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Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

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“Your family can stay here a month,” she offered. So we had aland<strong>in</strong>g place for one month.The boys and I hitchhiked back up to <strong>the</strong> Midlands and beganstack<strong>in</strong>g our little truck with as much as I could load onto it forour immediate requirements. The conta<strong>in</strong>er with all our furniture<strong>in</strong> it had already gone to Kent.As we prepared to leave, one of <strong>the</strong> Hardy bro<strong>the</strong>rs came up tome. “Bro<strong>the</strong>r <strong>Arthur</strong>,” he announced, “<strong>the</strong> Lord has told me topay your rent for eight weeks. If anyth<strong>in</strong>g goes wrong down <strong>in</strong>Kent and if you have to come back, you can return to your househere.” I appreciated that, because my mo<strong>the</strong>r and Auntie Adawere still liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> house.No one knew of my predicament — I was penniless.In mov<strong>in</strong>g to Kent, we had to establish a bridgehead. In <strong>the</strong>Normandy Invasion, we British crossed <strong>the</strong> channel and set up abridgehead on <strong>the</strong> Normandy coast before we could launch an<strong>in</strong>vasion aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> might of <strong>the</strong> German army. In m<strong>in</strong>iature, ourmove <strong>in</strong>to temporary quarters was like that. I moved my possessionsvirtually without any money, believ<strong>in</strong>g God to complete<strong>the</strong> payment of transport<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m. When my family and I got toKent, arriv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> time for a meet<strong>in</strong>g, I had put our last 10 shill<strong>in</strong>gs<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> petrol tank of my van. We had no more money and nofood. We did have lodg<strong>in</strong>g for one month <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> house of a goodsister, but she could not care for our o<strong>the</strong>r needs.We arrived at Herne Bay and jo<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>g just before <strong>the</strong>rewas a break for tea, or d<strong>in</strong>ner. Several people I knew greeted mewarmly, call<strong>in</strong>g, “Hello, Uncle <strong>Arthur</strong>!” As several came up tochat, I noticed a little lady stand<strong>in</strong>g, listen<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> outside of<strong>the</strong> group.No one knew of my predicament — that I was penniless andfoodless. They just knew Uncle <strong>Arthur</strong> <strong>Burt</strong> from <strong>the</strong> Midlandswas com<strong>in</strong>g to live <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> south and <strong>the</strong>y talked excitedly aboutmy move. Then I noticed this little lady come close to me. All ofa sudden, she darted forward and pushed someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to myhand. Then, just as quickly, she disappeared <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> crowd. Iopened my hand and saw a £5 note. I looked at <strong>the</strong> clock. It was111

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