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The Evacuation
News of World War II was spreading and it was said that London would be bombed. All children were evacuated to the country side but Mam cared so little about Ada she didn't allow her to leave, only Jamie. However Jamie and Ada snuck out of their home and traveled into the city Kent where they were taken into a new home, owned by a woman named Susan Smith -
Ada, Jamie, and Mam
The two main protagonists Ada Smith and her younger brother Jamie Smith are two children who live in London with their mother who is addressed Mam. Ada had a club foot and Mam always scolded her and never allowed her to go outside, leave her room, or socialize with any people. Mam was so humiliated by Ada's foot she kept her locked away at all times. -
School
While in the country Ms. Smith tries to make the kids lives as normal as possible so she enrolls them in school. Jamie gets accepted but the teachers will not accept Ada, so Ms. Smith homeschools her. -
Preparing for the Bombing
Since the first day of evacuation the city was under black out. This means that anything that gives off light like houses, cars, busses, and shops were not allowed to have their lights on after sundown. This was because the Germans would have a much harder time bombing at night if they did not have a target they could see. Because the sun started going down earlier Ada, Jamie, and Ms. Smith all had to cover the house with black cloth, blankets, and sheets to cover the light from inside. -
The Royal Oak
Ada, Jamie, and Ms. Smith heard on the radio that The Royal Oak, a Royal navy battleship was torpedoed by a German submarine while anchored off the coast of Scotland. 833 men out if the 1200 people who were on that ship died. The next weekend everyone went to go see a movie, however at the beginning of the movie was a news report about the Royal Oak showing pictures and videos of the fire and the ship sinking. That night Ada had nightmares about that ship and being bombed. -
Regestration for identify cards
This was needed because if or when the Germans invaded people could tell who was German and who was English. The post man asked for Ms. Smith for her name, birthday, occupation, and if she was married. However Ada and Jamie did not know their birthdays. Adas birthday was written as April 5, 1929 and Jamies birthday was written as February 13, 1933. When the kids first moved in with Ms. Smith she assumed Ada was ten and therefor Jamie would be around six years old. -
Life in the Country
While Ada and Jamie are living with Ms. Smith they get treated better than they ever experienced. Ms. Smith gives them clothes, baths, and more food then they have every had. Ms. Smith took Ada to the doctor to get her foot looked at and treated. Ada soon is given crutches for her foot but needs surgery however Mam never responds to the letters saying Ada can. Ada learns how to ride a horse named Butter, who she grows a strong connection with. -
Rationing
Many pamphlets came in the mail explaining things like how to put on a gas mask, how to not get hit by a car during a black out, and why you should give the Government your extra dishes. There was still no bombings but there was submarines bombing all the ships they could find. Ms. Smith said this was dangerous because England didn't grow enough food and most of it was shipped from other countries. Because of this everyone had to start rationing. -
Womans Volunteer Service
Susan was asked to join the WVS, she was amazing a sewing and was asked to join so she could sew bed jackets for the soldiers. Ms. Smith hated the idea of having to be with the woman from town because all of them hated her. However Ms. Smith joined because she wanted to help out anyways she could. -
Months Later
Mam came to get Ada and Jamie back. They lived in a new house closer to the factory where Mam now worked at. Mam was crueler than ever, she was very mean to Ada and took her crutches away. The only reason she took them back was because she was charged 19 shillings a week. Ada asked Mam if she even wanted her and Jamie and she said no. The next day Ada and Jamie snuck off but then a bomb went off. They got to the closest shelter but when they got out they found Miss Smith looking them. -
Happy Ending
When Miss Smith, Ada, and Jamie got back to their house, they found it had been bombed. Ada and Jamie asked what happened and how she was still alive, Ms. Smith responded that she went out looking for them and because of that she was alive and didnt get bombed along with her house. Miss Smith saved their lived from their terrible mother and gave them protection. Ada and Jamie saved Ms. Smith and Ms. Smith saved Ada and Jamie.