So Im gonna write a story about the Holocaust. In history we are studying it and I was struck with an idea and I just have to get it out to you guys. I know im writing others but I just had to get this out. The Holocaust is a tragic event of course but there was always hope for these people. They may have lost it at times but some still believed that they would be saved.
Eight months ago her father left to fight for the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. He left in 5 minutes' notice. Four months ago she was sent to a ghetto. Two months ago she was sent to Auschwitz. A concentration camp in Poland. A place far from home and a place where she never saw her mother again. She was sent to the left, her mother to the right. Usually it was only the men. But with her being in shape and health as a horse. She was sent to work in the factories.
There was a little background I'm going to start it about 4 months into her stay, I got some ideas from The boy in the Striped Pajamas. I really hope you guys enjoy this. I'm not meaning to offend anyone with this story so please don't get mad at me. If I go too far just tell me and I will back off. I want this story to be as real as possible so bear with me. It's going to be a little different from what you usually think though so that's good. So….here it is!
Her fingers hurt as she scrubbed the dishes at the house on the front grounds. The small tub sat outside under the kitchen window. People were bustling in and out carrying crates and luggage. Some small, some large. Truck after truck. Person after person. They seemed to never end. Some had on striped clothes much like hers and others had on Nazi SSR uniforms. Many looked to be no older than her.
"Hey You!" A rough voice called from the front causing her to bow head and not look at the man. "HEY! IM TALKING TO YOU!" The man forcefully pulled her up straight and shook her. "You will listen when I speak to you, you understand you parasite!"
She nodded and continued to look at the ground. She knew not to look into his eye. It was against the rules. She could feel the sweat on her upper lip start to pool and the sweat on her neck started to drip down her unusually cold back. It sent a shiver up her spine and the man slapped her.
"Where are you supposed to be?" Another voice sounded from near the dirt front drive.
"Uh, um, Here sir." The man said letting her go and standing at attention.
"Why do I have a hard time believing you, young man." The voice was advancing on them and she backed away. Her back pressed against the hard, rough cobble stones of the side of the mansion.
"Um, sorry sir. Where shall I be?" The man asked his voice quivering with fright.
"Go bring more crates to the house." The man nodded and hurried away from the girl and the other man.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare." She said in German, crouching back to finish with the dishes.
"It is quite alright. Just don't be caught doing it again. Hurry it up now." She nodded and gathered the now clean dishes. She all but ran around the back corner of the house and into the back door of the kitchen. She tried to open the door but another soldier was standing there. His face emotionless. He glanced at her and nodded. Stepping aside as he noticed the dishes in her hands. He opened the door and shoved her in. Not before firmly placing his hands on her ass. She squeaked and stumbled into the kitchen. Her bare callused feet brushing against the splintered wood. She placed the dishes in their designated places marked with old cloth nailed to the shelves. They were written in Ukrainian to help most of the workers. She had done it last month and less beatings had been issued. She was not sure why some of the new recruits ignored the labels but she was sure that the ones coming with the new Commandant weren't going to be as nice as the last.
"Hey Jew, Where is the bread?" A short teenager asked. He wore a Hitler Youth uniform and about 10 badges on the right side of his chest.
She pointed at the cupboard next to the ice box. He hand shaking slightly. The teenager nodded and briskly took a roll and a cup of water with him as he walked into the parlor. She whipped down the counter in the middle of the kitchen with a damp old rag and splashed water on her face. She turned to the back door as it was pushed open and two more Hitler Youth walked in. One was at least 13 and the other 16. The stopped to look at her, neither with disgust. One even sent her a small smile. The other said nothing and continued into the parlor. The shorter of the two walked forward and grabbed an apple out of the wood bowl on the counter. He pulled a small knife out of his boot and cut off a piece. He held it out to her.
She shook her head and backed away bumping into a cart of meats. Her hand barely missing the covered dinner. "No thank you."
"It only a slice of apple." He said in German.
She gently pulled it from is hand and greedily ate it. The bitter but sweet taste of the fruit making her smile slightly and nod at the boy before he walked out. He turned back to her and smiled. His teeth were white, and his eyes were as blue as the sky. His hair was Blonde and he had a slight tan. The brown uniform making him look older. He had about 28 medals on his jacket. He nodded again and continued to walk away.
Later that day she sat in her bunk. Squished between two others. Their hair long and greasy. At least by working in the commons she was made to shower twice a week. She had to be better nourished and had to have at least 2 changes of striped clothes. Her bunk smelled of urine and there were no blankets. The ground was complete mud or mostly mud. Her bare feet coated in urine and mud. She shifted a little trying to get the nail that was digging into her thigh off. She supported herself by leaning against the post.
As she drifted to sleep she thought of the younger boy who gave her a slice of apple. She let sleep over take her and she could almost taste the apple on her tongue.
It felt as if she was only asleep for mere seconds before the alarm was sounded, meaning it was time for another days work. This time she was working in the main house. It was a Friday and she was to help the new family settle in. They needed a maid and she was the one the guards had supplied. Not that she cared, she had been a maid before, but never at the main house. She jumped down off her bunk and trudged through the feces and mud. He boots had been stolen from one of the men that had always trailed her. He was the stable hand along with his "goons". They had yet to follow her this week, letting her have a small amount of hope that they wouldn't return.
When she made it to the main house. She stepped up to the hoes. She sprayed off her feet and calves. They were slightly chilled by the morning air and she let her toes run through the soft grass. The houses behind her only had dirt and prickly weeds. This grass reminded her of home. She looked up when she heard a car pull up and 2 men get out. They were SSR soldiers, they didn't even glance at her as they passed and she looked down at their polished boots. She rounded the house looking for a side entrance. Knowing she wasn't allowed to enter the front door. Once she found one she quickly made her way in to find two other women standing there. Neither in Stripped clothing. The oldest, most likely the Commandants wife smiled at her, her eyes as blue as the boys the day before. The younger one standing next to her frowned at her clothing and motioned her forward.
"Is this really what they have you wear?" She asked pulling at the thin cloth.
With a nod she backed up when a man walked in. He was the Commandant. He had on a black Nazi uniform with over 30 medals and badges. A red arm band with a Swastika tightly around his right bicep. "You must be our maid." He said smiling at her. She nodded but said nothing.
She glanced at the girl that was about her age, she noticed the green dress she was wearing was nothing like the past women had worn around the commons. The dress was slightly puffed and had lace around her shoulders and bust. "I know you might not be used to this kind of thing but, the guards told us that you aren't really a Jew, you were forced out of your home because your father had been caught in the war? The guards here aren't mean like the ones at the other Camp we lived at. I'm Breena by the way, and you are?"
"1003." She muttered rolling up her sleeve.
"No silly, your real name?" Her eyes widened at the girl when all she did was wrap an arm around her.
"Gabriella." She said smiling gently. She hadn't been able to say her name in so long. It felt as if it wasn't her name anymore. She stepped farther into kitchen but stopped when a boy started to walk in. Or should she say man. He looked to be around 21 and had on a Black uniform.
"Oh! Troy! It's nice to see you awake! This here is our new maid, Gabriella." Breena said smiling at him.
"Pleasure." Was all he said as he past. Not before Gabriella noticed the ice blue eyes. Sharp and more vivid than the young boy yesterday. They held her gaze for a second before he was past her and walking out the side door.
"He hasn't talked much since he came to live with us. His dad was a soldier for Mussolini. The Fascist Dictator in Italy?" Gabriella shook her head and started to learn her way around the kitchen. Her feet squeaking against the mahogany.
A month had past and she had yet to see Troy again. She dare not ask about him in case it was forbidden. She was outside cleaning the windows when she heard rustling from behind the fence to the back gardens. She tried to see over them but stopped when she heard a voice from behind her.
"What in god's name are you doing back there?" The woman from the kitchen walked to the gate and thrust it open. The boy that gave her the apple quickly walked out, blushing at the woman.
"Ma, I was just messing with the stone. Antonio said that people used to hide codes in the bricks."
"Daniel, you have no business going back there." She said and as she passed Gabriella she stopped.
"Hello Gabriella." Gabriella nodded still not looking into their eyes. She went back to cleaning and the mother and son walked into the house. She smiled at the young girl staring back at her through the window and giggled when the girl pressed her face onto the glass, making it squish. The girl on the other side giggled and ran off. Her blonde hair swaying as she disappeared.
"You know you're going to have to clean the other side again, right?" a deep velvet voice reached her ears. She turned and saw troy standing there. His uniform was not present. He wore civilian pants and a white dress shirt. Black suspenders hung loosely at his hips. His eyes bright in the sun. His short cropped hair barely brushing his forehead. She blushed and turned to look at the window.
With a quick nod she turned back dampening the cloth in the water at her feet before continuing with her task. She inhaled deeply as she felt Troy place a hand on her left hip as he bent down to grab the other cloth in the bucket. "May I?" He asked nodding toward the window she had yet to reach. Again all she did was nod.
"Do you not speak?" He asked concerned.
"I do." She answered.
"Very well." Troy said wiping the window carelessly.
"No, no. you have to go in a circular motion." She said in Ukrainian. Frowning when he stared to go in a circular motion smiling at her. "You know Ukrainian?"
Troy nodded and pinched his fingers leaving barely any space between them. "A little."
The sound of tires interrupted their comfortable silence as it came through the gates. Troy turned and paled. He handed his cloth to a now scared Gabriella and hurriedly ran around the side of the house, jumping over the gate and into the back gardens. She watched as 4 people got out of the truck. They wore similar uniforms to Troy's and their boots were polished. She quickly finished with the windows and picked up the bucket. She ran to the back door leading into the kitchen. She pushed open the door and placed the bucket near the shelves on the right. She pulled a clean cloth out and dipped it into the sink. Cleaning off her feet as fast as she could she jumped to the parlor, after successfully throwing the cloth into the laundry den. Voices were advancing to the parlor and she ran to the tea and biscuits. She placed fresh butter and jam on the silver plate and as soon as she placed it on the table, 8 men walked in. 4 of which she had seen in camp. They nodded at her and she backed up until her back was up against the bookshelf. Her still damp feet leaving foot prints on the hard wood. She winced; surly the guard would scold her for it.
"Nice to see your pet knows when to shut up." One said to Mr. Meissen (Pronounced Mice-En). The commandant flinched and glanced at Gabriella. He nodded and looked back at the General.
"General Ludwig. Please it is a pleasure to see you." Meissen said forcing a smile at the man. Troy slowly walked into the parlor and knocked timidly on the door. He was now in his uniform, His band in his hand. He looked out of breath but hid it well. His expression reminded Gabriella of stone. His eyes traveled to her and it softened.
"Ah! Mr. Bolton, pleasure you could join us. Just waking up I'm guessing?" Meissen said smiling a genuine smile at the young man.
"Yes sir." He said nodding. He walked in once Meissen waved him over.
"Come join us boy." Troy smiled at the other 7 officers and sat in the arm chair closest to Gabriella his hand brushing against her arm as he sat down. He pulled it away and leaned the opposite way. Her eyebrows scrunched forward and she tried to slow her advancing tears.