Sent Away
The next day, after the Jamesons discovered that Grandpa Paul and Grandma Anne were killed in the bombing, Penelope called up to her children from downstairs in the living room. Dawn and Jane walked downstairs to meet up with their mother and saw the Pevensie family; except Henry of course. Their eyes were red and quite puffy from crying and lack of sleep. Penelope was sitting on the couch with Helen and her children but only two meters apart.
Edmund was sitting on Samuel's armchair looking a bit sullen. Susan and Lucy were sitting beside each other arm in arm. And Peter sat next to an empty space with a solemn look. Dawn saw her boyfriend and immediately sat beside him with Bingo on her lap. Jane sat next to Susan by her right. Then Daniel came downstairs with tear stained face.
"What on earth are you four doing in my house?" He frowned when he saw the Pevensie siblings after wiping his face.
Edmund frowned. "We are here because of your mum."
"Yeah, right. Uh-huh!" Daniel taunted, sass to his pitch. "I thought because your house blew up!" Edmund stuck his tongue out at him. Daniel stuck his back out at him. "Daniel, that's enough!" Dawn scolded her younger brother. He folded his arms and sat next to Jane. Dawn gave Edmund the 'I'm sorry' look and he nodded. Penelope then began to announce the children.
"Kids, I know this isn't easy to tell you this but...all seven of you...are going away for a while."
"Away?" Dawn raised her eyebrow. "Where to?"
"All the children of England are being evacuated to the countryside." Her mother sighed. "It's too risky and dangerous to stay here. But you kids will be safe. I'm sure many of your classmates, friends from school and our church have been sent off. While some are soon to be leaving." Edmund gasped. "NO!"
"But son." Helen tried to reason with him. "It's the only way to protect them. The government has ordered that EVERY child must go!" Edmund wouldn't obey to what his mother was saying. "We can't leave, we just can't!" Edmund yelled. He burst into tears and ran out of the house. "Edmund!" Helen cried.
"I'll get him." Susan said as she exited the house. Edmund headed to the Jamesons backyard where the bushes and shelter is located. He hugged his legs and cried. Susan places her arm around her brother's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him, but he shrugged off.
"Leave me alone." He sobbed.
"Edmund, I know life is hard and unfair, but we don't have a choice." Susan tried to talk him out.
Edmund looked at her. "But..."
Susan sighed. "Please just listen to mum, please." She begged him. "All the kids are going too. They're feeling the same way as we do and you're not alone." Edmund groaned. "Fine.." He grumbled. Susan helped him up and they both got back in the Jamesons house. Edmund sighed and sat next to his mother. "What did we miss?" Susan asked.
Helen sighed. "You will be leaving tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Jane's eyes went wide. "That's so soon then, Mrs. Pevensie."
"I know, but that's the only day." Helen told her and the others. Jane just nodded. She then turned to her mother. "Mum, who are we going to stay with then?" She asked.
"You two are staying with Grandpa Henry and Grandma Alice, your maternal grandparents." Penelope said. "And Aunt Sharon and Uncle Matthew." Dawn looked puzzled. "Two?" She asked. "What about me?"
"You'll be with Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy." Her mother answered. Dawn was confused. Her parents never let her and her siblings to be around the Pevensies because of their lifelong rivalry. She didn't understand why her mother brought them to her place.
"I thought you, father and them are rivals.." Dawn raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason I'll be with them?"
"Grandpa Henry and Grandma Alice's house only have three bedrooms. One for your aunt and uncle, one for grandparents and one bedroom for Angela, your cousin." Penelope said.
"Uh-huh.." Dawn said. "So is there enough space for three of us?" Penelope shook her head no.
"Just Jane and Daniel?" Dawn said. And her mother nodded.
"Alright." She said. Dawn now understood why her mother had to send her off separately from her siblings. Because there wasn't enough space for extra person at her grandparents' house. She was happy that she get to stay with her friends and boyfriend, but didn't understand why her mother allowed her to be with them despite their parents' rivalry.
"So who are we be staying, mum?" Lucy asked.
"With my good friend Professor Digory Kirke." Helen answered. The children nodded.
"What about Bingo?" Daniel asked. "Can he come with us?" Penelope nodded.
"Okay, Mum." Jane said. "But are you sure you're going to be alright all by yourself? Without him?"
Penelope nodded. "Of course. As long as you all are safe, I'm fine." She said.
Jane and Daniel took a deep breath. "Alright." Daniel agreed. "He can stay with us both." Their mother nodded again. The Pevensies and the Jamesons then finished up their meeting about evacuation from London. Then they're ready to get back their home.
"I'll see you tomorrow in the train." Dawn told Peter.
Peter smiled. "Okay, stay safe."
"You too." Dawn replied.
Peter, his siblings and Helen headed out of their house and to theirs. Dawn sighed and headed upstairs to her room to pack her clothes and belongings, knowing that tomorrow is the day that changes her life. She packed her clothes, socks, undergarments and hair accessories into her suitcase. She then added her schoolbooks, music books, sketchbooks and stationeries in it.
~The next day~
Dawn woke up in her bed feeling somewhat sad. She knew this could be the last time she'll see her mother. She got up from her bed, brushed her teeth and washed face. She changed from her nightgown into her short sleeved sage colored blouse, high-waisted brown and chestnut plaid skirt and white stockings. And over it, she put on her burgundy wool coat. Dawn lastly put on her Grandma Anne's gold crucifix necklace. Also she packed her wallet, ration book and boarding ticket in her cross-bag. She headed downstairs with her cross-bag and her suitcase to find Jane and Daniel all dressed and well-prepared. With Bingo in a dog carrier.
"Ready, dear?" Penelope asked sadly.
Dawn nodded. "Yes, I think so."
"What do you mean 'you think?'" Daniel raised one of his eyebrows.
"It's just that...I will miss all of you." Dawn gave a weak smile. Daniel just sighed and nodded. So did Jane and her mother. They all hugged. The Jamesons headed towards their car and they drove to the train station crowded with children, parents, grandparents, soldiers and station employees. They were surrounded by crying, words like 'it'll be alright,' 'I love you,' 'don't cry,' and 'God bless you.' Penelope gave her kids gifts. She gave Dawn a stuffed animal, Jane a hairbrush, and Daniel a new oufit.
"This is cute." Dawn smiled. "Thanks."
"Thanks, Mum." Jane and Daniel also thanked her.
Thier mother smiled. "I love you all so much."
"We love you too, Mum." Jane's voice cracked. Daniel sniffled. The train soon came. Penelope handed her children tickets and name tags, and they fastened them on their coats.
"Will dad know that we're leaving the city?" Daniel asked.
"Well...sooner or later I may or might have to write a letter to him." Penelope said. Dawn was nervous. She was worried about what would happen if her mother wrote to him about Grandpa Paul and Grandma Anne. So many possibilities ran through her mind. Penelope hugged Daniel. "Be a good boy to your grandparents, aunt, uncle and your cousin. Alright?" She said to him.
Daniel nodded. "I'll try."
"Don't try," his mother said. "Do it." Daniel sighed. "I promise." Jane and Penelope hugged each other.
"Promise me you'll look after your grandparents, Daniel and Bingo." She said worryingly.
"I promise, Mum." Jane's voice cracked. Penelope slightly smiled. "Good lady." Lastly, she hugged Dawn. Dawn cried silently.
Penelope rubbed her daughter's back. "Always be kind." She reminded her.
Dawn nodded. "I know..and I will.." she wept and sniffled. And they pulled apart. "Alright...off you go.." Penelope announced to the three. The children picked up their luggages, gifts and Bingo and headed to the train. Dawn looked around and glanced at the Pevensies climbing into the train not far from her. She saw kids who looked far too young saying goodbye to their parents. Some were crying, and some begging their parents not to abandon them.
As soon as the children got into the train, they looked out the open window to look around to see their mother.
"There she is!" Dawn called out to her siblings as she spotted her. The train honked again and started to move. All the children waved goodbye to their mothers, other adults and elders. They continued waving to people in the station until they vanished in the sight and became crowd of grains. The Jameson siblings walked to a seat where a little boy was sitting. He was much younger than them. He looked about five years old. The boy was looking down at the floor crying. The trio sat down with him. Dawn wrapped her arm around the boy's shoulder.
"Hey...hey...what's wrong?" She asked sympathetically. "Are you okay?"
"I miss my mummy...!" The boy sobbed, rubbing his eyes.
"Aw...We do as well." Dawn said. The boy nodded.
"What is your name?" Jane asked. "And where are you from?"
"Timmy." The boy answered. "I'm from Finchley."
"Oh really?" Dawn said. Timmy nodded.
"We're from Finchley too!" She said as she showed him her name tag. "I'm Dawn. And these are my siblings, Jane and Daniel."
"Hello.." Timmy greeted the trio. Daniel picked up the dog carrier and opened it to reveal Bingo to the little boy.
"Oooh, puppy!" Timmy smiled. Bingo licked the boys face. "Bingo likes you!" Dawn giggled. The three siblings smiled as he enjoyed their company. Timmy smiled. "Cute." He giggled. Jane smiled. "Isn't he?" Timmy nodded. Over an hour or so went by, the train arrived at the station in the country.
"Goosey Station. Goosey Station." The PA system announced.
"That's us." Jane got up and took Daniel's hand. "Come on, Danny." Daniel put Bingo back in the carrier and they both grabbed their trunks along with their puppy. Timmy looked at Dawn. "You're not going?" He looked confused.
Dawn shook her head. "No, not on this stop." She replied.
"Oh." He said. "I'll be getting off next." Dawn added. "We're staying at different places." Timmy nodded.
"It was good seeing you, Timmy." Jane smiled.
"It really was." Daniel smiled. Jane and Daniel hugged Timmy and Dawn.
"Good luck, big sis." Dawn sniffled. "You too, little sis." Jane smiled. Dawn then turned to her brother. "Like Mum said, Dan. Be respectful. Alright?" Daniel nodded. "I will." He said. Dawn nodded. "Good brother." She looked to her pet puppy. "Be a good dog, alright Bingo?" Bingo just looked at her. "Okay." Dawn said. The siblings bade farewells in the train, and Jane and Daniel got climbed down from it. Dawn and Timmy saw her grandparents embracing her siblings and they walked out of the train station along with some few other kids.
Dawn and Timmy decided to go find the Pevensies.
"Do you want to come with me to sit with my friends, Tim?" She asked. Timmy nodded yes. Dawn held Timmy's hand and her suitcase and walked towards the seat where the four Pevensie siblings were sitting. Peter had saved a seat for her.
"Hi, guys." Dawn greeted them as she and Timmy arrived at their seats. The kids smiled at Timmy except for Edmund, who was busy looking out the window. "Oh, who's this young one, Dawn?" Peter asked his girlfriend.
"His name is Timmy." Dawn introduced. "He's evacuating alone..so I want to keep him company until our stop." Lucy waved to him. "Hi..." She said.
"Hello.." Timmy shyly waved.
"It's alright, Timmy." Dawn comforted him. "You can sit with me and Peter." Timmy nodded and sat between Peter and Dawn. The train blew its horn and began moving past the station and crossing the long railroads across the farmlands. Peter placed his arm around his shoulder and smiled. "Where will you be going?" He asked the little boy.
"I'll be staying with my grandparents, my auntie, uncle and cousin." Timmy told him.
Peter nodded. "How long will you be there?"
"I don't know..." Timmy replied. "Until all of us go back home."
"I see.." Peter nodded again. Soon the train came to a stop and the five children got up from their seats.
"Where are you going?" Timmy asked. "This is our stop." Susan said.
"Awww!" Timmy whined.
Peter chuckled. "Hey, til me meet again." He said to him and gave the little boy a hug.
"He's from Finchley too." Dawn whispered to her boyfriend and Timmy nodded and showed them his name tag.
"Well there's a chance we may see him again." Peter smiled. Lucy and Timmy nodded. One of the train masters walked past by the children.
"Excuse me, sir." Peter stopped him. "Can you stay with him until his stop please?" The train master smiled. "Of course." He answered.
"Thank you." Peter smiled back.
"Take care, Timmy." Dawn bent to his level and gave him a hug. "Be a good boy and be safe." She added as she kissed his forehead.
"Good luck, kid." Edmund waved.
"Bye, Timmy." Lucy hugged him.
"Take care of yourself." Susan smiled and the five friends got off at their stop. The train moved away. The children saw a car drive past by but it didn't come to pick them up. How rude. Dawn thought.
"The professor knew that we're coming." Susan said. Edmund looked at the address of their destination. "Perhaps...we've been incorrectly labeled." He said, looking confused.
Soon a lady arrived on a wagon with a white horse. She was between her 40s to 50s. Her hair was tied in a bun, she was wearing glasses, a light brown riding habit and a hat on her head.
"Mrs. Macready..?" Peter asked politely.
"I'm afraid so." The lady replied coldly. "Is this it then? Haven't you brought anything else?"
"No, ma'am." Peter said. "It's just us." Dawn and Lucy both nodded.
Mrs. Macready gestured the five children to her wagon and they climbed into it. The six rode past the trees and to the mansion resided by Professor Kirke.
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