Chapter One: Beginnings

May 30, 1940

The newspaper shattered through Alton's living room window. He was sitting on the sofa chair reading, when the newspaper flew into his face. Luckily, that was the only thing that hit him.

"What was that!?" Alton's mother rushed in from another room. Alton was standing motionless.

"Did that bloody newspaper boy shatter it?" Alton nodded, responding to the demanding question. His mother, Doris, sighed.

"Guess I'll have to fix it. Run down to Mr.Levies'. I'm sure he has another windowpane. In fact, grab some grey paint while you're at it. It's chipped away now." Doris ordered. Alton nodded, and held his hand out for money.

"Ohp! Sorry dear," Doris reached into the left front pocket of her trousers. She pulled out 10 pounds.

"Here ya are m'darling. If there's any left over, you can stop by Rose's for an ice lolly if you want." Alton grabbed the money, thanked his mother and bolted through the front door. Doris laughed.

"Just like his father." She mused, watching her son hop onto his bike, and peddle down the street.

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Alton squeezed the handbrakes when he arrived at Mr.Levies' Hardware Store. He chained it up on a lamp post, then entered the store. The bell rang and the smell of cedar and paint rushed up Alton's nose.

"Ah young Davies! Haven't seen ya in a while m'boy! How've you been?" Mr. Andrew Levies was an older man, around 45. His hair was a lighter brown, but had begun to gray. He was 5 '9, and his grey eyes crinkled with wrinkles when he smiled at the young man. Alton approached the service booth, and slid over the 10 pounds.

"Very well Mr.Levies. Can I get a windowpane, about 5x7? And a half gallon of grey paint?" Alton asked.

"What shade?" Mr.Levies asked. Alton never paid attention to things like that. But he tried to remember.

"I think a lighter shade? Like the color of the sky when it rains?" He replied.

"Ah, you mean the coin grey! Not to worry son, I've got it right here." Mr.Levies walked over to a wall that held thousands of paints. He slid a ladder over, then climbed up three steps. He retrieved the exact shade Alton mentioned. He held it up and shook it a bit.

"This one?" He inquired.

"Yup!" Alton replied. Mr.Levies smiled again, and climbed down the ladder. He walked over to the service booth again, and set the paint down.

"Now that windowpane, 5x8 you said?" Mr.Levies asked.

"5x7 sir." Alton replied.

"Ah, yes. I apologize. My mind is a bit muddled from the last war if you know what I mean. Shell hit me. Can't remember things like I used to." He took a pause, and walked to the back of the store, where an array of glass slates were kept. He gently lifted up each piece until he found the one that was needed. He then walked back to Alton and set it down on the counter.

"Before I wrap this up for you, what d'you need it for? If y'don't mind my askin'."

"The newspaper boy, Thomas, threw today's paper straight through our window pane in the living room. Glass was everywhere. Mum sent me down to get a new pane and for paint. The old stuff's chipped away now."

"Well call me a nosy neighbor but how on earth did Theodore manage that?"

"I dunno." Alton shrugged.

"I 'spose he wasn't paying attention." He replied. Mr.Levies then said,

"Oh the newsboys never do. Just deliver 'em and ya get paid. That's what I did. But then again, I never broke a window did I?" Alton laughed.

"No sir." He smiled. Mr.Levies chuckled, then reached into a cupboard for newspaper, it was a bit ironic. He wrapped up the window pane, and put both the paint and pane into a brown paper bag. He also reached over into a jar filled with maple candies. He dropped two into the bag.

"A little treat for you and your mum. Here's 2 pounds back. Be careful not to drop that bag son. I don't want to have to explain to your mum." Mr.Levies winked and slid everything over to Alton. Alton retrieved it.

"Thanks!" He called as he walked out.

"Yer welcome!"

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Alton put the bag on the back of his bike, into a milk crate. There was a strap he tied around the top of the bag so nothing would fall out. He then unchained the bike, hopped onto it and peddled down the street again. He stopped at Rose's Confectionary Store. He brought his bike over, and leaned it against the store's wall. He tapped on the service window.

"AH! Oh it's just you Alton. What can I get you today?" Rose Haywood asked. She was 30 years old, and had the brightest red hair you could imagine. Her lips were the same color, and her eyes were bluer than the sea. She unlocked the window, and opened it.

"Just an iced lolly. Here are two pounds."

"One pound, one iced lolly. I'll get another one for your mum. She's been through it all with your dad-" She stopped. Noticing how the statement affected Alton.

"I'm sorry lad. Shouldn't of said it. I'll get those to ya." She disappeared into her store for a moment, then came back with two cherry iced lollies. Alton grabbed one, then held out the money to her.

"No need now lad. I made you upset. I couldn't charge you for that." Rose smiled. Alton smiled back, put the money in his pocket. What he did not think about was how he would get the lollies back home.

"Eat one now, so you can ride that bike back." Alton was more than happy to do what Rose said.

"See ya later love!" Rose called as Alton left. He waved politely back, before hopping onto his bike once more. He held the ice lolly in his left hand and steered with his right. At first, it was a bit difficult to keep the bike steady as he sped down the street, but after a moment he had the hang of it.

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When Alton got home, he put his bike back into the garage, and grabbed the paper bag from the milk crate. He opened the front door, turning the handle with his thumb and index finger. At this point, the ice lolly had melted a bit.

"Mum!"

"In the living room!" Alton walked in, he found his mother vacuuming the pieces of glass she couldn't sweep up.

"Ah so you did get that ice lolly for yourself. Enjoy it!" Doris yelled over the noise of the vacuum.

"Actually it's for you!"

"What?" Doris yelled back. Alton rolled his eyes and motioned for her to turn the vacuum off. Doris nodded and pulled the plug from the socket in the wall.

"I said that it's for you. Rose gave me another." Alton paused, and handed her the slightly melted frozen treat.

"I got the window pane, paint and Mr.Levies put two maple candies in here for us." Alton lifted the paper bag.

"Oh he shouldn't have! Dear would you close the door? I don't want that ratty dog trampling mud all over the carpet." Doris asked her son. Alton nodded, and closed the door as she asked. The 'ratty dog' belonged Mr. and Mrs. Taren. Sometimes, their shitzu would burst through any open door and destroy the poor soul's carpet and couch. Doris was not a fan.

"Here's the money back Mum." He placed the coins on the coffee table.

"Weren't you charged by Rose?" Doris asked.

"Nah. She didn't charge. Felt bad for dad." Doris looked down after this. Alton furrowed his brow.

"Mum? What's wrong?" She walked over to the coffee table, picked up the newspaper that was thrown out their window, and handed it to her son. Alton retrieved it and read the headline.

345,895 ALLIED SOLDIERS TRAPPED AT DUNKIRK! RESCUE UNCERTAIN!

"Mum. Dad's not there, is he?" Doris then handed Alton a letter.

"He is love. He wrote about being stationed there yesterday." Alton retrieved that as well, and opened the letter.

March 29th, 1940
6:55 am.

Doris,

We moved to Dunkirk today. Capt'n says that it's just a quick reconnaissance mission. But I'm not sure. I can't write much at the moment. Give a hug and a kiss to Alton for me. Tell him I say hi and I love him. This war will be over soon, the sooner it does, the sooner I can get back to you.

All my love,

Carter.

"Mum?" Doris turned round to her son. Alton was standing behind her, his grip on the paper bag from Mr.Levies was strong, his knuckles white. His brow was furrowed in worry and his eyes were darted from his mothers face to the letter, back and forth over and over again. As if searching for some answers. He looked at the letter in his hand, then slowly put the bag on the coffee table. He slumped down into the sofa chair and covered his eyes with a hand.

"Mum-" He choked out.

"Oh m'darling." Doris rushed over to her boy, and placed a calming hand on his back. Alton let his hand fall, and Doris could now see his face. She moved her hand from his back to his cheek, and wiped away some tears that had fallen.

"What if he's stuck? Or what if the Germans-"

"Shh. Your da is fine. This war will be over soon! And when he gets back, we can go and see The Andrew Sisters in America. Won't that be fun?" Doris asked. Alton nodded.

"C'mere Love." Doris drew her son into a hug. He was still shaking, but he was calming down.

"He'll be back. I know it."

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A loud, ear piercing siren screeched across London, spotlight soaring across the ink sky. The earth shook, and plumes of smoke and flame flew into view.

Bombs fell on London.

The ceiling light was shaking, and dust slowly drifted down onto the floor with every impact as the bombing came closer and closer to Alton and Doris' flat.

The lights blew out, and all was silent. Only the sound of the siren was heard.

Doris was then blew back into the dining table, it collapsed when her body hit it.

"Mum!" Alton cried, rushing over to her. The back of her head was covered in blood, and her arm had a large bit of splintered wood embedded in it. She stirred a bit, and looked at her surroundings. Alton was kneeling in front of her, and behind Alton-

The entire living room and hallway was gone. Eerily, the window pane which they had fixed not a few hours ago was still standing on its last two legs. Debris, and small patches of fire was strewn about. Doris coughed. Her lungs felt like they were burning, she wheezed and coughed once more.

"Doris!" A male voice yelled. Alton whipped around and Mr.Levies stood in the debris. He rushed over.

"Doris-" he saw the wood in her arm.

"We've got to get you out of here. The next one could drop at any moment."

"Are the stairs still there?" Doris asked. Alton nodded.

"Collect everything important." Alton nodded again and rushed to the task.

Back downstairs, Mr.Levies lifted Doris up slowly as to not hurt her.

"C'mon, you got it. Steady now." He led her out and away from their flat. They stood there, waiting.

Alton rushed down again. In two large bags held their belongings. Two with clothes and such and in a third large bag, held everything precious. His mother's and father's wedding photo, Alton's baby handprint, his mother's wedding flowers-which were forever pressed down in a frame. Alton's Historical Recountings championship ring, his father's watch. Along with these items, were photos of his family, other trinkets, and items which could never be replaced.

His father's letter!

In a mad dash, Alton knelt down on the floor, and crawled along it. Sweeping dust, burned wood and debris away from the floor. He finally found it under the couch, which was smoldering at the moment. He brushed it off and put it inside the bag. He then ran over to his mother and Mr.Levies. Doris reached forward and kissed her son on the forehead.

"Thank you love." She and Alton looked at their flat one last time.

"We've got to go." Mr.Levies said.

"Where?" Alton inquired.

"The underground. It'll be safe there."

Oh how Alton wished he could believe him.

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A physician tended to Doris as Alton sat against the stone wall of the London Underground. The bombing still continued above, and in this crowded tunnel, thousands of Londoners sat in fear and dejection. Alton wondered about everything and nothing. Was his father alright? Was he even alive? The thought of that-it was too much.

"Ladies and gentlemen! If I could have your attention please!" A gruff male voiced boomed across the tunnel. All conversation stopped. A British captain stood atop a crate, next to a writing desk.

"Can every able bodied young man over 16 please step forward?! Our boys need all the help they can get!" He shouted. Frantic voices resounded in a flurry of conversation. The man clapped his hand thrice together.

"Quiet. Quiet please!" He paused.

"Thank you. I shall repeat it. Will every able bodied young man over 16 step forward! When you reach Captain Drew here, state your full name, place of birth, and age; if you will. Anyone who does not come forward will be thrown forward. I take no pleasure in doing this, but you MUST do it for King and Country!" Another pause.

"You!" The man pointed at Alton. He froze.

"What's your name, place of birth and age?" Alton said nothing. The man jumped down from the crate, and slammed his feet into the concrete ground with a bang. He walked up to Alton, towering over the boy.

"Get up son. C'mon." He held out his hand. Alton took it and was hoisted to his feet.

"Name, place of birth. Age."

"Alton Theodore Davies, East End London-" He stopped and looked back at his mother. She shook her head. She wanted him to lie, say he was only 16.. But all Alton could see was his father, dead on Dunkirk Beach.

"Well? How old are you?" The man asked once more.

"18 sir." He did what his mother wanted. He lied.

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