AN: There's quite a bit of back-story behind this fic. The idea came to me when I pictured an image of a menorah standing in a windowsill on a dark night, fully lit. I later drew an image in my mind of the Pevensies having friends who were Jewish. Upon inspection into British history, I learned about the Kindertransports.
The Kindertransports was an organized operation established by the British government after night of Kristellnacht (the English translation being "Night of Broken Glass"). Kindertransports referred to the rescue of over 10,000 Jewish children as refugees so that they may escape the Nazi persecution taking place in Germany, Austria, Czechslovakia, and Poland. A rescue that began on the 2nd of December, 1938, and would proceed for nine months until Germany invaded Poland in 1939.
This fic is dedicated to all of the children who were among them, as well as their families. Many of whom were lost to concentration and death camps. Yet still the parents and guardians had the courage to send their children to safety, even if it meant splitting their family apart.
Menorah In the Window
Chapter One
In Which Mr. Berkovich Stays After Dinner
There were once four children living in London whose surnames were that of Pevensie. Their names were Peter (who was the oldest), Susan (the oldest daughter), Edmund (the second youngest) and Lucy (the youngest.) You may already know of these said children, if you had already read a book by the title of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. If you read that book, you know very well that these children were destined to do great things in another world very different from our own. However, this story doesn't pertain to that world at all. Rather, it deals with a rather significant story that happened to them in their world.
They lived in London with their parents- who were known as very kindly folk. Their father was a professor of Mathematics at the University of London, and their mother stayed at home to care for her four children though she herself had been a certified nurse before she had met Mr. Pevensie and decided the path of homemaking over the path of having her own career.
It just so happened that one chilly November evening, that one of Mr. Prevensie's dearest friends- Dr. Berkovich as he was known in the classroom, but just Mr. Berkovich to the Pevensies- was invited over for dinner. Of course, the Pevensies thought nothing of this meeting. Mr. Berkovich was a regular visitor- having meals with the family at least twice a month. The children quite adored him- for he was a kind and loving soul who also had a fancy for sweets, and was always willing to share whatever treats he happened to have on him with them. The fact that the man was a German immigrant who was also Jewish played little influence on their perception of him. He was first and foremost a family friend who had known their father for years- having started their professions at the University at the same time. Being as young as they were- they little realized that this meeting was rather different from the others.
That was until it was time to send the children off to bed, when it reached eight o' clock in the evening. Now it was normal for both Peter and Susan to join their younger siblings in turning in for the night. However, as they were about to follow their mother while she was ushering along Edmund and Lucy, their father broke away from the conversation he was currently having with Mr. Berkovich and said to them, "Pete, Su, please remain here."
This immediately captured the attentions of the two children. They turned to one another, as if the answers to the questions could be found on the faces of the other. When they realized that they couldn't be found, they turned to their father.
"Dad?" Peter asked in question.
"Have we done something wrong?" Susan said, her voice quavering a little.
"No children," their father reassured them. "Come, join Mr. Berkovich and I at the table. Your mother will be joining us once she has put Ed and Lu to sleep."
"Why aren't they here with us?"
Before Mr. Pevensie could respond, Mr. Berkovich spoke. "If I'm impeding on their bedtime, John, I could simply come by at another time. I don't want them to lose any sleep on my account."
"Fear not, Otto. I'm sure an hour of sleep won't be amiss for the children. Especially when they learn that it's because they're being asked to do a noble deed."
Peter and Susan looked to each other with excitement. "What kind of noble deed, Dad?" asked Peter, thrill clearly heard in his voice.
"Let's wait until your mother has come down from tucking in and saying goodnight to Edmund and Lucy," Mr. Pevensie said. "She would very much like to be in on this conversation herself. Until then, how about the three of us help clean up the kitchen for your mother?"
"I can help if you like," offered Mr. Berkovich.
"No need, Otto. You're the guest. Allow us to clean up."
While impatient, the two Pevensie children decided it would be best to do as their father asked. The two of them knew that to get quickly to the subject, they had to make sure their mother was capable of partaking without distractions. They knew how much their parents preferred it when they could both partake in conversations of matters that they found were important. While a few of their father's colleagues and their mother's friends seemed to frown on it, it never swayed them. The Pevensies knew that their mother didn't like standing idly by while the men discussed matters. She preferred to be engaged in the subject not only as a woman, but as an equal. Their father- who strongly supported his wife- believed she had every right to be as well and welcomed her input during any conversation. Their dear friend Mr. Berkovich also held the same respective views about women, and was supportive of his own wife when dealing with the same matters. So he had no problem at all waiting for Mrs. Pevensie.
After ten minutes passed in which their father and Mr. Berkovich spoke about how the meal had been quite delicious and that Helen had outdone herself. Peter and Susan contributed little to the conversation other than to reiterate the fact that indeed, their mother was quite the cook. When they heard footsteps on the stairs, they all turned to see Mrs. Pevensie come from the stairway and enter the kitchen. Turning to cleaned dishes on the counter, she smiled. "Thank you, John."
"Better thank Peter and Susan as well, dear, they helped me clear the table and wash them."
Mrs. Pevensie smiled and kissed them both on the tops of their heads. After pecking her husband on the cheek, she took a seat beside him. Peter and Susan took the chair at the end, so that Peter was sitting on Mr. Berkovich's right and Susan on his left.
"Now then," Mrs. Pevensie began, "I do believe we have a matter to discuss."
Mr. Berkovich nodded. "Indeed. Again, Elsa does apologize that she couldn't be here."
"Nonsense. Her staying so she can take care of her sister's children is no reason to apologize. Now onto the matter. Were you successful?"
There was a pause as Berkovich's face became blank. The two Pevensie children looked at each other, neither having any idea what the adults were talking about. Before either of them could ask however, Berkovich smiled and said, "Yes. Elsa and I applied and the government sent us a notice that we have been selected."
Mr. Pevensie and Mrs. Pevensie's smiles grew. They wished him many congratulations and Mr. Pevenise commented how it was a shame neither of them brought wine for it surely would have been an appropriate moment for a toast. The two men agreed however that the sharing of pipe-tobacco (for the two of them were proceeding to pull out their pipes and fill them) would suffice. Within moments pipe-smoke filled the air around the table, and Mrs. Pevensie asked her husband that she have a puff, which Mr. Pevensie graciously gave.
The children however were confused. "What did Mr. Berkovich get?" Susan questioned.
It was as if the adults had just realized that surely the children had no idea what they were talking about. "I'm sorry children," Mr. Pevensie apologized once the smoke had billowed from his mouth.
"Do they know about what's happening in Germany?" Mr. Berkovich asked, smoke rolling out of his pipe in wisps.
"We hear about it in school. Some of the teachers sound a little uneasy," said Peter.
"They have every right to be. If all Brits had the same view of the situation such as those that that spineless Chamberlain has maintained, we'll be in plenty of hot water. I tell you. This uneasy truce won't last. Mark my words, Hitler won't keep his grubby little Aryan hands away from the rest of Europe for long."
"Let's not go into too much politics," Mrs. Pevensie warned Mr. Berkovich and Mr. Pevensie by fixing them with her eyes, "we'll only confuse the children on a matter that should be rather simple to understand."
"Agreed," Mr. Pevensie complied. Turning to Peter and Susan, he asked, "What do you know is happening in Germany?"
"That there's a very bad man named Hitler taking command of it," said Susan as she closed her eyes. Of the young Pevensies, she was turning out to be the best student. Information no sooner delivered to her and she could recall it.
"He's the head of a party called the Nazis," said Peter. "Some say he's a decent chap. Others say that he's quite batty."
"My one teacher says not to believe him. He won't just be looking to take just Austria, but the rest of Europe."
"Do they happen to mention that Hitler and his friends don't like certain groups of people?" asked Mr. Pevensie.
Peter and Susan thought for a few moments. Susan then said, "I heard someone say they heard he was being mean to comm-comm-une-"
"Communists," finished Mrs. Pevensie
Susan nodded. "Communists," she said with a grin of triumph painted on her face.
"Any others?" asked Mr. Berkovich.
"They also said he don't like gypsies," said Peter. "Or homosexuals. Or Jehovah's Witnesses. Or Catholics. Or disabled people."
"Are there any others they mentioned?" Mr. Pevensie asked.
Susan and Peter thought for a few moments. Suddenly their eyes lit up as if a light had just been recently clicked on. "Jews!" they both exclaimed.
"Hitler don't like the other groups, but it's Jews and Communists he hates the most!" Susan elaborated.
"Some of our teachers say that he has good reason for hating them," Peter added.
Sad looks reflected off of Mr. Berkovich and their parents. Seeing their eyes, Susan quickly added, "Peter and I know that isn't true though! That there's no reason for Hitler to be mean to Jews and other people. Our teachers are just being spiteful."
"Hitler's nothing but a poisonous beast."
Somber faces lifted like balloons in the air. Mr. Berkovich smiled at Mr. Pevensie and Mrs. Pevensie, "The two of you truly are wonderful parents. It fills me with hope knowing that there are indeed some who don't believe in anti-Semitism and teach it to their youth."
"Just like good old Professor Kirke from the History Department once said: 'Logic is the thing that must be taught in our schools,'" Mr. Pevensie stated. "Unfortunately, it appears to be rather lacking. Helen and I have to make sure that it's taught in our own home."
"In times such as these we hold dear to the saying of 'Love thy neighbor as thyself,'' Mrs. Pevensie said proudly. "It's not just logic...it's a moral duty that any decent human can uphold."
"Who am I to argue with wise words?" asked Mr. Berkovich.
"You should probably explain to the children about what happened in Germany recently," Mr. Pevensie said, bringing the conversation back on track.
"Quite right, quite right. As I was going to say...Dear Children, what I'm going to tell you is very terrible, but you need to hear it to understand. One night back a couple weeks ago, Hitler ordered that the SS- the Nazi police force, as well as non-Jews, should do terrible things to the Jewish people living in Germany and Austria. He ordered that their houses be ransacked, their businesses vandalized, and the synagogues be desecrated. Hundreds of Jews were killed and thousands more have been captured and are being held prisoner. A friend of mine from back home tells me that they are calling it Kristellnacht- which is German for 'Night of Broken Glass', since many of the windows of the buildings were shattered.
"Ever since it happened, word has spread and now the whole world is eyeing Germany. England has heard about what happened and is going to do something to help."
"What are they going to do?" inquired Susan.
"Are they going to knock Hitler down to size?" Peter said.
Mr. Berkovich chuckled, "As wondrous as it would be to see Hitler knocked down to size, I'm afraid that England is not yet ready to take such a drastic leap. No, the Parliament of England has another idea in mind to help my fellow Jews still living in Germany."
"Tell them what it is," urged Mrs. Pevensie.
Mr. Berkovich smiled. "The government is going to help evacuate Jewish children living in Germany and Austria. So that they may have a chance of being safe."
"What about their Mums and Dads?" asked Susan.
"The government will think of a way," Mrs. Pevensie reassured them as she reached out and softly brushed her fingers through her daughter's hair. Those who knew better could tell that she was merely saying this as a comfort to her daughter. She and the other grown-ups knew that governments may be willing to help children. Adults however are an entirely different matter. Her look to Mr. Pevensie and Mr. Berkovich was enough to tell them that the children may need to know the basics, but details such as this were something they weren't ready to handle. Not quite yet.
Taking the hint, Mr. Berkovich cleared his throat. "Right. To continue. The British government has reached out to all foster homes, orphanages, and the like and asked them all to lend a hand. To provide for a place of comfort and shelter to them until it may be safe for them to one day return to their families."
"Is that what you're going to do?" Susan questioned. "Are you going to take in children?"
Mr. Berkovich smiled. "That's right. Mrs. Berkovich and I are going to be welcoming two children into our home on the second of December. Hopefully, they will be the first of many to arrive."
"Isn't that exciting, children?" Mrs. Pevensie's trilled with delight.
Peter and Susan nodded. It was Peter who asked, "Will we be able to meet them?"
"I would certainly say so," said Mr. Berkovich. "That's exactly why we have asked for the two of you."
"How do you mean?" Susan looked at the family friend.
"When the children arrive to London, they're going to be afraid. London will be an entirely new world for them. They probably don't know much English, and they definitely won't have many friends when they come here. Anyone that they may have met on the way will be separated from them.
"I was wondering if perhaps the two of you would be willing to reach out to them? Be a friend if they need it? If for some reason they don't take to it at first, at least keep on trying. Be kind and always welcoming to them. Keep an eye out for them, because neither Elsa or I will be able to when they go off to school."
"Are they attending St. Mary's?" asked Susan.
"The girl is. She's actually about a year younger than Peter and a year older than you, Susan. The boy I believe is a little younger than Susan. A little older than Edmund, but not by much. He will be attending Corner House with Peter and Edmund."
"What are their names?" asked Peter.
"Magda and Ansel Schurn. They're from Berlin."
"They'll be entering something entirely new once they arrive in England," Mrs. Pevensie explained, her voice full of pity.
"Will the two of you keep an eye out for them when you arrive at your schools? As well as try to make friends with them? It may help them adjust here if they already know people here."
"What do you say you two?" asked Mr. Pevensie.
Peter and Susan turned to one another. They came to a decision almost immediately, nodding their heads. "We'd be happy to," they both replied.
"Though, why is there a need to ask?" Susan wondered aloud. "Surely we'd want to be friends with them if they wanted to be with us."
Mr. Berkovich smiled. "Truly it must be God's will that Elsa and I can finally have children to care for. We will now be able to rest more easily knowing they will have friends."
AN: So, what does my audience think so far? Don't be afraid to drop a review on your way out!
Aslan's blessings!
Also, I must give credit to my awesome beta- Nothing Really Specific. I do appreciate the work he has done.