A Wardrobe to Another World

Chapter 1 - Evacuated

⟢Hazeline's POV 08/09/1941⟣

"What did you do today, Hasselnöt?" Morfar (Swedish: Grandpa) asks me successfully, snapping me out of my memory of 9 years ago. For a moment I just look at him before remembering. "I went horse riding and drew down at the lake." I answer in a monotone voice. Morfar nods at me, understanding and respecting that I don't want to talk about today. "I have some news that is good and bad for you." Morfar continues the conversation. "It is getting too dangerous in the city because of bombings. Hence why you're not going back to school. The government has ordered all the kids of the city to be evacuated to the countryside. We will be taking in four siblings." Morfar shares. I already know of the bombings but this makes the war feel so much more real. I feel bad for all the kids being evacuated. I know what it is like to be taken away from everything you know and love. "How long till they come, Morfar?" I ask him. "They will be arriving in two days' time. So I will need you to help Mrs Macready prepare the house for them." "But she will have me cleaning places that never see the light of day anyway." I complain. "Now, is my brave grandchild afraid of cleaning?" Morfar asks me rhetorically before continuing. "And the more you put it off the less time you'll have to do it. So off to bed you, it's late and you'll have a big day tomorrow." I quickly stand up and kiss Morfar's cheek. "Jag älskar dig. God natt. (Swedish: I love you. Good night.)" I whisper to him. "Jag älskar dig också. Försök att sova om du inte kan komma till mitt kontor och vi kan prata, Hasselnöt. (Swedish: I love you too. Try and sleep if you can't come to my office and we can talk, Hazelnut.)" He answers.

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⟢Peter's POV - 07/09/1941⟣

I lay on my bed reading a book for school when I hear the air raid sirens go off. I run past the living room as I hear mum call my name from within. I run into to see her scolding Edmund. "... think you're doing. Peter, quickly. The shelter, now!" "Come on" I tell Edmund, grabbing his arm and pulling him out of the room. He tries to turn back but I keep a strong grip on him. I can't lose him. No matter how annoying he can be, he's my little brother and I can't lose him. I put Ed in front of me as we follow mum and my sisters to the shelter. Ed suddenly turns around and runs back towards the house shouting something. I try to stop him, but can't so I go after him. I hear the others calling our names and trust mum will keep them safe like she always does. I follow Ed all the way to the living room. Ed reaches for a photo as I notice a bomb falling not far away. Panicking, I grab Ed round the middle and pull him to the floor to protect him. I jump to my feet wanting to get Ed to safety as soon as possible. Pulling him in front of me, we run all the way back to the shelter. I push Edmund in before yelling at him, "Why can't you think off anyone but yourself? You're so selfish. You could have got us killed." Mum stops my shouting by saying my name. "Why can't you just do as you're told?" I ask Ed before closing the door. After mum lights an oil lamp I get my first good look at the photo and immediately feel guilty for yelling at him. It was of dad in his army uniform. I give Ed the blanket we are supposed to share, but never do. Susan and Lucy share one while Mum gets her own.

I sit in the corner for a while in silence thinking I'm the only one awake. This was until I hear sobs, very familiar sobs, Edmund's sobs. I quietly head over to him wanting to help him but unsure if he will let me. "Edmund, are you okay?" I whisper. "I'm fine, Peter." He responds shortly. "Please, Edmund, look at me. I know you were crying." "I wasn't crying." He replies, turning to face me. I know he was lying because of the noise I had heard earlier and the fact that there were tear tracks on his face. I glance down, seeing blood on the floor. "You're bleeding." I say in shock, worry lacing my voice. "I noticed," Edmund replies sharply. I scan his body to find the cut and see that it is on his hand. I gently ease the picture of dad from his hand and take my handkerchief from my pocket. I clean the cut, once I'm satisfied there is no glass in the cut I wrap a bandage I found in the first aid kit around it. Ed picks up the picture of Dad once I finish. "Are you sure it's safe to sleep with that?" I ask, unable to keep back my protective older brother instincts. Edmund just gives me a look. "Don't come running to me when you cut yourself again, then. I won't help you." I state before shuffling back to where I was sitting before. We both know what I just said was a lie. I look back at Ed when I hear movement in his corner of the shelter. I smile slightly as I see that he has put the picture down. Edmund just glares at me before rolling over and going to sleep. I watch him for a bit before I eventually fall asleep.

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⟢Peter's POV - 08/09/1941⟣

As usual I am the first to wake up. I sit here for a while until there is a knock on the shelter door. I answer it, to find a soldier. "It is safe to leave the shelter, now." He told me. "Thank you" I hear from behind me. I turn around to see mum standing there. I left her and the soldier to talk while I wake my siblings.

Once we are all inside and the damage has been assessed. Mum makes us all sit down on the couch. "I know this will be hard for all of you. The government has suggested that kids should be evacuated to the countryside by the end of the month." Mum tells us. I look at the others to see that they are staring at her in shock. "What must we take and when are we going?" I ask. "There is a list of what you may and must take on your beds. You are leaving in two days time." Mum answers. I get up and give her a big hug, my sisters soon joining in. Before we all leave to pack.

- 1159 words