She had spent the night huddling in the family cellar, listening to her little sister cry as the bombs crashed all around.  They had sat in pitch darkness, occasionally catching the glimpse of a flash, as yet another explosion sounded far too close.  Her father had tried to sound reassuring as the building shook, but she could hear the way his voice was shaking too.  Her mother had done her best to soothe her younger sister, who at five years old knew nothing of peace.  She, the older by seven years, could vaguely remember what it had been like to play outside without hearing the sound of marching boots and angry German voices, which she couldn't understand.  Now, the Americans had arrived.  She couldn't understand them either, but at least they sometimes smiled and she thought perhaps some of them were remembering their own children who were so far away.

Finally, the German bombardment was over for another day, and they crept out into the cold early morning light.  Suddenly, her mother gave a sudden cry and stood motionless, her hand to her mouth, before collapsing to the ground in tears.

"Maman, what has happened?" Sophie asked.

Her mother pointed at a building which had collapsed and she saw men bringing out the bodies and she understood that her aunt, her mother's only sister, had been killed along with her oldest child.

Sophie wondered why she didn't start to cry, but instead felt angry, angry at all the death and destruction, angry that her two younger cousins, being tearfully led to safety by an American soldier, were now orphans, for their father had been killed in the retreat to Dunkerque.

As the anger burned inside her, she knew she had to do something, and holding out her hands to her two small cousins she said, "Don't worry, Maman.  We will look after them now, and I will help you."

She looked across at her father who gave her a nod of understanding.  His own father had died at Verdun, and he had lost many of his own friends.  Maybe his daughter's generation would be the one who brought about a lasting peace.  He could but hope.