The Story: The Evacuation
The label said: GEORGE ALBERT MARSH, AGE 9. 14 PEMBURY ROAD, LONDON SE1.
It was tied to the buttonhole of his coat as if he were a parcel rather than a person.
George stood on the platform at Paddington Station with two hundred and forty other children, all labelled, all carrying small cases or brown-paper parcels, all trying not to cry. The noise was tremendous — steam hissing, mothers calling, a guard blowing a whistle repeatedly and pointlessly. George's mother had left at eight o'clock. He had watched her walk away until her blue coat disappeared into the crowd.
He told himself he wouldn't look after that. He had managed it.
The train journey took four hours. George sat next to a boy called Dennis who slept the entire way, and a girl called Vera who ate her sandwiches within the first ten minutes and then stared out of the window in silence. George kept his sandwiches for later, which required a level of self-control he was quite proud of.
They arrived at a village hall where adults walked along the rows of children, inspecting them. George understood, without being told, that this was like a market — the adults were choosing. He was small for his age and not strong-looking. He watched, one by one, as the other children were picked. Dennis went quickly, chosen by a farmer who needed help on the land. Vera went next, taken by an elderly woman who said nothing but simply held out her hand.
George was left.
He sat on a wooden chair at the edge of the hall, still holding his small case, while the room gradually emptied around him. By the time only three children were left, he had decided very firmly not to think about his mother's blue coat.
A woman came in late, apologising breathlessly to the billeting officer. She was thin and quick-moving, with paint on her hands and reading glasses pushed up on her head.
"I was told there would still be some left," she said.
She looked at the three remaining children. Her gaze stopped at George. She walked over and crouched down to his level.
"George," she said, reading his label. "I'm Mrs Hartley. I have a room, a garden, and absolutely no idea how to cook. Do you like painting?"
George considered this carefully. "I've never tried," he said.
"Perfect," said Mrs Hartley. "Neither of us will have any expectations, then."
She stood up, held out her paint-stained hand, and George, after a moment, took it.
He did not look back at the empty chairs.
Comprehension Questions
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Question 1 of 10
Why did George have a label tied to his coat?
- It identified him during the evacuation, as if he were a parcel being sent somewhere
- It gave instructions to the train driver
- It showed which train carriage he should sit in
- It was a name badge like all the adults wore
Question 2 of 10
How did George control himself during the train journey?
- He slept like Dennis
- He saved his sandwiches for later, requiring considerable self-control
- He talked to Vera to keep himself distracted
- He looked out of the window and counted fields
Question 3 of 10
What does the word 'billeting' mean in this story?
- The official process of placing evacuated children with host families
- A system for organising train seating
- Choosing children for adoption
- A type of food parcel given to evacuees
Question 4 of 10
What does George understand about the scene in the village hall without being told?
- That he will be sent back to London if no one chooses him
- That the adults are teachers who will look after all the children equally
- That he will stay in the village hall overnight
- That the process is like a market, with adults choosing children
Question 5 of 10
Why is it significant that Dennis was chosen by a farmer?
- Dennis was the oldest child in the group
- Dennis was large and strong-looking
- Dennis was chosen because he was a hard worker who the farmer already knew
- Dennis lived on a farm already and knew the local area
Question 6 of 10
What does the phrase 'He had decided very firmly not to think about his mother's blue coat' suggest?
- He was trying to control his grief by refusing to let his mind go to painful memories
- He was angry with his mother for leaving
- He had already forgotten about his mother
- He was worried the coat might get lost
Question 7 of 10
What impression do you get of Mrs Hartley from her entrance?
- She is unconventional, warm and has arrived in a hurry without conventional preparation
- She is organised and has prepared carefully for an evacuee
- She is a very experienced foster carer who knows exactly what to do
- She is careless and clearly does not want a child staying with her
Question 8 of 10
Why does Mrs Hartley say 'neither of us will have any expectations'?
- She is warning George that life will be difficult
- She is explaining that she will not be cooking proper meals
- She is telling George not to expect to return to London soon
- She is making a gentle, humorous point that they are both new to this
Question 9 of 10
What does 'he did not look back at the empty chairs' mean at the end?
- He was making sure none of the other children were still waiting
- He was too tired to turn around
- He was focused on finding the exit
- He was deliberately choosing to move forward rather than dwell on what had just happened
Question 10 of 10
How does the author create sympathy for George in this story?
- Through his inner thoughts, small details of self-control, and the image of him left alone on a chair
- By describing his physical appearance in detail
- By making the other characters cruel so George seems like a victim
- By having other characters praise how brave he is