“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.
Rachel told them a little about their journey from Germany to England but they both sensed the young girl kept the worst of the details to herself.
“Next stop is ours. Come on everyone.” Maggie stood up, shaking her skirt as the crumbs from their picnic fell.
Tomas hesitated, shooting a question at Rachel. She answered him, before translating.
“He wanted to know if Heinz is getting off now, too.”
So, he had seen his brother get on the train.
Sally answered, “Yes, he will be staying near our village.”
“Will we get to see him?” Rachel asked.
Was there something between Rachel and Heinz? They were of a similar age, she guessed.
“The farm is quite far from the village but the farmer brings his family to church on Sunday. There’s the farmers’ market too, on Saturday.”
“Church? You will make us go to this place?” Rachel asked, a worried expression on her face.
Sally hadn’t given it any thought. She glanced at Maggie for guidance, but the older woman shrugged.
“I think you should discuss it with Reverend Collins, Rachel.” At the paleness of her face, Sally added. “I don’t believe you will be forced to attend if that is something against your beliefs.”
Rachel sighed. “I don’t think Papa would like it.” At the abject misery in her face, Sally risked giving her a hug.
“Sweetheart, you will be well looked after at the Reverend’s. Maggie is a wonderful woman.”
She didn’t know if Rachel understood everything that she’d said but the girl looked a little relieved, giving Sally a weak smile.
The whistle announced they’d arrived. Rachel carried Liesl, so Sally gathered the bags together taking them down from the luggage rack. Ruth took Tomas’ hand and led him off the train, following Rachel. Sally glanced around their seat to check for anything left behind.
“Shouldn’t be bringing those foreigners over here. Got enough kids of our own, don’t we?”
Sally looked up but the man who’d spoken wasn’t speaking to her. He was talking to the person sitting opposite him.
“Germans they sounded like. Never forget that language. Heard enough of it in the trenches. What’s a bunch of Gerrie’s doing, coming here, then?”
Sally had heard enough. “Those children are on the run for their lives. The least you can do, Sir, is have a little heart.”
With her heart racing, Sally stepped down from the carriage and slammed the door shut behind her. The satisfaction didn’t last long. Was that the welcome that awaited these poor children? Couldn’t people understand Hitler was their enemy too?
15
Heinz changed his name to Harry, as it sounded more English and he refused to be German anymore. Hitler had taken his home, his family, and left him with nothing.
He hated it at the farm. The beds were lumpy and the room freezing.
