The Year Away
Nov 7, 1944
Today Mum and Dad gave me this journal on my birthday. I remember the sorrow on Mum’s face when I asked “what is this for?” “When you go to the countryside with your sisters and brother, you can write all your adventures in it.” she said. I don’t feel like writing my ‘adventures’ in this journal. In fact I do not want to leave home at all. When I think about it I feel like crying, but no. I can’t say that to Mum. She has been so good to me. Nora and Louvina don’t mind. They have each other. But me? I will have no one to comfort me. No one to talk to. My candle is burning low. I must go to sleep.
Nov 8, 1944
We started packing today. All of our clothes fit into one suitcase. I don’t own much, only two dresses and this journal. The teacher from the school near us sent us a list of what we had to bring, and Dad had to sell his coat to buy the gas masks we needed. I hate to be the cause of so much worry. Last night I was so sad, but now I have to be brave. For my sisters, and for baby Henery, but most importantly, for me. I am not sure I can do this. Will I ever see mum and dad again? Louvina is fighting with Nora over a stuffed bear that they both claim is theirs. I better stop writing soon. Mum is going to the grocers to get us some food. I hope she comes back soon.
Nov 11, 1944
Mum was talking to me last night. She said “ Ida Stewart, you need to promise me that you will take good care of your sisters and brother, do you understand?” she only would call me Ida Stewart if she was serious. I did promise then, but now I feel doubtful I can take good care of my siblings. What if something goes wrong? We are leaving next week. Right now Louvina and Nora are sleeping on their cot. Since we are so poor, we can not afford beds. Henry sleeps in Mum and Dad’s room, in the crib that Dad made for him. The night grows dark. I can’t see what I am writing, so I must go to sleep.
Nov. 12, 1944
Today we had to wake up very early to go on the train. As I looked around the small apartment I had once called home, I had a feeling of dread. We got our things and walked to the train station, which was only a one mile walk from our home. In the distance, you could hear the bombs exploding with deafening crashes. I boarded the train with my sisters and brother. Mum cried out “Good bye, children!” Dad said, “Be good!” The train lurched forward, gaining speed, and then they were gone. Louvina and Nora were sobbing. I felt like crying too, in fact now I still feel tears pricking at the edge of my eyes. But I couldn't cry then, and I can not cry now, either. So now I must wait, wait until this dreadful war ends. And then I can go home.
Nov 13, 1944
Yesterday was tiring. The endless hours of watching the time pass by. Nothing special happened. But I did love watching the streets of London fade away into fields of corn and wheat. Occasionally a small village would jump into view. Then it would disappear into the distance again. Henry was fussy sitting in my lap, so I let him play on the floor. We ate our sandwiches for lunch, and the teacher was kind enough to give us some money to buy dinner at one of the stops. Now when I am writing in this journal, we are on another train. I asked the conductor where we were going a little while ago. He said the next stop was Camberley, but I had to ask the teacher if we were going to stop there. She said that our stop was Eldenbridge, and it would be the stop after Camberley. It is around three o’clock in the afternoon right now. I wonder what Eldenbridge is like. Is it anything like London? Or is it a small town like the ones I watched along the railroad tracks? I guess I will have to find out.
Nov 14,1944
This town is horrible! Why couldn't we have just stayed in London. I want to go home. I would rather face bombs than living like this!
Nov 17,1944
It has been three long days since Mr. Smith picked us up from the train station. He was tall and thin, and he had a wagon for us to ride to our new home with him in. Eldenbridge looked like a lovely town, but he drove us straight into the fields. An hour later, we finally reached a small farm. Mr Smith took our bag, and knocked on the door, and Mrs. Hatton answered it.
As she looked down at us, her eyes widened in surprise. “What is this, Mr. Smith! I can’t take these children!” “You need help with the babies, yes? This is your answer,”he said. They argued for some time, until finally, Mrs. Hatton gave in. “ Come with me, children.” she said, and brought us inside. She does not not like me, I know. She has three children, Peter, James, and Clara. Peter and James are five and six, and make so much mischief!
Just yesterday, Mrs. Hatton was baking pies and pastries for the church social, and I was rocking Clara to sleep. Clara is one and the only Hatton who likes me. Louvina and Nora were playing with dolls on the floor, and minding Henry next to the fireplace. And because I was so busy I forgot about Peter and James, but when I heard a crash from the kitchen, I almost dropped Clara! When I walked in there, Peter had knocked over two pies that were set on the window sill to cool. And who should come in at that moment was Mrs. Hatton, herself. I wasn’t allowed to go to the church social after that, and here I am, at home while everyone else is enjoying themselves! I wish we had never come to this place.
Nov. 19, 1944
After the pie disaster, I kept closer attention to the children, never letting them out of my sight. Today Peter and James were with their father in the barn, so finally I had time to talk to my sisters. “How do you like this place?” I had asked. Louvina and Nora both said that they didn't really like the place. “Mrs. Hatton is mean. But I liked going to the picnic. It was fun” Nora had said. Louvina agreed with her. “Well maybe it will get better.” I had told her, but now I am not so sure. Mrs. Hatton wants me. I must go.
Nov. 20,1944
Today James was missing! I looked for him everywhere in the house. Mrs. Hatton was at the Ladies Aid, and wouldn't be back for about an hour or so. Twenty minutes had passed, and I was getting frantic. What if he had fallen into the well? As I darted outside, I spied a dark shape run into the woodshed. When I peeked in, I discovered James giggling mischievously in one corner. And oh, I was so mad at him! He was hiding so I would be in trouble! But what angered me most of all was when I was scolding him, all he said was “ I don’t have to listen to you, you're not in charge of me!” That boy! Oh what I hate the most about this place is that no one listens to me!
Nov. 23,1944
It snowed! It seems like it snows even more in the country than in London. Louvina is playing outside with Nora. They are making a snowman. Peter and James are building a snowfort, stopping occasionally to pelt each other with snow balls. I am still mad at James for hiding from me, but I know sometime I will have to forgive him. He is just a little boy, and shouldn't know better. I should join them outside.
Dec. 4, 1944
I have been busy the past week, so I did not have time to write. The past few days have brought us snow snow and more snow, and it seems like the whole world is covered in white. Mrs. Hatton is not as mean as she was a few weeks ago, and it is going along pretty well. I still miss my parents terribly, but we will all go home in the end. Yesterday we rode to town to buy supplies. I loved the little town, and it felt like getting into civilization again. On the Hatton’s farm it is lonely sometimes. I wonder what Christmas will be like without my parents. We always had a large Christmas dinner, which was not that huge, since we were so poor, but it was the finest meal we ate all year. Oh how I miss home!
Jan. 1, 1945
So much has happened! But I guess I have to start at the beginning. So after the last entry, there was not much that happened that was different. Except for Christmas of course. It was a very exciting day. The night before the house smelled wonderful, and Mrs. Hatton was in the kitchen almost all day, baking, and cooking delicious food for Christmas day. The boys kept sneaking to the kitchen, and it was all I could do to stop them! But the next day was wonderful. Louvina and Nora woke up early, and woke me up as well. We hurriedly dressed, and walked downstairs. What a sight greeted us! The table was covered in dishes. Donuts and oatmeal, fried eggs and bread, it was a feast! But the most exciting thing of all was at each plate there was a small package wrapped in red and white paper. When we had finished eating, we opened our gifts. Mine was a letter from mum and dad! It said that they were doing well, and no bombs had dropped on their side of London. It was wonderful to read about what had happened to them, and it probably was the best Christmas present I ever got. Louvina and Nora had matching dolls for their present, and they love them. I did not expect that Christmas at the Hattons could be so fun, but it was fun. All this time I have been wondering when we will go to school. It turns out that we are going to go to school next week. Out here in Eldenbridge, School teachers are scarce, and this year the school board found a teacher late this year. I hope school will turn out fine.
Jan. 3, 1945
School is not fine!
Jan. 6, 1945
School is horrible. The first day I attended school, all the children stared at me and my sisters. I heard a girl whisper to someone saying “those are the evacuees from london” the teacher was a kind woman, and didn't care if we were evacuees
At all. But at lunchtime no one would talk to me or to Louvina and Nora. I guess they thought we were strange, being new and all that. After a while I got frustrated that no one was talking to me. But there was nothing I could do anyway.
July 3, 1945
The end of the semester for school was a week ago. I did not like school at first, but it was a good way to forget why I am here. Mum always said I was very smart, but when my scores were at the top in the class it was like someone handed me a certificate saying “you are very smart” and I was happy. The kids from school stopped whispering unkind things behind my back, and I even made a friend! Her name is Clara, and she is the nicest person I have ever met! But after school, I worry. What if something happened in London? What if the Germans bombed the small apartment we lived in? I haven't gotten a letter in months, and I am beginning to think that we will never catch a glimpse of London again. Even our parents' faces are fading from my memory. Has it only been seven months since we left each other? It feels like it has been seven years.
July 10, 1945
This is wonderful! We are leaving in August! I can’t wait to see mum and dad again! We got the letter on the 5th of July, and so far I could barely believe that we would see our parents in only one month! Oh it will be so wonderful to see London again, and of course see Mum and Dad! It is almost too wonderful to be true!
July 12, 1945
The days drag by slowly. So slow each hour! I realized today that we have many more things than before. I have four dresses now, all new, and the one I got for a present at new year is especially pretty, with tiny flowers embroidered on the fabric. And I have school books, of course. I can't believe when we first got to the Hatton's house I thought that Mrs. Hatton was mean! I think she warmed up to all of us, because now she is really good to us. I can’t believe I am writing this, but I think I am going to miss her.
July 19, 1945
We started packing our things today. I am so sick of waiting for the time when we can go home! waiting, and waiting, and waiting, the time is only 2:34! I must go help Mrs. Hatton with the packing. I think I will miss Clara. She had been so good to me at school, and the only friend I have ever had. She said goodbye to me yesterday. I hope I can see her again. someday.
July 31, 1945
Finally we are leaving tomorrow! I am so excited to be home again. The train leaves at 8:00 tomorrow, so we will have to leave early. I said goodbye to the Hatton children. James was especially nice, and apologized for hiding from me, so many months ago. He is a lot nicer than he used to be.
August 1, 1945
Today was the longest day of my life! Waiting, and riding trains all day can be tiring, but it was not as hard as the first train trip I took. That one was horrible. Mrs. Hatton packed us a wonderful lunch, with boiled egg sandwiches and even some maple candy she had made herself. The candy was only for special occasions. Henry enjoyed the candy very much, and I almost gave him mine when he said “ Ida, candy gone?” He is growing up so fast! He had his second birthday a few weeks ago, and Mr. Hatton gave him a wooden train that he carved himself. Anyway, now he is asleep, along with Nora and Lovina. Tomorrow will be wonderful, I know it.
August 2, 1945
We are near the train stop! The sight of London I looked at from the window of the train nearly took my breath away. Mum and Dad, so close! The train is stopping. I see mum!
August 3, 1945
We are at home now. I can’t believe we are home! At the train station, the hope I felt that we would go home, was finally real. A thousand times this day I just could not grasp that we would never go anywhere away from mum and dad again. We are at the end of our journey away from home. And I can finally feel safe again.
I hoped you liked it!
