Charlotte Horton

TLC 2 and 5

March 25, 2017

Jonahs Journey

Sobbing, Jonah is barely able to articulate a faint goodbye to his parents. They kiss him

on the cheek, and give his little sister Lila a big hug. The train station is dark, and damp, it

smells of sewer water, Jonah thinks. Theres a dull roar of people talking all around them, yet

Jonahs family sits in complete silence. Suddenly, they hear a loud screech, and everyone at

once, without using words, knows that this is their train. Jonah and Lila stand up, slowly walking

towards the train, while Jonah keeps looking back at his parents. He is only ten, Lila is a mere

six years old, and yet theyre being sent away from their parents. They were like birds, Jonah

thought, only little kids and being thrust out of their nest. As they step onto the train, Lila and

Jonah both take one final look back at their parents. Everyone has solemn looks on their faces.

Jonah finds a seat in the very back, and motions for Lila to sit down next to him. They

are both sat there. In silence. Much unlike their usual giggly and happy conversations. Lila and

Jonah are very close, and now, he holds her like there is nothing more important in the world.

They are frightened, nervous, angry. Ever since the Nazis invaded Amsterdam, everything had

changed completely. Until Jonah and Lila left, they had to stay in their house at all times, and so

did most of their friends, so long as they were Jewish. Jonah didnt know they were going to

have to go into hiding until just the previous day. Lila hardly even understood what was

happening. Luckily, Jonah could get somewhat of a grasp of the situation, even though it was

hard to believe. He tried to explain it to Lila, and she seemed to comprehend some of it, but not

everything. And he didnt want her to. He wanted her to think that they were just going on
vacation, to visit long-lost relatives. Jonah is a worrier, and the last thing he would want is his

little sister worrying too.

He seems bleak on the outside now, but on the inside he is panicking. Major panic. Who

is the family going to be? Do they have kids? Where is their house? Are we going to go to

regular school? So many questions, and no answers. Not even Mama or Papa knew the

answers. All they knew was that Jonah and Lila needed to be in a safe place.

It was hours before the train finally screamed to a halt, landing in a safe town in France,

that Mama had called Le Chambon-sur-Lignon. Jonah cant pronounce it, but its written in huge

letters on the wall.

As they step off the train, they are greeted by the same sewage smell. Except this time,

its sweeter, almost as if a gross, dirty pond was littered with lollipops. Jonah immediately starts

looking around. Mama said to try to spot a tall man with red hair. Jonah sees him. He knows its

him. Hes towards the edge of the station, waving his arms around frantically. Jonah grabs Lilas

hand and they are off. As soon as they reach the man, he forms a big grin on his face, and

welcomes Jonah and Lila warmly, almost as if theyve just come back from camp.

After they meet Mr. Stein, they depart the station. Its only about a ten minute walk from

there to the Steins house. When they walk in, they are greeted by a tall lady with long brown

hair.

This is Mrs. Stein, they learn. Two kids, about the same age as Lila and Jonah, come

running downstairs. Mrs. Stein introduces them as Brent and Ava.

They then decide to explore the house. It is huge, these people must be rich, Jonah

thinks. There are fancy paintings, shiny, white, stairs, a smell of chocolate wafting from the

kitchen, and theres a big bunk bed in Jonah and Lilas room. Even though Jonah is still upset,

he feels like he could get comfortable here.

 Jonah and Lila both immediately set down their small bags, and sit down on the bed.

Ill let you two have some alone time, says Mrs. Stein. Ill call you down for dinner later.

You just have to be very careful, ok? We cant let you go outside, and its not because were

cruel, its just because we have to keep you as safe as possible in this environment.

Ok, I understand, says Jonah, Thanks again. Mrs. Stein shuts the door and Lila and

Jonah hear her faint footsteps as they glide down the stairs.

For the first time in what seems like forever, Jonah and Lila just talk and laugh. They

almost feel like theyre at home. But after about an hour, the sinking feeling comes back to

Jonah. He just cant seem to let go of real home, and the whole Nazi situation. But he pretends

to be ok, he doesnt want Lila suspecting anything. Just around then, is when Mrs. Stein calls

them in for dinner. It is a family dinner. A family dinner in which your family isnt your family.

As Jonah closes his eyes that night, he wishes he was back home. Although the Steins

were turning out to be very nice, all Jonah could think about was real home. But nonetheless, he

knew he had to try to enjoy it here, because it was safe. Right before he goes to sleep, he

wishes Mama and Papa good luck. He doesnt know what they are going to do, but he knows

theyre strong, and that they can get through almost anything. Finally, he says goodnight to Lila

and falls asleep within the blink of an eye.

When he wakes up, Lila is still asleep. He tries to go back to sleep, but he keeps being

awoken by rustling and loud banting. Jonah starts to seep with curiosity. He walks to the door

and lays his right ear against it. Mr. and Mrs. Stein are talking about the Nazis. He knows it. He

knows it right away.

They arent here, Rich.

You cant be so positive.

 They wont come here, trust me. And they cant have a way of knowing that Lila and

Jonah are here.

Yes thats true, but have you listened to the news? Theyre killing and capturing every

Jew they come into contact with. We just have to be so careful.

I know, we will. It will be ok.

Jonah is shocked. Hes upset. And even more scared. Just as he starts walking back to

his bed, Lila jolts awake.

Whats going on?

Jonah just sighs and looks at Lila with sad eyes. Dont worry about it Lila, its fine. It

wasnt at all fine, but he truly didnt know what else to say.

Later, after the noises have faded into a calm resembling the ocean, they both walk into

the hallway and see everyone already dressed. Everyone seems fine, Brent and Ava arent

even phased.

Good morning, says Mr. Stein, Breakfast is on the table.

Why are they acting like nothings wrong? Somethings wrong right? They scarf down

their breakfast like pigs slurping up scraps in their troughs. Mr. Stein leaves with Brent and Ava,

and Jonah and Lila have to stay for homeschooling. Mrs. Stein says they are not allowed to go

to regular school as it would be too dangerous. This makes Jonah somewhat uncomfortable, but

he tries to get used to it. Once again, he thinks of how they are like birds, thrust into a new

environment, and having to adapt to all these changes.

Even though the Steins are really nice and welcoming, its just hard for Jonah to adjust.

One night he lets the pain get to him.

Jonah, what are you doing?

Im writing a letter to send to Mama and Papa.

 Can I help?

Sure, he says. And Lila comes and sits down next to him. He rubs his eyes to make

sure he doesnt look like hes been crying.

They work on the letter for about a half hour, and Jonah is able to get out a lot of his

feelings. He writes about the Steins, the house, the environment, how he misses them. He is

starting to not mind homeschooling so much, its actually kind of nice, he writes. But he does

miss his friends, and unfortunately hes not allowed to keep in contact with them. Lila is happy,

but she misses home too. Writing about everything ends up making them both feel a little better.

When they wake up the next morning, Jonah gives Mrs. Stein the letter and feels happier

than normal. Maybe its the letter. Maybe the weather. Whatever it is, Jonahs glad to be feeling

a little less gloomy.

Unfortunately, after that day, Jonahs mood returns to the same malaise and sadness. It

is very depressing to not be allowed out of the house, especially with people who you barely

met a few weeks ago. Mama and Papa still havent replied to the letter, and Jonah is worried

about them. Mrs. Stein keeps promising that theyre busy, and Jonah certainly hopes thats the

case.

The days pass, and as it turns into spring, Jonah begins to have hope, that maybe things

will blossom, just like the fresh flowers that he can see from outside his window now. But one

night, Jonahs now familiar panic starts to fade back into his system. Mrs. Stein and Mr. Stein

are always really calm and polite, so Jonah and Lila know somethings up when Mr. Stein

comes home, slamming a door, and stomping upstairs to find Mrs. Stein. It feels like a bomb has

gone off in the otherwise perfectly serene environment of the Steins. Brent and Ava are scared

too, so they come up to Lila and Jonahs room to hide. Everyone is too frightened to find out

what the screaming is about, even though Jonah is oozing with curiosity.
 Finally, after what seems like hours, Mrs. Stein comes upstairs and soothes the children.

She tells them that everything is going to be ok. She just says that she and Mr. Stein had a

misunderstanding, and thats all. Jonah doesn't believe her. He can feel that something is off.

Somethings wrong. Brent and Ava hardly said anything, they just kept looking at each other.

They go to bed without dinner, no one dares ask about that. Lilas too scared to sleep

alone, so she climbs into bed with Jonah. They get cozy and fall asleep with only the sound of

the crickets outside the window, accompanying their breaths.

It is still dark when the knocking starts. Then it gets louder. And louder. Then comes the

sound of the door toppling to the ground. Screams. Stomps. Everything's a blur. Jonah knows

its them. This explains the conversation and yelling between Mr. and Mrs. Stein. This makes

sense. Lila wakes up, and Jonah can hear everyone running around. In that moment, it feels like

the only thing he can do is grab Lila, hold her tight, and sprint. They climb out the window, and

make a run for it. Lila doesnt need an explanation, and after all these weeks, Jonah thinks shes

finally figured out what had been going on. As theyre running, they dont speak, its like a wind

has come through that closed their mouths. Jonah thinks about the Steins, so does Lila, but its

too late, they are too far already. And the thought comes to him again, they are like birds, thrust

yet another time from their temporary home, when will something be permanent?

They run and run until they see the edge of the train station. The sun is just beginning to

rise. By the time they arrive, they are completely exhausted, physically, and mentally. Lila starts

to mutter something, and Jonah replies, Shhhhhh. She goes quiet. They wait until they see the

first train arrive. They are able to get on with the loose change that Jonah had scrambled up in

his pocket.

Just as they sit down, Jonah notices something in his hand that had fallen out of his

pocket. Its a note. From Brent and Ava. They apologised, and said that they were going to miss
Lila and Jonah. It was their fault, they knew the night before, but they wanted Jonah and Lila to

escape, they didnt deserve this, Brent wrote. But how? Did Brent and Ava mention something

at school? Did they know it was going to happen? How would they know? Now Jonah is starting

to have second thoughts, and the mundane panic sets in again. Another wind comes through,

this one sweeping him of his conscience. For once, almost as if Lila had just become

accustomed to this, she puts her arm around Jonah, and comforts him.

Neither of them know where the train is going. They dont know where theyre going. But

Jonah knows theyll figure it out. He knows theyll get home. With Lila next to him, he has half of

his world right there. He is just searching for the other half. And he knows it will come. And

maybe this terrible war will end so that they can go back to the lives they had before. Jonah

kisses Lila on the cheek.

Were on our way home Li. Youll see.

And they hold on to each other, as the sun rises, and the new day comes. One journey

ends, and another one begins. It will all be ok, he repeats. Everything is going to be ok.

Bibliography:

Dr. Bloeme Evers-Emden. Hiding Jewish Children during World War II: The Psychological

Aftermath. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2017

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Life in Shadows: Hidden Children and the

Holocaust. (n.d.). Retrieved April 03, 2017

Rosenberg, M. B. (1998). Hiding to Survive: Stories of Jewish Children Rescued From the

Holocaust. Place of publication not identified: Clarion Books