Five Brothers and a War

Help for Marie

conceivable argument not to let this young woman slip through their fingers. Not only did she look like she could handle the job, saving them from having to pitch in too much, but they even went so far as to consider the possibility that this was no coincidence, but the work of a helping hand from God. Having dealt with her objections one at a time, the final point religious point must have pushed the matter into the “Win-win column.” The boys could scarcely wait for the day Lenie Wielinga would start her job.

Lenie Wielinga

van Pelt

The boys of course took an instant liking to Lenie. But It did not take long before Marie got used to the idea of having a helper. Lenie turned out to be a great help and a pleasure to have around. The boys figured they had a living model to learn more about females. The one thing the boys did not like was that Lenie could not stay overnight. The mystique would certainly have quickly become a mistake had that happened. The boys would insist that anyone who thinks that shenanigans occurred has a dirty mind. An objective observer would conclude that the “lady doth protest too much,” however. There were “friendly wrestling matches” with her “without any ulterior motives”. The boys would insist that she enjoyed it as much as they did. After a about a year and a half, just before the hongerwinter (“hunger winter”) of 1944-45 began taking its toll, Lenie had to return home to her mother in the northern province Groningen. The van Pelts never saw her again, though they did hear she later got married. In 1949, while on a business trip to Groningen, Kees went to her house to see her. However, her husband answered the door and refused to either summon her or let her know of the visit.

Five Brothers and a War

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