Lifeboat 12

Lifeboat 12

Juvenile fiction based on true story

"' Germans are coming,' says Dad.
'France surrendered this summer
and the Nazis are gunning
for England next.
Hundreds of thousands
of parents applied
to have their kids sent
out of harm's way."
The year was 1940. It seemed to the British that Hitler was on
their doorstep. Parents were desperate to get their precious children
out of harm's way. Other nations agreed to play host. Ken Sparks,
narrator of Susan Hood's Lifeboat 12, was one of a small number of
children who were chosen by lottery to be evacuated.
At first the voyage is the cat's pajamas. There's a play room
with all kids of new toys. And there are foods the children haven't
tasted in ages.
"Here you just ask and the food arrives.
Whatever you fancy!
It's as though Father Christmas
has set up shop
in the kitchen."
The first days the children have to wear vests and life jackets
everywhere--even to bed. Then one night when the ship is considered
to be at a safe distance they are able to wear pajamas instead...
...and in the middle of the night the ship is hit and begins to
sink. After a nightmarish scramble Ken is in a lifeboat adrift in the
middle of the ocean with only enough water to last the passengers for
about eight days...
...should they try to return to England or stay in the same spot
and hope for a rescue boat...
Read the book and see. It's a spell binding narrative told in
authentic early teen voice. Plus it's all too relevant almost 80
years later. People are still needlessly perishing trying to escape
from war, famine, and near certain death because we don't do enough to
help or are even keeping them from entering this country.
On a purrrsonal note, the rain has temporarily let up. I see Joey and
another cat watching each other through the window. We're in Adam's
old room. I'm keeping him company as I write so that I can attend to
his every need and surround him with love and cherish our time
together. I am cutting church. I am not going anywhere other than to
my paid work. At least with spring semester being over I can spend
much of my time focussed on the best little cat in the world. Joey
and I are in bachelor mode with Eugene up to camp for the long
weekend. That means no cooking and minimal dishes.
A great big shout out goes out to the best little cat in the world.
jules hathaway



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