The car ride to town was quick, but it felt like it dragged on in a weighed down silence. Every time I thought about opening my mouth to say something, anything I did not. Nothing would come out and what was I supposed to say? Every so often I glanced at Mr. Anderson, I had to keep reassuring myself that he was real. That is was real and this was not a dream and nor myself or Mr. Anderson were going anywhere.
A few times when I was glancing at him his eyes caught mine and every time that happened I bit my lip a little more harder than before. Why did I agree to do this? What was I thinking, us trying to talk everything out that had happened.
This was going to be an awkward dinner.
We did not speak when we pulled up to the diner and I only uttered a small thank you as he opened my door for me. It was only when we had sat down at the most secluded booth in the diner did Mr. Anderson speak as I was studying the menu.
"What are you getting?" Asking me.
I shrugged my shoulders, "I do not know. I am not used to American food so I am not sure what to get." Truthfully speaking to him.
He smiled, "I suggest a good old burger and fries."
Giving him a small smile I nodded as the waitress came over to take our order. She turned to me and I glanced at Mr. Anderson, "A burger and fries." Letting out a giggle.
After she left the silence started to settle again.
"So how old were you when you joined the Army?" Breaking the feared silence.
"The Army snatched me up at eighteen but it took me awhile before I made it to the 6th Armored Division. By the time I entered the Division I was twenty-one."
"You are twenty eight now?" Inquiring as the waitress set down our drinks.
Mr. Anderson smirked, "Yes ma'am I am. How old are you if you don't mind me asking."
"I am twenty, in a few months I will be twenty-one. I was eleven when we got sent to Buchenwald." Quietly responding before taking a sip of my water.
The silence appeared again but I was determined to keep it at bay, "Is being a police officer something you have always wanted to do Mr. Anderson?" Politely questioning him.
He laughed, "Mr. Anderson is my father, please call me Thomas."
A blush spread to my cheeks, "Okay Thomas."
"To answer your question, yes I have always to be an officer. You see my father was cop and I grew up idolizing him and what he stood for. I remember thinking to myself when I was a kid, 'Wow I am going to be that someday.' He died in the line of duty when I was away during the War." Thomas quietly spoke the last sentence.
Lifting my hand I gently laid it upon his, "I am so sorry for your loss Thomas, but I know that your father is proud of you and what you have become." Earnestly speaking to him.
He gave me this quizzical stare and I wondered if I had said or done something wrong, "You are giving your condolences to me? What about you? How many did the Nazi's take from you?" Thomas squeezed my hand.
Closing my eyes for a brief moment I hesitated to answer but this man had saved my life and I knew I had to tell him. He was just as much in the War as I was.
"Everybody except for my cousin Petras and myself. We were the only two that survived when the end came." Softly replying to him, "After I was released from the hospital in Germany hundreds of survivors like myself tried in vain and desperation to see if any of their loved ones had survived the camps."
My lip began trembling and I had to bite it hard to keep it still, "I knew my momma and my aunts were dead but I thought maybe my papa, my uncle, or my cousin had survived. I did not even try looking for my little cousins or my grandparents. I learned at the camps that after our arrival at Auschwitz they had been sent to the gas chambers." Tears slipped down my face as the anguish began clawing in my chest.
I looked up at Thomas. Other than Eliezer and Petras I never talked to anyone about what had happened. I did not anyone's pity or for them to stare at me like all I was, was six numbers.
Or worse for people not to believe me at all. That would hurt more than anything because everybody being oppressed in Europe screamed for help and rarely was anybody heard.
But the fear in my chest rested and turned into something I could not describe for when I looked into Thomas's eyes I did not see pity. I saw a sense of understanding, perhaps because we both had experienced Buchenwald. What we all must have looked like to those unknowing, innocent soldiers when they first came upon the camp.
"When you found me I was ready to die. I was ready to join my mama and my aunts, and the rest of my family but I was unaware of that fact when you found me. I wanted to die. For the suffering to be over, I did not understand why the resistance chose to hide me but they did."
Pausing I took in some air before continuing, "When you lifted me into your arms I thought I was dead, that I was floating out of my body completely weightless. The thought made me smile until I heard your fractured German in my ears and reality crashed me back to earth. Opening my eyes I stared into the purest blue sapphire eyes I had ever seen. I tried speaking to you but I realized you could not understand me speaking in Lithuanian."
"Jesus I didn't even know where you were from." Speaking in a dazed amazement as he ran a hand through his sandy blond hair.
We stared at each other, "We have been through much yet know so little." Confessing as I stared back at my drink.
Moment after moment passed before I dryly chuckled, "I thought your voice sounded like silk, reminding me of one of aunts glamorous dresses. As you were carrying me I wondered what God had planned for me if I was to not die in the camp. I passed out and the next thing I remembered was waking up in a German hospital two weeks later, dreaming of your jewel eyes."
The waitress brought our food to the table but I did not feel hungry anymore. The depressing and morbid always makes you loose your appetite.
"Tell me something good, something else. Something happy. Do you have a wife? A family?" I asked him.
He laughed, "No, no work doesn't allow me much time for a social life and no woman wants to be seen with a mug like mine." Thomas grinned.
"Why not?" Smiling at him, "You are quite handsome after all." Gasping as I let that last part slip out. My cheeks instantly flushed a deep crimson. My embarrassment only deepened as Thomas let out more of his laughter.
Staring down at my plate in annoyance I picked up what I believed must have been my hamburger and took a bite.
My eyes widened as I chewed and swallowed this magnificent piece of food.
When I finished swallowing my first bite I turned to Thomas whose face was extended in a wide grin, "Told you it was good."
Smiling I made a mental note to write to Eliezer and tell him about this food called a hamburger.
The rest of the dinner passed by in a flurry of laughs, smiles and good memories shared. The awfulness of the past stayed away for a little while as we got to enjoy ourselves.
Thomas drove me back to the campgrounds after our dinner and stroll and around town. I decided I liked being in Thomas's presence, he was lovely company to have and easier to talk to than I expected.
Pulling to a stop at the main gate Thomas got out of the car and went over to my door opening it for me.
"What a gentleman thank you Thomas." Grinning at him as I took his outstretched hand and he smiled back.
The camp was quiet as the late evening was slowly turning into nightfall. I offered Thomas a tour around the campgrounds since I expected most of the troupe to be occupied in their trailers or tents.
Or so I thought, "Madalina there you are." Paul came walking towards me smiling but his demeanor suddenly changed when he saw Thomas standing beside me.
"Eve said you went out to dinner." Paul was eyeing Thomas up and down but I could not out why?
"Yes, Paul this is Deputy Chief Thomas Anderson. Thomas this is Paul, he is one of the amazing performers in the show." Introducing them to one another. Thomas nodded with a friendly smile and extended his hand but Paul shrugged it off.
My brow furrowed in frustration and confusion at Paul's attitude, "Paul, Thomas was the one who helped me get Meep out of jail." Explaining to him hoping that would change his attitude.
It did not, "Yeah I'm sure he's a real nice bloke." Paul huffed out staring intently at Thomas.
There was a long, painfully awkward silence between the three of us. The tension coming off of Paul was enough to fill the main tent.
Thomas cleared his throat, "I should be getting back to town I have a few things to finish up at the station." I did not know how much of that was true but I accepted the excuse to leave none the less.
"Thank you so much for dinner Thomas I had a wonderful time." Smiling at him.
He smiled back, "No problem, it was a lovely evening. Goodnight Madalina, tell Meep I said hello." He turned to Paul, "Goodnight sir." Nodding and walked back towards his car.
It was only when he was driving away from the camp did Paul finally speak, "The nerve of that man coming into our home." Spitting out.
I was shocked, "Paul what is wrong with you? You were incredibly rude to Thomas." Frustratingly telling him.
"Madalina he's a copper and you can't trust coppers." Paul responded.
"Look I know the apprehension everyone has about the police and they have a right too because of the way you have all been treated but Thomas is not like that. He is a good man, if it was not for him I may not have been able to get Meep out of jail." Calmly trying to explain to him.
"Jesus you have dinner with him once and you think he holds the bloody moon." Paul nastily snapped at me.
Now I was starting to get upset, "Paul what are you so angry about? I had dinner with a friend it is not that big a deal."
"Oh so you two are friends now. Isn't that just lovely." He started shouting.
"Stop getting so upset! What am I not allowed to have friends? When did you suddenly become my master and commander?" Yelling back at him.
"Well maybe somebody should be in charge of you because clearly you don't make the smartest choices in your life!" Paul yelled out into the open air.
"Do not lecture me about my life choices!" Roaring at him which startled him a bit, "You have not been in my shoes and you never will be. You do not know anything about my life or the secrets I keep within it so do not tell me what to do or do not do!"
There was a pause and the only sound was our heavy breathing.
"I guess Thomas will just be another one of your dirty little secrets. Just like all the rest of them." Paul spoke coldly and his words felt like a slap in the face.
I bit my lip to keep from crying. He turned around without so much as a glance towards me and walked away from me leaving an icy chill in his wake.
Wrapping my arms around myself I let the tears fall as I softly started to cry.