Story of a boy in wartime
I'm Herman van Brussel, almost five years old and I live at Lindenlaan 32.
Today, 10th of May 1940, I wake up very early: it's mum's birthday so it's going to be a fun day! Suddenly I hear a very loud hum, it looks like a giant blowfly. Then mum runs into my room: Get out of bed and get dressed quickly! I ask where we 
are going. To the harbour, she says. Well, that seems nice to me.

Downstairs I ask where Dad is. He is telling all the neighbours they too have to go to the harbour. Mum says:That loud hum you heard, they were German 
aircraft, Germany has attacked our country! That means we’re at war now! Because our soldiers on the Grebbeberg are going to fight the Germans we need to go to a safe place, away from here. That's called evacuation. What will happen to the birthday visitors?

The harbour is full of boats. One boat takes 400 people! Everyone must go below deck. We are not allowed on deck, because bullets may fly around our ears. It is quite dangerous. We sail to Rotterdam. There is little water on board and I am thirsty all the time. So it's not so nice after all! I'm going to sleep on the straw. Luckily I have my teddy with me.

After two days of sailing we can go no further. We're going ashore and walk a long way to a farm where we’re allowed to stay. That night I hear sharp bangs. Our soldiers are shooting Germanparatroopers down! The next morning I crawl to the 
attic with the farmer’s little boy. Out of the window we see dead people on the dykelying under covers.