Towards the end off the hunger winter in 1944 the Red Cross arranged for city kids to go to the farms to avoid starvation. I, along with four of my brothers boarded a boat in Amsterdam, a flat bottom freight vessel to take us to Friesland. I remember it being pitch dark below deck. No navigation lights or lights of any kind. We were lying down on a few inches of straw, and landed early in the morning in Lemmer. Several kids had died during the night trip...but we ended up, safely spread over a number of farms. Having healthy food, the large sores on my toes cleared up within a few weeks, and Scherpenzeel had a new kid running on klompen (clogs) along the dikes.
I was treated great by my hosts, who happened to be atheists. The Farmhand, named Saake, was extremely nice. I did not realize that Saake had a strange sexual preference, and was setting me up. I was 12 and I had never heard of strange people like that. But after many small gifts, one day he confronted me. Then God stepped in. Yes, I am positive, that was God! Something grabbed me by the neck, and I ran the fastest I have ever run towards the safety of the house. Saake apologized later and never tried this again.
In May 1945 Holland was liberated by the Canadians. Shortly after that we kids were returned to our parents. The authorities had sent our parents a telegram, but it did not get there in time. So, when we arrived in Haarlem there was no one to meet us. A volunteer adult accompanied us to the house. It was past midnight by now, and a few minutes of banging on the door and the door was cautiously opened. What followed was the greatest re-union ever. All was cool now!! After exited greetings and a few hugs I went to stand in a corner to observe everything. And what is this?.......I saw dad laughl!! I am sure I had never seen that before.
The next day the missing telegram arrived.
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4 comments:
:) wordless smile + XXX
Darn cliffhangers...
what did it feel like to have kids die on the boat? What were your feelings? Did you know any of the children who died? Did they die of hunger? or illness?
Where have I been? I have been missing these amazing stories. This is better than reading any novel I may have in the house. I agree with Yvonne, you are a great writer. It's amazing that you can remember these things and to great detail. Your Dad sounds like a reserved man. I'm glad he got to laugh.
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