from WAR BEGINS - the hyphens also seem inconsistent, though I didn't mark those unless they were inconsistent in a single sentence:

The day started out just like any other Sunday. We all slept a little late; Mother cooked bacon, eggs, and fried bread for breakfast, which I hungrily wolfed down so I could go into our back garden to play - just like any other Sunday.

I climbed the fence and sat down beside him. "Where is everybody this morning, Mr. Threfall?" I asked, knowing he would take the time to explain anything I asked him. Old Mr. Threfall - I always thought of him as old - was my friend, and the only adult other than my Mother and Father who talked to me as though I were a grownup and not a ten-year-old boy.

"Yes, please, Mr., Threfall." I had always enjoyed hearing Mr. Threfall's tales, and sensed that an important story was about to be told. I hoped I would be able to understand most of it. Mr. Threfall stood up and walked to one of his apple trees. Picking two apples, he returned to his seat, handing one of them to me.

"Have you heard of a man named Adolf Hitler?" he asked, taking a bite of his fruit.

In March of 1936, barely two hours after proposing a 25-year pact with Britain, France, Belgium, and Italy, Hitler announced his intention of occupying the Rhineland. This was a corridor of land east of the Rhine River. It had been taken from Germany to be used as a buffer zone between Germany and France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, by the Armistice Treaty after the 1914-18 Great War.

"Well, Jack, I'm sure I don't know; I suppose Mr. Chamberlain thought he was doing the right thing." Mr. Threfall didn't sound convinced.

For over a year the vast majority of Britains' working class-- including my parents, their friends, and our relatives-- had had no doubt that a war with Germany was inevitable in order to stop Hitler's territorial ambitions. They were exasperated at their government's do-nothing attitude and its total failure to prepare for the coming confrontation. Dad's opinion was that Neville Chamberlain was too naive about world affairs to be an effective leader. Mother was not as generous in her assessment of his abilities, invariably referring to Mr. Chamberlain as "that silly old fool."

"We're at war, Mr. Threfall," he shouted as he ran. "We're at war!"

After about ten minuets had passed the wailing broke out again, only this time it was a single, high-pitched note. "That's the all-clear signal," dad said. "We'll be all right now." Mum sighed with relief.