My New Family

Chapter Twenty: The Journey Home

I pace the hallway with the soldier, trying to look as tall as I can. Hopefully Evelyn will bring Stepfather out soon, because this is getting risky. Suddenly, when we pass, the soldier whispers to me, "My real name's François DePainne, by the way. François DePainne Lory. Otherwise known as Herr Recht." I nod, trying to comprehend. Lory? François? Isn't that a French name? Isn't that...the last name of someone I know? I whisper to him. "Come home with us! Your mother's with us now-she'll be so glad to see you!" He shakes his head sadly. "No, I can't. I'd be noticed, and if they caught me with you, they'd shoot your family. Besides, I've got to watch out for Roger." "Roger?" "Yes, Roger." I vaguely recall Mrs. Lory telling me about the photos on her dresser, but... "You mean your younger brother's here? Why's he here?" "Well-" Evelyn came out with Father. "Let's go now." she whispers.

She, stepfather, and I leave the building, and I wave goodbye to François. Then I throw my name-embroidered handkerchief to him, just in case we ever meet again. Just like Lucy in Evelyn's Narnia book, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

The journey home is easier, and, I think less dangerous than before. It's almost dawn, so we hurry. I carry the sisters' prayer books while Evelyn tramps ahead with her dad, telling him about everything. Soon the sun peeps over the horizon, but luckily we're almost at the front door. Evelyn is about to ring the doorbell, but stepfather reaches past her and pulls the door open. "I'd rather wash up before I'm seen," he says, when Mother bumps right into us on the way to take her walk. Needless to say, she's shocked.

Chapter Twenty-One

The Welcome

Evelyn

Stepmother stands there for about two minutes, then screams and runs forward to Father. She catches him in a giant bear hug. I can see that it's even worse than Mrs. Lory's! Soon, everyone is crowding 'round the stairs, screaming and yelling from delight. Then, we spot movement on the path. "Everyone inside now, quick." Father says, and we all crowd inside. Pauline peeks out the window for a second, and I can see from her face that she's terribly frightened. Then I peep out, and I see why. There's about ten German soldiers coming up to the front door! Soon there is a loud knock, and Father, who has washed up and changed his clothes, opens the door. "What do you want?" he asks. The Germans don't answer; they just crowd past and start ordering us to stand against the wall. The leader says something in their stupid German language, and two soldiers break apart from the rest with their guns and just stand there, watching us as the rest go down to the cellar. "Your floor is very slippery," one says, and I suddenly recognize François DePainne. But Stepfather doesn't notice. When the last soldier disappears down the cellar stairs, he suddenly reaches out and grabs the other soldier's gun. I can tell he's wishing Pierre could be here for the other one, because he had sense and Joseph still doesn't, but he needn't have worries. François takes the other soldier by the shoulders and runs down to the cellar with him. Stepfather closes the door quickly, saying, "They've gone to raise the alarm. Now everyone starts pushing furniture up to the door to prevent them getting out. Then, we block off all the ground floor doors so no one else can get in, and the Sisters help us prepare a party in the kitchen for Father. Everyone is so happy! It's like the war doesn't even exist anymore. The only thing that brings it back to mind is the banging on the cellar door. Father goes down there to tell them to be quiet, and then we put the finishing touchés to the party and wait quietly for him to come back up. When he does, the celebration begins!

Chapter Twenty-Two

The Prisoners

Pauline

After we've finished eating, Sister Joan Marie calls Evelyn and I aside and lectures us for half an hour on safety, respect for other's things (Sister Rachel Marie's veil, which we forgot to bring back), pride, and a whole bunch of other things. Stupid me. How could I have forgotten that! And she's right, I am feeling very prideful because all the kids are like, "Wow, Pauline and Evelyn got Daddy back!"

We hear intense banging down the stairs. Stepfather mutters something and goes down again with Joseph, and this time, so does Mrs. Lory and I. We unblock the doorway and pull it open, Father, Joseph, and I holding guns in case they try something. "Now, what's the noise all about?" A very short soldier steps forward. Something's very, very strange about him, but I can't put my finger on it. He has a young voice, for one thing. And his cap is pulled way down over his face. "How long are we going to be in here?" he asks in French. Mrs. Lory gasps. So does the soldier-then I recognize someone else. It's François! And the soldier speaking is probably Roger! Mrs. Lory runs over and pulls the soldier's cap off. "Oh, Roger..." she murmurs, looking at his face. So it is Roger! François winks at me, as he makes to leave the room with Roger and Mrs. Lory. But Stepfather doesn't know that they aren't Germans, and he stops all three. "Madame Lory, are you sure it's your son?" he asks. "Oh, yes, I just wish I had Simone and François with me now." François gasps. "Mother, it's me, François!" Mrs. Lory is delighted, but Father still isn't convinced. Then François pulls something out of his coat pocket. It's my handkerchief! He hands it to Stepfather, but Stepfather doesn't see the letters on it. He lifts it up in disdain. "So, you think a scrap of cloth is going to make me believe you? Well, you're wrong." I lower my rifle and run to Stepfather. "Father! It's François DePainne Lory! Look!" I show him the letters. "I gave this to him when we left the German camp together." Father looks at me and him for a second, then consents. "Okay. But you had better keep an eye on them yourself." I nod and lead Roger up to Mrs. Lory's room with her. François stays behind for a few minutes to help Stepfather block up the door again.

The next day, we escort all the Germans outside, since Stepfather's just been telegrammed that the German army has been completely removed from Amiens. The Sisters will be going to the Abbey next week, after the door is fixed and the place is generally cleaned up. I went over with Sister Rachelle Marie to see it, and it looks as if the Germans are actually pretty neat in their habits, except that one of the rooms has spilt tea on the floor and two other rooms have papers all over the place, and the chapel looks like the entire army slept in the pews, sadly I'm not joking. But at least they're not here anymore! And now Mama is calling us down to breakfast. She sounds very happy!