THE REUNION?

 THE REUNION

Marion Anthony

 Jimmy sat on the train reminiscing about the time when he was evacuated with his younger sister Alice.
The smell of the smoke from the engine brought back such sad memories of him saying goodbye to his dear mother at Paddington Station. There was commotion and confusion amongst the crowds of sobbing children and tearful mother's. It was all so daunting!

He had not only had to contend with his own sorrow but also that of his sister, Alice who was four years younger. There were of course helpers on the train that tried to console the children at this particular sad time.

Jimmy was taken by the hand and led away with a helper. He became separated from Alice. He spent four years with his adopted family and never returned home to London to be reunited with his family. He stayed in Coventry and was educated there, by the end of the war.

That was forty two years ago. He searched for Alice through different agencies and services. It was amazing how quickly he received a letter telling him that a contact had been found.

He wrote to Alice after finding her address in Leeds. Their emotions emerged in the letters they exchanged, they were heartwarming and consoling.

Now suddenly here he was at Coventry Station, sitting on a train, similar to the one that Had brought him here in 1942.

The train started off and the smell of smoke through the carriage windows, reminded him of his sorrow at leaving their dear mother. He was on his way to Leeds to meet Alice. They had been parted for the past forty two years.

He had seen photographs of Alice, her husband and three children but only Alice would be there to greet him today.
He was alone in the world now after losing his dear wife Emily to cancer two years earlier; they had no children.

The train slowed as it pulled into Leeds Station. He pulled his coat on, collected his bag and left the train…

Copyright Marion Anthony