THE JOURNEY 

By Tessa Harvey

    Paris, Occupied France, War Time

      Colonel Keller strode into the small schoolroom as though he owned the place - which, in effect he did.
    Quickly the four children rose to their feet and stood stiffly, waiting. 
"Guten Morgen," he said, "Good Morning." They also answered him in German. He bade them sit down. "Lovely day, Miss Alice," he said, pronouncing her name the French way 'Aleece.' It was meant as a sneer.
    Paris and much of France had swiftly fallen to the Germans - so swiftly that young Alice Phillips had been unable to escape.
    She had written to her parents, Patrick and Josie, including a reference to her "little" brother. The colonel had of course checked the contents of the letter, but assured her it would be sent.
    "We will control your small island soon enough," Hans Keller had stated firmly. "Meanwhile you teach my children." He had left the room, turning in the doorway. "We will see how well you do, won't we." And he was gone. 
    At least the last remark had been in English. Still these children knew she was not free.

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