The Boy in the Kennel

Therefore and because of the then present government awaiting a possible invasion by the Nazi war machine, that so far had steam rolled through the Low Countries and Europe as a whole, any families without parents within the home, their children were usually placed in homeless children centers and strictly monitored to the extent they always rebelled. Running away on a regular basis, only to be caught and brought back to face the punishment that was always metered out. Throughout the first part of the war years, during the time before, invasion became the key word. All six children lived as a family of children. Mother would sometimes make an appearance or sometimes be away weeks at a time. Father never seemed to arrive home, although, often it would be said he was coming soon. It was during one of these periods, deep and vivid memories kicks in. Every day throughout these uncertain times, as children, who were truly living without parental guidance. It was left to the elder siblings to organize any routine they could also ensuring that every day there was something to eat, meals were meagre, mostly stale bread and sometimes either some jam or marmalade. To achieve this both the eldest boy and the eldest girl would sometimes go to the end of the street were the family lived, where a large sweet factory produced hundreds of tons of numerous flavoured sweets, this factory was the largest employer in this area of Hove. Often they would give away parcels of food to the families and homes of the needy population that were suffering because of the expected war times, with the possibility of an expected invasion. During and throughout these phony war times, numerous aircraft would be seen flying over the city always going inland. They never seemed to be bothered about being seen, as they would circle and dive over the more inland areas. Then suddenly all turn back and disappear back over the sea, heading south. Maybe later the same day more and more airplanes would fly over, sometimes a few, other times many, sometimes the two boys would stop and watch these airplanes as they circled overhead, but mostly after a few minutes, they became bored, ignoring the overhead planes to carry on with whatever game they had devised and were playing.