She nodded, keeping her tears at bay. She saw Maaike gazing up at the distant airplanes and Wim pointing to them. Two of his friends had stopped to talk with him. “Mama! There’s no school today!” he shouted when he saw her. The seriousness of the war would impact him soon enough, but for now he seemed to think of it as a holiday.

“I need to go home, Papa.”

He stopped her as she started to cross the street. “Lena, never forget that God is in control.”

CHAPTER 14

“Please, Abba,” Miriam begged. “We need to find out exactly what’s going on.” They had awakened to the sound of airplanes, some flying so low she wondered if they would crash. Sirens had wailed, adding to their panic. She and Abba had been sitting beside the radio since the early morning hours, trying to interpret what the Dutch newscasters were saying. “I hope we’re wrong and that this country isn’t at war. But please, let’s go downstairs and ask Mrs. Spielman what’s going on.”

“Go without me,” he said. His voice was soft, and Miriam could see that he was struggling to control his tears. He didn’t know Mrs. Spielman as well as she did, and he probably didn’t want to lose control in front of her. Miriam understood Abba’s distress. She shared it and had been battling for the last several hours to draw a deep breath.

“Please, Abba. If we’re right about what the broadcast is saying, and Hitler’s armies have truly invaded our new home, then I need you beside me when we hear the news so we can decide what to do.”

“Give me a moment, then.” He went into the bathroom, and Miriam heard water running in the sink. Then he went into his bedroom, and when he came out, his dark hair was slicked back. He was wearing his suit coat, as if the news would be easier to bear if he was in a suit. He followed Miriam downstairs as she knocked on the landlady’s door.

“Mrs. Spielman, it’s me, Miriam.” Every breath she drew felt labored.

“Come in, come in,” she said, opening the door a crack. “But be careful . . . don’t let Oliver out!”

Miriam bent to hold back the squirming cat while Abba hurried inside and shut the door. “We’re very sorry to bother you, Mrs. Spielman, but we have been listening to the radio and we want to make certain we have not misunderstood.”

“Ja,” she replied with a sigh. “I’m afraid the news is bad, no matter which language you hear it in.” She beckoned them into her sitting room, where her radio was on, and invited them to sit down.

“We cannot stay,” Abba said, refusing to sit. “But we need to know for certain.” Miriam hoped Mrs. Spielman would understand his need to digest the news in private.