THE JOURNEY 

By Tessa Harvey

    Patrick and Josie were working hard in their grocer's shop. It was difficult keeping up with rationing requirements. They often heard the expression "Well, there's a war on, you know!"
    Their ordeal in the ocean still bothered them at times but the children, Josha and Jenna were a delight. Both were at school now.
    A letter had arrived that week from their daughter Alice, finally giving them an address for correspondence. She wrote about some children she was schooling, but it all sounded vague to both Patrick and Josie.
    They felt there was a great deal left unsaid, but then they had not felt to share much about the two small children.
    Patrick had tried to trace any relatives, but Jenna and Josha could remember nothing except a few details about their mother. The shipping authorities could offer them only the surname of Isabel Cohen. No other details.
    Then the army phoned. The officer spoke clearly and patiently. Their son, Thomas was in a hospital in a nearby town, injured, but hopefully on the mend. He did not explain the word 'hopefully.'
    Then came the bombs.....

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