Mother worried a lot about Berend. He ran away so often and then she had to go after him. It was difficult for Berend when they brought him to the deaf-mute institute in Groningen. Mother could finally get more rest. But that day was terribly hard. The director advised us that we should leave quietly, without Berend noticing. But on the schoolyard, they could already hear him scream and kick against the doors.

Mother cried when she came home, and we were so sadly impressed. But it was the only way for Berend. Later he told me how full of terror he had felt that day, because he thought that his parents didn’t want him anymore and that he would never see them again. It was a good thing that our grocer could visit him soon. Berend was not allowed to go home for the first four months, and he could not receive visitors either. Barbaric we think now, but at that time they thought they were doing the right thing.

Grocer Blom, who knew Berend well, heard and saw the sorrow of my parents when he delivered our groceries. He thought, this is not right and offered to go to Groningen with a package. Mother prepared it and then they waited for the evening when Blom would report back. What a joy it was for Berend to see Blom and to receive this package. He understood then that they had not forgotten him and that everything had changed for him. It was a great feast when Berend came home for the first time. He could say Papa, and my father cried. We had just slaughtered a pig, and he loved liverwurst and eggs. How often have I had to tell him about his first years at home. He loved his little sister Gee and taught her sign language. They practiced behind the house.