Hidden behind a military convoy, Madeleine, Milou and Poucette are dropped off in Dunkirk and left to fend for themselves.
On May 18, around 5 p.m., they began the Exodus across France. A van will take them to Rouen. Providence will make them meet a rich lady, Madame Lebrun, the wife of a colonel who will help them pay for the trip.
In the evening, they will stay in Alberville on straw, stretched out on the ground.
On May 19, they will continue to Rouen and will stay in a convent.
On May 20, they will continue to Nantes and will stay there for twenty days. They live in rooms with Madame Lebrun.
On June 10, they arrive by bus in Poitiers.
Madeleine believes her husband has left for England and is worried because ships have sunk there. She asks all the hospitals about her husband.
Robert uses Brussels radio to make himself known and to be able to communicate his healthy return home.
But all this does not matter for Thumbelina who is 15 years old and will experience her first love thrill.
Delighted with her stay in the countryside, in the middle of summer, far from her father and despite the kilometers to travel to find food, water and wood as well as to work in the fields, she will feel free as the air and meets Teddy Durand from Breissand.
Robert back home, Madeleine sets August 3 for the return to Brussels despite Thumbelina's attempts to boïcot, which simulates an illness. In the train to Paris near Chateauroux, they are pushed back to Agen having traveled 31 hours for nothing.
On August 12 at 3 p.m., they retry the trip to Bordeaux this time. In the evening they sleep there on the floor at the station. The next day, they get three seats on a free refugee train to Brussels.
The trip will last 52 hours without going out except to fill the water bottles.