“He was ill.”
“Ah, he was toward the end and in so much pain the poor, old devil. Didn’t do his mood any good either. But that wasn't it. His father forced him into the church when he wanted to marry and have a family. But the woman he fell for didn’t have the inclination to be a poor vicar’s wife. She had a different future all planned out. Poor man, I felt sorry for him, to be honest. At first anyway. Now, less said the better, the man is dead after all. So, what do you think of the youngster?”
“He has a heart of gold and some very ambitious plans but…”
“You think he might be a little naïve.”
Sally laughed, as Maggie had hit the nail right on the head. Nothing got by this dear woman.
“I think he may have underestimated the anti-German feeling around here. You know of his plans for the Kindertransport.”
“I do. Sure, aren’t we taking in two of the children. Not that he knows it yet. I haven’t told him.” Maggie put her hand up to her mouth. “You mustn’t repeat it, Sally.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t. He asked me to do the same.” Sally glanced at Maggie.
“What’s on your mind, Sally? I didn’t think you would hesitate to open your heart to some poor unfortunates.”
“They are German, Maggie. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Me? No, why should it? Because of my Reg? He’d be the first one to take in a child had he got the chance. These children aren’t anything but innocent victims of that madman Hitler. I’d take in the whole lot if I could. How do we teach our children to love thy neighbor if we put conditions on it? I didn’t think you would care, Sally Preston.”
Sally held up her hand, not bothering to correct Maggie on her use of her maiden name.
“Don’t get upset with me. I don’t care but I’m a bit worried Derek might. He’s going to be fighting the Germans.”
“And you think the man you married would hold that against children?”
Shame flooded through her. Her Derek who helped the old servicemen begging on the streets, who slipped food to the local children when nobody was watching.
“No, of course not. Oh, ignore me, Maggie. I’m just scared, I guess. I don’t know anything about raising kids. There was only me.”
“You’re a born mother and don’t let anyone tell you different. Those children don’t want perfection. They just want what we all do. A warm bed, a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. And someone to love them. To hold them close when they are scared or worried. That’s all anyone wants, isn’t it?”
Sally saw the loneliness in the older woman’s eyes. She’d been denied those very things when Reg had died. Sure, she had shelter and food but she doubted Reverend Hilton had provided good company, let alone a shoulder to cry on.
“Maggie Ardle, you are one in a million. That’s what you are.” She gave the other woman a cuddle. “Those kids who come here are getting a real treasure.”
Maggie held her close for a couple of seconds and then broke away, saying she needed a tissue. “My bladder is very near my eyes these days. Can’t believe we are marching into another war. We didn’t learn anything from the last one, did we? That was supposed to be the one to end all wars. What did my Reg, your Da, and all those other men die for, would you tell me?”
Sally couldn’t answer that.
13
Sally, Maggie, and a couple of other women from Abbeydale took the train up to Waterloo and the underground from there over to Liverpool Street Station. Reverend Collins had gone on an earlier train, as he’d had to meet various representatives of both the Jewish congregations and other churches.
Sally listened to the conversations around her. Most were talking about how bad the situation in Germany must be for women to give up their children, not only to strangers but to send them across the sea.
Aggie Dalton, a farmer’s wife, sniffed perpetually. Sally was tempted to give her a hanky. The woman moaned about everything from the price of the train ticket to the cost of sheltering the children. “I don’t think I could do what those women have done, do you?”
Sally glanced up realizing the woman had addressed her. But before she got the chance to respond, Maggie answered.
“Don’t know love. Never know what you will do until the time comes, do ya?”
The woman shrugged her shoulders. “My Ben says they will be good on the farm. Hard workers Germans, no matter what else you say about them. I hope Reverend Collins lets us have the pick of the crop, so to speak.”
Appalled at what she was hearing, Sally turned to stare out the window. She didn’t want to get into an argument with anyone from the village.
“You tell your Ben those children are looking for kindness and shelter from an evil man and his disgusting regime. They aren’t workhorses or unpaid labor for his farm.”
“Ben knows that, Maggie Ardle. Don’t you go laying down the law to me. Never had kids of your own did ya? So, what would you know about raising them?”
Sally bit her lip at the woman’s unkindness. Thankfully, the train trundled to a stop and they all headed for the exit. Sally took Maggie’s hand and squeezed it tightly. She’d seen the tears in the woman’s eyes. She knew how much the older woman had wanted children, but God had different plans for her.
“Any child will be lucky to go to the rectory to live with you and Reverend Collins,” she whispered. Maggie squeezed her hand in return. They made their way up the stairs to the main railway station concourse.
Nothing could have prepared Sally for the sight that met her. There had to be about two hundred children of all ages, standing in a group. Some were babes in arms while others were almost grown-ups. Despite their attempts to be brave, most showed some signs of fear or bewilderment at their new surroundings. They looked like they hadn’t slept in days. She spotted Reverend Collins near the train, away from the crowd and taking Maggie’s arm, led the way over to him.
“Morning Maggie, Sally. Things are a bit chaotic. My German is a bit rusty. Most of the children don’t speak English.”
Sally swallowed back the lump in her throat. The children hung back, in a group, as if there was safety in numbers. She spotted a number crying but almost without sound.
She heard Aggie Dalton, the farmer’s wife before she saw her. Her strident tones rang clear despite the general noise of the station.
“I want three boys, about fourteen to sixteen-years-old. That one, that one and him over there should do nicely.”
Reverend Collins blinked a couple of times, muttered something and moved toward the woman. The children were shrinking back not understanding what she was saying.
“I wish she wasn’t given any children but that’s unlikely, isn’t it? I thought there would be more volunteers.”
“Not everyone has your kind heart, Sally, and some can’t afford to feed another little one. Now let’s get to it, shall we? Do you have a preference for a boy or a girl?”
Sally shook her head. She’d written to Derek telling him of her plans to come to Liverpool Street and maybe offer a child a home for the duration. She’d asked him if he had a preference, but he’d never answered. She thought he’d be happy with either a boy or a girl.
She let her gaze roam over the crowd before she spotted a little boy, tear stains marking a track on his face. Something about him called to her.
She stepped forward and bent down to his level.
“Hello.”
The boy stared at her, his eyes widening.
“Do you speak any English?”
He nodded but didn’t respond. He looked up at the young man by his side.
“My brother Tomas is shy. Papa taught us a little English. My name is Heinz. Are you taking us?”
“Us?” Sally queried. She’d assumed the man was one of the group leaders but looking closer he was only about sixteen-years-old.
“Me and my brother. We stick together.”
The smaller boy said something in German. His brother answered but it wa
sn’t the right reply, as the little boy stamped his foot. The older one tried to reason with him, but it was no use. The small boy crossed his arms, a mutinous look on his face. His brother’s tone told Sally things weren’t going to improve. She intervened.
“What is wrong, Heinz? Is he scared?”
The contempt in the boy’s face took her by surprise.
“No, he is happy to be in a new country with strangers.”
“Less of that, young man,” Sally retorted, without thinking. She could put up with a lot of things, but sarcasm pushed her over the edge. Her response did nothing to ease the situation, with the younger boy now crying. Feeling helpless, she looked around for Reverend Collins and motioned him over.
“Sally, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Tomas, the little boy, wants something but Heinz can’t tell me what it is. I wondered if you could translate.”
Reverend Collins exchanged a couple of words with Heinz getting a similar reaction. But Tomas wasn’t staying silent. He broke in, speaking rapidly. Reverend Collins bent down to speak to him. He nodded, as the child spoke, a little slower by then and accompanied by a lot of gestures. He kept pointing at a girl holding a baby but she was deep in conversation with another English lady.
“Is that his sister? The girl holding the baby?” Sally asked.
“No, I don’t believe the older girl is, but I think the baby might be. She’s some relation to him and he won’t go to a family without her.”
“Why wouldn’t the older brother want that too?” Sally asked, taking in the fact that Heinz wouldn’t even look in the baby’s direction.
“He says the baby has nothing to do with them.”
Sally met Heinz’s eyes and knew instinctively he had understood what they were saying. For a second, she saw anger warring with guilt or shame, in his eyes. She wasn’t sure which.
Reverend Collins motioned her to move slightly to one side.
“Sally, you only intended taking in one child. You might want to pick someone else.”
But Tomas had other ideas. He’d moved to her side, putting his hand in hers. She looked down at the look of trust on his little face, before he gazed toward the baby.
“I don’t think I can say no, Reverend. I have the space and looking after a baby will keep me occupied.” Having two children in the house might make the evenings pass quicker. That was when she missed Derek the most. She bent down to the young boy’s level.
“Tomas, would you like to come with me. To my home?”
Tomas looked at the Reverend who translated. The boy nodded but said something.
“He said, you must take Liesl, the baby, and Heinz, too. Sally, three children is a lot.”
The decisions were taken out of her hands. Heinz spoke to his brother and judging by the response, it wasn’t what he thought Tomas would say. For a second, Sally saw his pain before the mask dropped once more.
“Take care of my brother.”
And with that Heinz moved back to the circle of children who had yet to be placed. Tomas started to cry but didn’t make a move to follow his brother. Sally itched to drag Heinz back, by the scruff of his collar. How could he walk away and leave such a small child alone with strangers? She’d have taken in the three of them even if Heinz seemed like more than a handful.
She bent down to take Tomas’ hand. “Will we go get your sister?”
Tomas looked in Heinz’s direction, sighed deeply and then pulled Sally by the arm over to where the girl carrying the baby stood. Sally spotted another girl, about the same age as Tomas, hanging onto the older girl’s coat.
Tomas spoke rapidly in German. Sally watched the older girl’s face as her concerned expression turned to anger and she cast more than one dirty look in Heinz’s direction.
Maggie and the Reverend came over to Sally’s group.
“Have you found someone Sally?”
Sally nodded. “You?”
“Not yet. The Reverend and I thought we would wait a bit. Maybe give some children a home that might not otherwise be picked.”
Sally knew what her friend meant. The angelic-looking children, those with nicer clothes and cleaner appearance had been approached first. Also, siblings, who didn’t want to be separated were harder to place. Most people coming forward only had room for one. Tomas pulled at her hand to attract her attention, pointing to the baby.
Reverend Collins spoke to the girl.
“This is Rachel Bernstein and her younger sister Ruth. The baby is Liesl Beck, Tomas’ younger sister.”
Sally smiled. “Pleased to meet you Rachel and you too Ruth.”
Rachel smiled but Ruth just stared. Rachel kissed baby Liesl before handing her over to Sally, speaking as she did so. “She likes to look around when you hold her. See?”
Sally glanced at the baby who was staring at her with the widest, blue eyes she had ever seen. She felt like she was being assessed, which was just silly, as she was only a baby.
“She is hungry and needs a change. I did not know where to go,” Rachel added.
Sally moved to take the child in her arms. “I can take care of that. You have done a wonderful job. Your English is very good too.”
“Thank you. Mama says it is important we learn a little. We not have much time. Not enough.”
Rachel put her arm around her sister’s shoulders and pulled her closer. Rachel’s bravery made Sally’s eyes sting. Liesl held out her arms to Rachel but she simply kissed the child on the head and turned to go back to the crowd. Liesl started crying.
“Rachel, wait.” Sally turned to Reverend Collins. “Can you ask her why she hasn’t found a family yet? I saw a few women speaking to her.”
Reverend Collins tried his best. She could see, by Rachel’s facial expression, she found the Reverend hard to understand but they made the best of things with hand signals and gestures.
“She says many have asked her what skills she has. If she can run a household and how good she is at sewing or baking. One lady wanted to know if she could make cheese.” The Reverend’s anger was barely contained. “She said she will work hard but Ruth has to come too. She won’t be separated from her sister.”
“Nor should she be. The poor child has already been torn away from the rest of her family,” Maggie huffed. Sally could only imagine what the older woman would do if someone asked Rachel those questions in front of her.
“Why don’t you take Rachel and her sister, Maggie? You can teach Rachel new skills. Ruth and Tomas will have a friend and Rachel can teach me how to care for Liesl.”
Maggie beamed but the look on Reverend Collins’ face took her by surprise.
“I don’t think that is a good solution. People will talk if I live in a household of women.”
Maggie and Sally exchanged a look, before bursting out laughing. Reverend Collins’ cheeks grew redder, making them laugh more.
“I hardly think my concerns are amusing.”
“Sorry, Reverend. It’s the thought anyone would think living with an old woman like me would compromise your reputation. I am hardly a man-eater.” Maggie laughed even more. The children just stared at them.
Sally knew she had to get him on-side.
“We’re sorry Reverend. We didn’t mean to embarrass you, but I think our community would see your actions for what they are. Those of a caring individual, showing by example what our community can do.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes of course. Some people may talk about you, but you can’t live your life trying to please everyone. That’s a losing game.”
Reverend Collins looked thoughtful but didn’t get a chance to think for long as Liesl decided the matter for them. She wriggled and held her hands out for Rachel, as she started to scream. Sally almost dropped her in shock. Where had the angelic baby of five minutes ago gone and what was this bundle of rage in her arms? She didn’t know what to do. It had been years since she had looked after neighbors’ kids.
Rachel moved
fast, taking Liesl from Sally and holding her close, singing to her. The baby settled, her roars soon lessening to loud sobs.
“She’s very wet,” Rachel said.
Sally took control. “Maggie, please look after Tomas and Ruth while I show Rachel where to change Liesl. Reverend can you tell Tomas we will be back?”
Reverend Collins attempted to explain but Tomas and Ruth weren’t being left behind. Tomas held onto Sally as Ruth grabbed her sister’s coat.
Maggie suggested, “why don’t we all go? The children should go to the bathroom before we get on the tube. Reverend Collins, will you mind their luggage?”
So that was that. Sally led the way, with Maggie bringing up the rear behind the children. They found the bathroom and soon Liesl had been changed, everyone used the facilities and arrived back to find Reverend Collins. Sally happened to see Heinz with the farmer’s wife. She smiled but he looked away.
“Let’s go home, shall we?” Maggie suggested. We can have our picnic on the train to Chertsey. Everywhere here is too busy and crowded. The children look tired and I’m not a young woman.”
Sally smiled at that. Maggie had more energy than most women half her age.
“What will happen to the children who aren’t placed?” Sally asked.
“They will go on to children’s homes for now. They will find jobs for the older ones, the younger ones...” Reverend Collins shrugged his shoulders. He asked them if they could manage the journey home by themselves, as he had to deal with some administrative matters.
14
The train journey home was an adventure. They spotted Heinz and two other boys with the farmer’s wife but he made no attempt to interact with the children, despite Tomas calling out to him. Rachel had put her arm around Tomas and whispered something to him, while Sally wanted to thump Heinz for hurting the poor child.
The children weren’t keen on the underground, but they stared out the windows when they got on the train to Chertsey. Sally spotted Heinz approach their carriage but at the last minute he got into the one next to them. She glanced at Tomas, but he didn’t appear to have noticed.
The Road to Liberation: Trials and Triumphs of WWII Page 95
