anyway.”
Tyler was touched. “I will, Marvel. And I’ll write you as soon as I get to England.”
They put their suitcases into the car and squeezed in with the children. Jolie had packed one suitcase for the girls, along with a change of clothes for herself, and Tyler had packed his things with Damien’s. Tyler had decided there was no use in trying to tote along all of his belongings. He would have enough to deal with without having to keep track of too much luggage.
As the car pulled away, Tyler looked back to see Marvel standing in front of the house. She did not wave but stood very straight. “That’s a fine mother you’ve got there. You’re very fortunate.”
“Yes, I am,” Jolie said. She adjusted Yolande’s position in her lap. “What is your mother like?”
“She’s like yours—very strong. She’s the best there is . . . and so is my father. I never appreciated them before . . . but I’m starting to now.”
When they got to the station, they had just enough time to buy their tickets before the train arrived. They boarded at once and got settled in their car. The only other people in the car were a middle-aged couple who both looked sad. Jolie settled Damien and Yolande on each side of her, while Tyler sat beside Rochelle.
“Do you feel better, Rochelle?”
“Yes, I think I’m getting better,” she said. She did not look well, however, and Tyler fervently hoped that she would not get any sicker on the journey.
“You’re taking your family out of France?”
The man, who had been seated a couple of seats away, had come down the aisle to talk to him.
“Well, yes, I am.” He did not think it necessary to go into a long explanation about his companions.
The man’s wife joined him in the aisle. “You have beautiful children,” she said as she looked from one to the next.
“We’re not his children,” Yolande said firmly, “but he’s a nice man anyway.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the woman said.
“We are leaving France, however,” Tyler said.
“I think that’s a good idea,” the man responded.
The train started with a slight jerk and after it had picked up speed, Tyler said, “Have you heard any news about the war today?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. The Germans have crossed the Seine to the north of Paris.”
“That’s not what we wanted to hear,” Tyler said quietly.
“Everything about this war has been bad for France.” The man fell silent and with a sigh, the two made their way back to their seats.
****
As the train passed through the countryside, it became obvious each time they passed a road that traffic was heavy. Much of it was composed of military vehicles, including trucks and even a few tanks, moving toward Paris. As was the case the last time he had been on the train, there were many cars going south out of Paris.
Before long Damien and Yolande became bored, so Jolie opened the small satchel she had brought. She took out paper and pencils and began to entertain them by drawing funnyfaces. She allowed them to draw too, and after a while the two younger children started playing ticktacktoe.
It didn’t take too long to reach Vichy, where they needed to change trains. As the war went on, the train schedules grew increasingly erratic, and while getting from Ambert to Paris used to be easy, it was now more complicated.
When the train stopped, Tyler picked up Yolande, who had gone to sleep in Jolie’s lap, while Jolie retrieved their luggage. Tyler found a bench where he and the children could sit while Jolie checked on the train schedule.
She returned quickly. “It will be two hours at least. It is late.”
“I expect then that we might as well go find a restaurant and get a good meal.” Jolie and Damien each grabbed a suitcase and the group started down the street. “So much for my careful planning.”
It was only a small village, and there was only one restaurant. They went inside and woke Yolande up. She was cross, but when they ordered food
Tyler was touched. “I will, Marvel. And I’ll write you as soon as I get to England.”
They put their suitcases into the car and squeezed in with the children. Jolie had packed one suitcase for the girls, along with a change of clothes for herself, and Tyler had packed his things with Damien’s. Tyler had decided there was no use in trying to tote along all of his belongings. He would have enough to deal with without having to keep track of too much luggage.
As the car pulled away, Tyler looked back to see Marvel standing in front of the house. She did not wave but stood very straight. “That’s a fine mother you’ve got there. You’re very fortunate.”
“Yes, I am,” Jolie said. She adjusted Yolande’s position in her lap. “What is your mother like?”
“She’s like yours—very strong. She’s the best there is . . . and so is my father. I never appreciated them before . . . but I’m starting to now.”
When they got to the station, they had just enough time to buy their tickets before the train arrived. They boarded at once and got settled in their car. The only other people in the car were a middle-aged couple who both looked sad. Jolie settled Damien and Yolande on each side of her, while Tyler sat beside Rochelle.
“Do you feel better, Rochelle?”
“Yes, I think I’m getting better,” she said. She did not look well, however, and Tyler fervently hoped that she would not get any sicker on the journey.
“You’re taking your family out of France?”
The man, who had been seated a couple of seats away, had come down the aisle to talk to him.
“Well, yes, I am.” He did not think it necessary to go into a long explanation about his companions.
The man’s wife joined him in the aisle. “You have beautiful children,” she said as she looked from one to the next.
“We’re not his children,” Yolande said firmly, “but he’s a nice man anyway.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” the woman said.
“We are leaving France, however,” Tyler said.
“I think that’s a good idea,” the man responded.
The train started with a slight jerk and after it had picked up speed, Tyler said, “Have you heard any news about the war today?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. The Germans have crossed the Seine to the north of Paris.”
“That’s not what we wanted to hear,” Tyler said quietly.
“Everything about this war has been bad for France.” The man fell silent and with a sigh, the two made their way back to their seats.
****
As the train passed through the countryside, it became obvious each time they passed a road that traffic was heavy. Much of it was composed of military vehicles, including trucks and even a few tanks, moving toward Paris. As was the case the last time he had been on the train, there were many cars going south out of Paris.
Before long Damien and Yolande became bored, so Jolie opened the small satchel she had brought. She took out paper and pencils and began to entertain them by drawing funnyfaces. She allowed them to draw too, and after a while the two younger children started playing ticktacktoe.
It didn’t take too long to reach Vichy, where they needed to change trains. As the war went on, the train schedules grew increasingly erratic, and while getting from Ambert to Paris used to be easy, it was now more complicated.
When the train stopped, Tyler picked up Yolande, who had gone to sleep in Jolie’s lap, while Jolie retrieved their luggage. Tyler found a bench where he and the children could sit while Jolie checked on the train schedule.
She returned quickly. “It will be two hours at least. It is late.”
“I expect then that we might as well go find a restaurant and get a good meal.” Jolie and Damien each grabbed a suitcase and the group started down the street. “So much for my careful planning.”
It was only a small village, and there was only one restaurant. They went inside and woke Yolande up. She was cross, but when they ordered food
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