The stampede played a lasting role in Fenna’s life. From her fear of closed spaces and crowds to her decision never to have children and her leaving Arie. When in the orphanage she is punished by being placed in the locked closet the experience is so traumatic for her that she decides escaping the orphanage is her only option. Fenna’s escape is almost derailed and she leaves her valise because she becomes so disoriented in her fear of the closed, black space. She was unable to perform some of the standard type magician’s tricks due to her fear of tight spaces. The decision to leave Arie, was due, at least impart, to her PTS from the stampede and set her upon her journey and thus provided the opportunity for the WWII portion of the story. Looking back on the novel it appears that the majority of Fenna’s life altering decisions have been made in some way, due to the trauma she experienced in the stampede.