target. And of course, we’re rather proud of the fact that he failed. He tried and tried, right up until the end. But no matter how many times those buzz bombs and doodlebugs struck, and no matter how badly his Luftwaffe damaged segments of our city, we never let him break our spirit.”
She lifted her arms. “Look—I have goose bumps.” She smiled, rubbing them. “I can’t help it. I’m so proud of my country and my city, and how we weathered all those brutal assaults, year after year, and never once let them defeat us.”
“It’s all so different from what I experienced up there.” Danny pointed skyward. “We had a job to do, and we did it. But other than the time I spent in Holland after bailing out, I never saw the effect of our efforts at ground level. You actually lived it here.”
“Yes, and I’m happy to say all the stronger for it.”
They followed her along the walkway. “There isn’t time to show you everything, of course, and it would be wise to avoid certain areas. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the homes and businesses that were leveled. I suppose it will take years for the rubble to be cleared so we can rebuild. We’re all a bit anxious to see signs of reconstruction, but in reality, I’m sure it will take lots and lots of time.”
Sybil continued her narrative as they walked alongside Westminster, the grand buildings along the banks of the Thames which once served as the palace for the royal family, now home to Parliament. She pointed out the empty hull of the Commons Chamber which had been destroyed by fire, its roof collapsing on the ruins. The House of Lords had been spared from any serious damage, though she told of a bomb which had passed clear through the floor, but thankfully never exploded.
Moving along, they crossed the street and approached the rear entrance of Westminster Abbey.
“Someday, when the dust has all cleared, you must come back and take a tour of the Abbey. It’s quite magnificent. Most of the royal weddings have taken place here. King George and Queen Elizabeth were married here in 1923. Of course, the Coronation Chair and all the statues from the royal tombs were sent to the countryside, out of harm’s way. And fortunately, the Abbey experienced only minor damage during the war.”
As they made their way to the front entrance, Anya leaned back for a better look at the ornate spires stretching high against the backdrop of the blue sky. “I can’t comprehend all of this,” she said quietly. “It’s so different from home. The architecture, the height and expanse of all these buildings …” She lowered her eyes to them again. “It’s as if a whole world I never knew about has existed all along, and I’m too late ...”
She gazed intently into Danny’s eyes, but clearly her mind was elsewhere.
“Too late for what, Anya?” he asked.
“Too late to grasp it.” She turned, her eyes drawn back to the spires. “I see it, all of it, but it’s as if my mind and my heart can’t even comprehend what I’m seeing.” She leveled her eyes at them again, a smile taunting her sad expression. “Oh, never mind me. I’m just the silly Dutch girl who keeps babbling every thought that crosses her mind.”
“It must be quite strange for you, Anya,” Sybil said. “But I’m so pleased to share my city with you.”
Danny gathered his wife under his arm and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t let it overwhelm you. Just relax and enjoy the sights, all right?”
She nodded. “All right. I’m trying.”
For the next two hours, Sybil walked them by several historic landmarks. Danny was especially interested in seeing Number 10 Downing Street, home to the British government and residence of Winston Churchill. With its address in brass numerals on the shiny black door, the modest cream-colored entryway stood in contrast to the home’s charcoal gray brick exterior. A uniformed guard stood at the door with his hands clasped behind his
She lifted her arms. “Look—I have goose bumps.” She smiled, rubbing them. “I can’t help it. I’m so proud of my country and my city, and how we weathered all those brutal assaults, year after year, and never once let them defeat us.”
“It’s all so different from what I experienced up there.” Danny pointed skyward. “We had a job to do, and we did it. But other than the time I spent in Holland after bailing out, I never saw the effect of our efforts at ground level. You actually lived it here.”
“Yes, and I’m happy to say all the stronger for it.”
They followed her along the walkway. “There isn’t time to show you everything, of course, and it would be wise to avoid certain areas. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the homes and businesses that were leveled. I suppose it will take years for the rubble to be cleared so we can rebuild. We’re all a bit anxious to see signs of reconstruction, but in reality, I’m sure it will take lots and lots of time.”
Sybil continued her narrative as they walked alongside Westminster, the grand buildings along the banks of the Thames which once served as the palace for the royal family, now home to Parliament. She pointed out the empty hull of the Commons Chamber which had been destroyed by fire, its roof collapsing on the ruins. The House of Lords had been spared from any serious damage, though she told of a bomb which had passed clear through the floor, but thankfully never exploded.
Moving along, they crossed the street and approached the rear entrance of Westminster Abbey.
“Someday, when the dust has all cleared, you must come back and take a tour of the Abbey. It’s quite magnificent. Most of the royal weddings have taken place here. King George and Queen Elizabeth were married here in 1923. Of course, the Coronation Chair and all the statues from the royal tombs were sent to the countryside, out of harm’s way. And fortunately, the Abbey experienced only minor damage during the war.”
As they made their way to the front entrance, Anya leaned back for a better look at the ornate spires stretching high against the backdrop of the blue sky. “I can’t comprehend all of this,” she said quietly. “It’s so different from home. The architecture, the height and expanse of all these buildings …” She lowered her eyes to them again. “It’s as if a whole world I never knew about has existed all along, and I’m too late ...”
She gazed intently into Danny’s eyes, but clearly her mind was elsewhere.
“Too late for what, Anya?” he asked.
“Too late to grasp it.” She turned, her eyes drawn back to the spires. “I see it, all of it, but it’s as if my mind and my heart can’t even comprehend what I’m seeing.” She leveled her eyes at them again, a smile taunting her sad expression. “Oh, never mind me. I’m just the silly Dutch girl who keeps babbling every thought that crosses her mind.”
“It must be quite strange for you, Anya,” Sybil said. “But I’m so pleased to share my city with you.”
Danny gathered his wife under his arm and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t let it overwhelm you. Just relax and enjoy the sights, all right?”
She nodded. “All right. I’m trying.”
For the next two hours, Sybil walked them by several historic landmarks. Danny was especially interested in seeing Number 10 Downing Street, home to the British government and residence of Winston Churchill. With its address in brass numerals on the shiny black door, the modest cream-colored entryway stood in contrast to the home’s charcoal gray brick exterior. A uniformed guard stood at the door with his hands clasped behind his
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