Strangers in Time

In late 1944, after the devastation of Germany’s bombings of London, 13-year-old Charlie Matters roams the darkened streets of the city. Charlie hides from passing constables as he makes his way to St. Savior’s School, where he hopes to steal enough money to buy bigger shoes. Unlike the rich students who attend St. Savior’s, poor East Enders like Charlie feel the brunt of the war’s scarcity. Charlie is too young to get a proper job, so he steals from those who can afford to lose some money. 

As Charlie weaves through rubble, he remembers the bombings that brought on such destruction. Every night, he fears going to sleep because he’s not certain he’ll wake up. He recites a mantra to himself about being a man to give himself courage.

Two boys, Lonzo Rossi and Eddie Gray, told Charlie there was money at St. Savior’s that he could access with a lockpick. Since breaking out of a cruel orphanage, Lonzo and Eddie have lived on the streets together. Charlie plans to steal the money and return home before his gran wakes to go to work. Charlie secretly dropped out of school a year ago, and Gran doesn’t know about his illicit activities.