The following is an account by Yvonne on how she thinks Albert got on during the time he was separated from Joey in the story!
I'll start from the beginning; After Albert offered himself to the war, and they refused. I'd say he was really mad and went back to the farm to patronize his father. Then his Dad could get really mad and say how they needed the money. Albert could then start crying and say if only he'd let him say goodbye and his dad could tell him grow up. Albert heads for the house completely hot-headed and starts packing. He was going to run away in the morning; he had made up his mind and nothing could change it now. He had put just in his toothbrush when he heard a panic stricken groan coming from downstairs. "Who was that, it sounds like mum", he thought, but it could be a trick from father to make him come down. These were only a few of the things going through his mind. After a while of conferring with his conscience he finally decided to go down. When he reached the kitchen he found his mother sitting on the rocking chair clutching her side. When she looked up, he saw pain in her eyes. Even though they were in war, Albert and his family were lucky to have a doctor living only a few doors down. Albert ran out and called his father, even though they were mad at each other. They could get over it because it was such a big cause. When they got to the doctor he said she was very sick; so sick that she might pass on. After a few months of looking after his mother while his father worked, the thought of running away was completely gone. One evening when Albert had come down from giving his mother a hot water bottle,he found his father in the kitchen, which was strange since he usually went drinking in the evenings. His father was looking out the window watching Zoey half mindedly. Albert sat and finished what was left of the coffee cake one of the neighbours had sent as a get well gift. Albert's father turned quite sharply and said "I'm sorry, I know Joey meant a lot to you but I had to keep the farm going and, well, I'm sure your mother would much rather see us get along than fight. She seems to be recovering you know and it might give her a boost if we worked together. " Any anger Albert had was completely flushed. Never had his father said sorry about anything. This really must mean a lot. And so he gave him a quick uncomfortable man hug and everything went uphill from there. Within the next fortnight mother had recovered amazingly and she was up on her feet once more, whistling while she made the dinner (that's where Albert got it from!) After Albert's birthday one evening he found a letter in the mailbox asking him to come join the army. Albert's heart lifted. After a long discussion with his parents he was finally ready to go. He would work in the veterinary clinic since that meant he would see most horses.
"I'll find Joey no matter how long it takes, no matter how long it takes," he thought.
I'll start from the beginning; After Albert offered himself to the war, and they refused. I'd say he was really mad and went back to the farm to patronize his father. Then his Dad could get really mad and say how they needed the money. Albert could then start crying and say if only he'd let him say goodbye and his dad could tell him grow up. Albert heads for the house completely hot-headed and starts packing. He was going to run away in the morning; he had made up his mind and nothing could change it now. He had put just in his toothbrush when he heard a panic stricken groan coming from downstairs. "Who was that, it sounds like mum", he thought, but it could be a trick from father to make him come down. These were only a few of the things going through his mind. After a while of conferring with his conscience he finally decided to go down. When he reached the kitchen he found his mother sitting on the rocking chair clutching her side. When she looked up, he saw pain in her eyes. Even though they were in war, Albert and his family were lucky to have a doctor living only a few doors down. Albert ran out and called his father, even though they were mad at each other. They could get over it because it was such a big cause. When they got to the doctor he said she was very sick; so sick that she might pass on. After a few months of looking after his mother while his father worked, the thought of running away was completely gone. One evening when Albert had come down from giving his mother a hot water bottle,he found his father in the kitchen, which was strange since he usually went drinking in the evenings. His father was looking out the window watching Zoey half mindedly. Albert sat and finished what was left of the coffee cake one of the neighbours had sent as a get well gift. Albert's father turned quite sharply and said "I'm sorry, I know Joey meant a lot to you but I had to keep the farm going and, well, I'm sure your mother would much rather see us get along than fight. She seems to be recovering you know and it might give her a boost if we worked together. " Any anger Albert had was completely flushed. Never had his father said sorry about anything. This really must mean a lot. And so he gave him a quick uncomfortable man hug and everything went uphill from there. Within the next fortnight mother had recovered amazingly and she was up on her feet once more, whistling while she made the dinner (that's where Albert got it from!) After Albert's birthday one evening he found a letter in the mailbox asking him to come join the army. Albert's heart lifted. After a long discussion with his parents he was finally ready to go. He would work in the veterinary clinic since that meant he would see most horses.
"I'll find Joey no matter how long it takes, no matter how long it takes," he thought.