Chapter 38

Summary

• Hazel and her Mum arrive at a heavily bomb-damaged Russell Square Station in September 1940.
• They observe the destruction of homes and the displacement of families around them.
• A double-decker bus is seen perched nose-up in a crater, revealing the randomness of destruction.
• Hazel's Mum explains the routine of the bombers using the Thames as a guide and describes the horror of the nighttime bombings to confirm the real dangers they face.
• Hazel is overwhelmed by the reality of war and promises to return to Binsey to stay safe.
• Hazel's mother stresses the importance of her job to keep Hazel safe, emphasizing the British spirit of resilience against destruction.
• At the Great Ormond Street Hospital, Hazel finds Kelty injured but alive, with her mother having died from the bombings.
• Kelty, facing the prospect of living with a rarely seen aunt in Lancashire, expresses her wish to go back to Binsey with Hazel.
• The trade of colored ribbons among girls in the hospital is introduced as a symbol of comfort and normalcy.
• Matron Lane, in charge of the ward, asserts that Kelty must stay for one more day to recover and wait for her aunt.
• Hazel witnesses a young patient labeled on her forehead for emergency medical communication, heightening the war's impact on children.
• Hazel and her sister Flora face the harsh reality that their fantasies like Whisperwood are just illusions compared to the war.
• Hazel resolves to protect Flora and aid Bridie, acknowledging the need to stay safe during the war instead of seeking escapism.