Yogurt From Germany

by kbear802

Rudy's family suffers starvation in the time of the Holocaust and has to slaughter his goat, Nillea. But with this lost he gains something else, a valuable food source for his family and the rest of Germany for years to come.

There is a time and place for everything. Right now it's time for my pet goat, Nillea, not just that she's old, it's that my family is hungry. It's not just that shes been my best friend since I could remember, but my family doesn't care. As I pet my best friend for the last time, I hear the sour voice of my brother, "Get out of here Saukerl or do you want to kill the goat?" I know he's just as sad as I am so I let this one go, but what can I do? I can't. Walking to the door I see my sisters hungry eyes, they don't know what is happening and I'm not going to do that to them. I hear the blaas and the axe, he didn't wait until I got inside. Those were the last sounds I heard from my best friend.

When I enter the door my eyes are watering and I run to the basement. I know it's just a goat but she was my best friend. I kick the walls and pound the ground. Later I will have to clean the barn with the dead eyes of my friend starring.

He comes in from the barn about an hour later tears stained to his face. It was my turn to clean the barn. He already took the meat, I have to get the intestines, bladder and other organs clean for water. Once that was done it was my turn to milk the cows, I used the rusty bucket and sat down. Once the milking was done I had to deliver to the people that ordered milk. First to Mrs. Skelton, then Dr. and Mrs and Ms. Hurbert. I got 75 cents at the first two houses, the last one was just around the corner. I walked down the street looking at the dirt downs of poor Germany. After being bombed there was a lose of everything, food, business, houses, children. A lot customers couldn't pay for milk anymore, but at least we have three. Walking to the door I see the eyes peeking through the rags on the curtains. When I see her open the door I see her eyes. I stare for a few seconds and all she says is "Sorry, and hands me the money." I try to give give her the milk but she doesn't take it, just shuts the door. Another one gone.

A walk home slowly, and hold the milk and my friend in my hand. When I get home momma is yelling at the kids. "Rudddyyyy." I throw the milk on the hay to hide it. When I get inside I don't tell her about Ms. Stin, no when shes in this mood. I leave the money on the table and go to do my chores.

In the next few days I forget about the milk, I pass the days with throwing rocks and playing soccer in the streets. Until I remember I didn't finish cleaning up. I run into the barn to finish and I smell something. It's a terrible smell, but it doesn't smell bad either. I look around the barn, and see what it is. It's the cows milk. I untie the bladder to see what's inside. To my surprise I see the milk but it's chunky. It smells okay. I still my finger and taste what's inside. It's nice. I wonder what would make it taste good. I run into the house and grab a strawberry off the shelf. I dip the strawberry and taste it. It's delicious. Over the next few years I experiment with different fruits. Once people found out about it, everyone wanted it. And what could I say? Yogurt started in Germany.