A Walk In The Park

“Sarah, I’ll be back in awhile,” Jessica called to her daughter as she put on her tattered Mac and rain hat.

“Oh, Mama,” said Sarah in her usual exasperated tone. “It’s raining cats and dogs and you're still going out? It’s dangerous out there Mama, soldiers are all around.” Sarah knew it was useless to argue with her Mother. Ever since the Germans had invaded them in 1940, it had been three years and Jessica would not stop taking her daily walks for anyone or anything.

Jessica Horne was almost 73 and as stubborn and eccentric as anyone her age could be. Her walks had been her habit for the last 50 years. No one would change her mind. “I’m doing something for me Sarah,” she'd often told her impatient daughter. Considering her advanced age and appearance, she was considerably more active than anyone in the family thought she should be. Jessica lived with Sarah for the last year since Jakob, her husband, had died. Sarah was her only child, now in her early 40’s and still unmarried.

Exasperated she'd said, “Sarah, please child, you know this is my time, I have to keep the promise I made to your Papa.”

In a little show of defiance, she headed out the door letting it slam behind her. Just as she stepped onto the crumbling concrete steps leading out of the old European tenement, her breath was taken away by the ice-cold early winter winds and rainstorm. A tiny frail woman, she quickly buttoned up her Mac to keep out the cold north wind. “No wonder everyone thinks you're a silly old woman,” she mumbled to herself.

Making her way down the slippery stairs of the buildings she'd lived in all her life she carefully looked around. Rotterdam was once a beautiful city until they'd invaded. Now the ancient tree lined streets were cold and filled will sadness, pain and destruction.

Soldiers of the invading force patrolled the streets regularly keeping most of the few remaining occupants inside. These were the same streets where Jessica had grown up. The same streets where she and Jakob had met were now in the middle of a war zone. It seemed like each tiny particle of her existence on these streets was being systematically destroyed.

Jessica braced herself against the cold arctic winds blowing in across Rotterdam from the North Sea. Pulling up her collar around her neck she tried to keep the cold wind out as she quickly rushed towards the air raid shelter to get some protection from the cold and a warm place to rest for just a little bit. Carefully she went down the icy stairs leading downwards into the dank musty make shift shelter in the basement of the old city hall.

“I think we've all got the same idea,” she said to an older couple huddling together. “That wind is the coldest I’ve felt for many years.” The shelter was nearly full of people trying to stay warm but she found a chair near the back of the shelter and settled down to warm up and regain her strength.

Unconsciously, Jessica’s mind drifted back to those peaceful serene times of her younger years. Being a young girl in those times was difficult. Children were taught proper manners and they were expected to help with anything at home that was needed, including caring for the family.

She was barely fifteen and most of her early years had already been spent taking care of her ailing Mama. Her Papa had died before she was ten of one of the many illnesses that had swept through the rat-infested tenements they'd lived in. Because her Papa had died so young and she was an only child, it was assumed she would carry on where her Papa had left off. Her Mama never re-married and Jessica thought she probably never would. That meant Jessica was responsible for all of the things a child should never have to be responsible for. Between doing her chores at home and cleaning house for rich Dutch families, she'd somehow scraped enough together to feed them and keep a roof over their heads.

It was on one of those early cold winter mornings she'd rushed down the stairs and met the only man she would ever love. It happened so suddenly, just as she looked down to button her worn coat, her footing slipped on the icy stairs and she was suddenly flung backwards landing on her back side, sliding unceremoniously down the stairs and finally coming to a stop at the bottom.

“Are you all right?” he'd asked, shocking Jessica who had hoped no one was around to witness her flying through the air.

She looked up into the brightest blue eyes and most ruggedly handsome face she'd ever seen. Her cheeks felt red hot and she knew she was blushing.

“Yes, of course,“ she managed to mumble.

“My name is Jakob Horne,” offering his hand to pull her up.

“I'm Jessica van Dam,” she said as she took his hand and as lady like as possible allowed him to help her up. “Thank you for your help and please just call me Jessica.”

“I'm very pleased to meet you Jessica.”

Jakob was a few years older than Jessica and worked for the state department as secretarial assistant to the Ministry of Defense coordinator. From the moment her eyes met his it seemed like their lives together had been destined. Their admiration for each other had grown over the course of the next few months and Jessica soon found herself in love with Jakob. Fortunately, for them both, he'd felt the same way about her.

“Will you marry me, Jessica?” The very question shocked Jessica. They'd sat down on their favorite bench in the big park near Jessica’s home. It was their place, their favorite together place.

Jessica, barely able to contain herself quickly blurted out “Yes.” It was with great relief they found that both families blessed this union, especially in this uncertain time of their lives.

In early 1886, they were married in a simple ceremony by the court clerk in the big City Hall of Rotterdam and quickly started their life together living under her Mama’s roof. The crowded little one bedroom apartment did not make life easy for any of them. With very little privacy, Jessica and Jakob slept in the living quarters while her ailing Mama spent most of her time in bed in the bedroom.

While Jakob worked very hard, his meager wages barely kept them all alive.

“Jessica we have to find something larger for us. We need privacy for us too,” Jakob often complained.

They both knew it was impossible living that way and they needed more room.

“Jessica, we cannot manage this way, I am sorry I cannot provide what we need.”

Jessica was by then in her last month of her first pregnancy, late in 1889. The single glass pane windows provided little if any protection from the cold winter winds and her Mama was very ill at the same time. Jessica was beside herself with worry.

“Jakob, I am sorry, I don't know what to do anymore,” she'd cried. “Mama is very ill, the new baby will be here soon. This is not a good time or place to bring a new life into.”

Within the next few weeks, the Doctor had delivered Jessica’s first child. It was not an easy delivery for Jessica and the boy was not well from the start. They'd named him Franz Jakob in honor of his Papa and Grand Papa.

It was also Christmas, the most Holy time for them. “Jakob, please help me decorate a little bit and it will help Mama smile.”

Jakob did the best he could and found a little Christmas tree in the forest near town.

“Oh, Jakob, that is the most beautiful tree I have ever seen,“ Jessica had cried with delight.

Carefully decorating it with her homemade ornaments and placing the little white candles in just the right places Jessica made her little home sparkle with Christmas. She' been right. Her Mama had loved it and a sparkle came into her eyes when she saw it.

The next few weeks were hell on Jessica. Just after Christmas Jakob had awoken her telling her “Jessica, the Doctor is here. Your Mama got very ill during the night and passed away.”

“I’m sorry Mrs. Horne, I tried to help her,” said the Doctor. “She was just to ill, this flu is taking many people this time.”

Through her tears of sorrow Jessica asked “Please Doctor, will you look at Jakob Franz, he has been getting worse, I’m afraid he has the same thing.”

“Mrs. Horne, your baby has the same disease that your Mama died from. I’m afraid nothing can be done but to make him as comfortable as possible. I’m very sorry Mrs. Horne,” the Doctor said after examining Franz.

It seemed impossible to be happening; yet 3 days after her Mama’s remains were cremated her precious baby boy also succumbed to the dreaded disease.

Jessica and Jakob loved as no one had ever loved. Their faith in humanity and God kept their love strong. Over the years, they'd struggled with the painful loss of two more beautiful sons.

Jakob was beside himself with grief and clung to Jessica’s hand saying, “It is meant to be, it must be God’s will. Someday he will show us his plan.”

Both Jessica and Jakob were overjoyed when they had been blessed with the arrival of Sarah.

It was a beautiful spring evening the night of her birth. When the baby arrived the Doctor looked at Sarah and said, “You have a beautiful baby girl Mrs. Horne. Congratulations.”

Tears flooded Jessica’s eyes as she held her new baby for the first time. “Jakob, look. She's so beautiful.”

Jakob took his daughter in his arms and held her safely. “She will learn to grow strong and independent Jessica, we will see to it. God has planned it to be this way.”

The sharp crack of rifles firing in the next street brought Jessica quickly back to reality. She heard the loud sound of footsteps coming closer to the shelter but there was no place for her to hide. “Jessica, you know better than to daydream when it is so dangerous,” she told herself as she left the shelter as inconspicuously as possible.

The heavy footsteps of the boots marching came closer and she realized they were coming right around the corner from where she stood. Even the heavy rainfall had not kept the butcher’s henchmen inside.

Lowering her head she slowly shuffled along hoping the soldiers would pay her little mind. Almost half way down the line of the troop of soldiers, her body shuddered.

“You there, old woman,” the Sergeant had bellowed at her. “Halt!! What do you want out here in this rain old woman? What are you up to?”

Her nerves rattled and her body trembled from fear. For one inconceivable second she had considered ending it all now.

The thought occurred to her to just turn and run. ‘They will kill me and I would be with my precious Jakob again.’

“I’m just going on my daily walk through the park officer.”

“Your ID card. Now!!” he barked at her. As her trembling frail fingers fumbled with her billfold, the sergeant growing impatient grabbed it from her with such force he nearly toppled her over.

Seemingly satisfied he threw the billfold towards Jessica and it landed in a puddle.

“On your way old woman and don't interfere with the duties of the troops again.” “Forward March,” he ordered as the troops moved on.

As the echoes of the marching soldiers moved into the distance, Jessica struggled to pick up her soaking wet billfold. Slowly she put it back into her pocket.

“Jakob, if only you were still here, you would have at least tried to help me. Please forgive me Jakob for even thinking of giving up, I’m just so tired and afraid,” she whispered quietly to her deceased husband.

Finally turning the corner and entering the park gates Jessica breathed a sigh of relief thinking now she was well beyond where the soldiers had been patrolling. Knowing exactly where she was to be and what time, she hurried her footsteps along the smooth worn cobblestone pathway. Just over the little wooden bridge crossing the bubbling stream running through the park, she saw him sitting on a bench.

Slowly she walked towards him, watching her every move and listening for anything that may be suspicious. Satisfied she was safe she walked over and sat down next to him.

“Hello George,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I’m late, the soldiers stopped me.”

“You’re forgiven Duckie. How have you been dear? I haven't seen you in weeks. I’m sorry I was called back to England.”

“I’ve missed you too George,” she once again whispered. “I can't stay long this time,” handing him a little envelope from her inside pocket. “These are the codes Jakob’s old friends in the Ministry of Defense passed to me. I hope they help.”

“Jakob was such a good man. I miss him greatly,” said George. “You and he have been the best resistance members we Brits have ever dealt with. You’ve aided us a great deal and saved many English lives as well as many of your own countrymen. I’ve been very proud to know you both.”

The silence surrounding two old friends admiring each other was broken with the ear shattering retort of a rifle firing a warning shot into the air. “Stand up, both of you. Hands in the air.”

“You’re both under arrest under the authority of the Third Reich. You will both be charged with acts of treason. Give me that envelope. Now!!” he ordered.

As George turned to hand him the envelope both he and Jessica knew what they had to do.

Without hesitation, they both turned and ran in different directions. George being younger than Jessica stood the better chance.

Running away from the soldiers, he somehow managed to elude them by jumping into a gully and covering himself quickly with fallen leaves. He expected them to be on his heels but it seemed they were more interested in Jessica. Knowing the envelope containing the codes was all-important; he would not take the chance of being caught with it. Instead, he found a safe place to hide it under a moss-covered rock. Being sure he knew exactly where the spot was he laid still until he knew he would be safe to run.

Jessica knew she was about to die. She'd long ago decided had this ever happened she would gladly give her life for the freedom of the country she loved so much with no hesitation about dying.

She could hear the bullets whizzing by her. Her heart was pounding. She couldn't go on. She was so dizzy and tired, it was time to give up, and the end was near.

“I won't let you murder me easily,” she shouted turning back towards the soldiers making them face her.

“You are all cowards,” she cried out as the first bullet struck her leg and she fell to the ground. With warm sticky blood filling her shoe she somehow got back up and stood there staring into the faces of the young men thinking ‘If they are going to kill me they will kill me looking into my eyes.’

The silence of the standoff was broken by the slightest whimper she let out as two more bullets struck home. Silently, she lay on the ground, blood trickling from her lips as she slowly took her last breath. She smiled gently knowing she would soon be with her beloved Jakob and their sons.

A week later, a memorial service was held for Jessica. Attending were many of Jakob’s old friends and some of the brave from the underground who'd dared to be seen in public. Hidden safely in the forest at the edge of the cemetery was Jessica’s oldest friend George. Even though he was in danger, he had to say goodbye to his dear friend. Days later, through arrangements made with Sarah by one of Jakobs old friends, he had met Sarah in the large market square in the bombed out center of Rotterdam.

Giving Sarah a hug of comfort, he whispered, “The codes have been passed safely, I look forward to working with you.“

“The torch has been passed on to you.”

J. vanderHorst 4/30/03©

References: The Netherlands in World War II: A Bibliography