy port during the war years. Streets were forever filled with servicemen awaiting their departure for overseas. The young women of Halifax became accustomed to the unsolicited attention they received from young servicemen.

One warm afternoon my sisters, Evelyn and Anna, strolled along Halifax’s main thoroughfare. Following closely behind them, were several young sailors making polite asides to one another concerning the demeanour of the young ladies in front of them. The girls, quite aware of the attention they were getting, pretended to ignore it. Occasionally, one of them finding a remark captivating, looked over her shoulder and smiled at the handsome young men while the other looked down her nose.

All was well in heaven and on earth until Evelyn felt the button on her undergarment loosen. The undies fell to her feet. Immediately stepping out of the unmentionables, she astutely retrieved them and with great presence and with a flourish she passed them to her sister saying, “Here!!! Don’t ever let that happen again!!�

Flabbergasted, Anna stood scarlet-faced, stuttering, and stammering… to the great delight of the laughing sailors.

Anna, Evelyn, and Janet Stubbert are daughters of Jack Stubbert and Mary Rankin.

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