IMPRISONED IN THE WOODSHED!

It seemed hours before we heard a chopping sound at the outer door of the woodshed. It went on and on and on… At least all the din; speculations, lots of ‘what ifs’ — crying— exclamations of doom.

I learned there and then that people can verbalize bad things, tragedies, death, violence and disaster, but few seem to have hope and to shout out about deliverance and that God Himself will protect. I remember bowing my head and wanting to pray, but the noise around me dominated my thoughts. I said aloud, but unheard by anyone but me and God — “Shut up and pray! Shut up and pray. Shut up everyone and at least let ME pray. I can’t even pray with all this noise! Shut up… please…”

Yes, the sound of the axe, chopping through the wood, pinging off thick steel nails, it silenced everyone eventually. Only Mavis sobbed, and somehow, her sobs came, one by one, between the blows.

Felix had somehow snaked his way through the trembling crowd to the inner door. He called, “Just one axeman out there, it’ll take him a while, but when he gets through to this door, we must all move back and give some space…” Then he shouted louder, commanding everyone to compact up and make space by the door.

It was Norman, John and Hedy’s father, who was that first axeman. By the time he was chopping on that inner door, others had joined him and one by one, they took turns, blow by blow. It stopped and someone began prising at the boards. Then the chopping resumed…. it was going to take all day at this rate! I couldn't help it, I swore under my breath, using a word that one of Felix's peers had used when we had been shoved in this woodshed. Then I apologised because I knew Father would not like me doing that... I just wished and prayed we could get out of here and move on to doing something about my father's abduction! 

Luke Chatelain

I cannot let my 'little sister' Jobyna get away with blogging and telling it all from her point of view. You see, although we've been close, she doesn't always see things the way I do. In fact, it is very rare that she knows what it is like to walk in my shoes - I guess that's the same for a lot of people. I try to think of others, but often I find that I'm making it all about 'me'. That was the case especially before I became king ...

I was not always king of Frencolia - in fact it was quite a journey, full of danger and adventure. I did a lot of growing up when I found I was to be the king of a whole kingdom... and growing up is still very much part of my journey.

So, not just to keep up with Jobyna, or 'Jo' as I call her, I'm going to keep this kind of diary. I can't let the world of blogging revolve around her, now can I?

The Manor House where we lived with our parents...