I hadn\u2019t seen Jack, Nicholas, or their family
\nsince they left the emergency housing camp in Noisy-le-Grand
\nfive years ago.
\nEven though I pounded on the wooden panel,
\nrattled the doorknob, called out my name,
\nno one answered.
\nStill, the woman next door confirmed,
\n\u201cYes, they\u2019re home. Knock louder; they\u2019re inside.\u201d
\nEven the dog did not bark.<\/p>\n
When I finally risked pushing the door open,
\nthere stood young Jack at the back of the kitchen, near the stairs,
\nlooking ready to keep the toughest intruders out of the upstairs rooms.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t dare approach him,
\nbut stayed rooted to the spot with surprise.
\nIn vain, I repeated my name.
\nHe echoed it back to his mother,
\nhidden in the bedroom, unwilling to move.
\nThen finally she recognized my voice,
\nand dared to come downstairs toward us.<\/p>\n
(…)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"