Chapter 23
A heavy curtain was hung over the door of the parlour with buckets of water placed beside it in case of fire. One day we heard the shrill wailing of the siren and rushed into the parlour expecting to hear the bombs dropping any minute. Nothing happened. It was only a practice. On the eve of our departure I called on Mae. Her hus
band, Jim, prior to leaving so suddenly for India, spent some time instructing Mae how to drive a car, the idea being that Mae, in the event of any emergency, would get into the car and drive her daughter and mother-in-law to some safe haven. Where that might be was anyone's guess. As I was leaving she offered to drive me home saying that this would give her some practice. Although somewhat apprehensive I accepted her offer. Mae was a little woman who
