Summary Good Night Mr Tom

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6. ZACH

- The boy introduced himself as Zacharias Wrench, called Zach for short.

- He is very friendly and just keeps on chatting the whole time.

- Zach said his parents work in the theatre and they move from town to town often. He thus finds it easy to talk to people and make friends quickly.

- Willie’s mom only liked him when he was quiet and invisible.

- Tom attended a meeting called by the vicar in the town hall whilst Willie and Zach completed the Anderson.

- Tom wanted to slip in unnoticed but Mrs Miller very quickly spotted him. Everyone was very surprised to see him there since he has been a recluse in the past (keeping to himself) – after his wife, Rachel’s, death.

- Everyone was talking about the King’s message and all the regulations during the war – blackout, carrying of gasmasks, procedures during an air raid.

- The meeting was about organising the village now that war has been declared and preparing everyone.

- Gumboots and oilskins were given out.

- First Aid Post at Doctor and Nancy Little’s cottage

- Rest Centre at Village Hall

- Canteen for troops that pass through at Mrs Miller

- Lillian Peters suggested a weekly meeting of all the evacuated mothers and their infants

- Mrs Black volunteered to help at the school since there would be an extra seventy children attending

- Some volunteered to be special constables

- They identified fire-watchers (maximum 48 hours a month) and Tom volunteered two hours a day, early morning or at tea time, since he cannot leave Willie alone at night. Emilia Thorne also volunteered.

- Tom also volunteered the services of Dobbs and the cart since there were rumours of petrol rationing (limitations).

- There would be practice at the First Aid Post on Wednesdays

- Emilia Thorne runs the Amateur Dramatics Group and they meet on Thursdays

- Zach was the boy being taken care of y the Doctor and Nancy

- Zach called Willie Will since he felt that Willie was such an awful name that just cried out to be teased

- Zach wanted to play with Will the next day and Tom said it is up to Willie. Zach wanted to play Wizard! Caloo Callay! He also wanted to tell him about Captain McBlaid of the Air Police.

- Sam did not like to bath and was hiding when Tom poured water into the tub.

- Willie was scared of the tub, he thought he would drown since he cannot swim. Tom had to show him how to use a bar of soap – he has never had a bath before.

- Tom made the two of them cocoa and then read the creation from the Bible followed by a story from Just so stories. He read ‘How the whale got his throat’.

- That night Willie dreamt of Adam and Eve and a big whale chasing them in the Garden of Eden.

7. AN ENCOUNTER OVER BLACKBERRIES

- Upon inspection of the shelter they found it had water in. Tom said they would have to keep the stirrup pump close by.

- He wanted to put some more soil on and then plant some turnips in it. This would be Willie’s first time to grow something.

- For the first time ever Willie felt energy and a desire to leap and run, but he believed it to be wrong since his mother said he must always be still and quiet. However, when Tom noticed this he made him race Sam to a gate.

- Willie struggled to run and kept on falling. He cried and felt like Willie Weakling, the way in which his old classmates called him. Tom said to him that he had to practise more if he wants to win Sam, and in any case Willie beat Tom to the gate. This made him feel better.

- They came to a large field with taters, cabbage, beans, peas, sprouts, turnips and more. There were also trees with apples and pears on the side.

- Zach came to play and noticed that Willie’s hair was a lot lighter (this was because it was clean!)

- George and the twins came to invite Willie to a picnic and blackberry picking, and Zach then invited himself with. (George did not really want to invite the townees, as they called the evacuated kids. The twins were also sulking.)

- They had to pull Zach from the shelter since he was stuck after he jumped in to look inside. (Zach liked it to Buster Keaton, but no one knew who this was.)

- The picnic crowd met each other in front of the shop.

- The twins are Carrie and Ginnie.

- They headed towards Ivor’s farm. Willie carrying an empty bucket and a small bag, Zach carrying a basket and a satchel.

- Lucy and Grace were playing in front of the house.

- They picked blueberries, but were told to avoid the red ones since they are poisonous and could make you sick.

- They started talking but Willie remained silent since his mom told him that if he kept quiet and invisible people would like him and he wanted to be liked very much.

- Carrie liked reading books, climbing trees and exploring – and swimming

- Ginnie liked naming and pressing wild flowers, knitting and sewing – and swimming

- George liked fishing and his mom had even cooked some of the fish he caught. He through back tiddlers. He liked swimming and had built a raft. He played cricket and had earned a bad reputation in the village since he smashed two windows.

- Zach liked acting and reading adventure books and poetry. Also swimming and cycling. He tried writing stories.

- Willie said he likes drawing.

- They enjoyed the food and lemonade. Willie had his first taste of chocolate cake and scones and fruit pie. George ate all the food Willie could not.

- George showed Willie a swallow in the air, but he did not know that it was a bird since he only knew the word as one used to describe when you eat.

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