War Torn Love

by Londo, Jay M.

  He had that look about him, that look in his eyes; a look I was all too familiar with, he slowly strutted over to me. He gave me such a reassuring glance, and as he did he then slowly moved in and began to kiss me, his hands gently held onto my cheeks. It was so good being in his presence once more.

  “Hana you’ll always be amazingly beautiful to me! Hair or no hair it really does not matter. You are the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. There is a whole lot more about you that makes you beautiful other than your hair.”

  The kiss was proving to be so passionate - I felt sparks, as our lips met. We had so much to catch up on, and it was playing through in our kisses.

  I responded to his compliant directed at me, “Thank you, you always were a good liar, but you’re a kind liar. That is sweet of you to say, you surely flatter me, thank you that means a lot to me! You always know how to make me feel better. More than you could ever image, especially as much as this place has been taken from me.”

  I knew he wanted to ask me about the status of the rest of our family, including his mother. I recognized that look of his, he had started saying something, but then pulled back, stopping himself in mid-tracks. I knew because he himself did not voluntarily saying anything about the men’s in the family’s whereabouts. He more than likely felt it better not to talk about it right now - we did not have much time to be together. He wanted to cherish every single second he was granted with us, not wasting a single moment. He could not take his eyes off of us he was so excited, even though he was exhausted from the fight.

  “Girls, I am truly the lucky one here!”

  Then we were reminded it just was not him and me at this precious moment, know there was too cute girls tugging at us. We were interrupted when both the girls came to us, their pretty big eyes gazing up at us, so adorable were they, they did not want to be left out of the picture, I think they felt sort of neglected wanting to receive loving. I guess it had been selfish of me to hog up all the time we had afforded to us, with Abram!

  “Poppa pick me up please!”

  “Me too, uncles Abram, please!”

  He could easily pick them both up, with all the weight they had cumulatively lost. It nearly brought tears to his eyes, as he could probably feel their bones sticking out just under their skin. Momentarily choked up, in shock the condition he was now finding his family, he gained controlled of his emotions. He looked down at the girls, and smiled, he was so good with kids,

  “Ok girls, how could I possibly resist such a lovely request from two such cute girls.” After Abram picked both girls up in his powerful arms, and began hugging and kissing them both! He was fighting back the tears. They both soaked it all in like a sponge. They began to laugh when he began tickling them. It certainly made me smile, seeing any bit of happiness right now. Hearing such laugher lit us both up! The best medicine in the whole world!

  He looked at both them, trying his darnedest to take a mental picture of them. Knowing once more, it would have to last him.

  He then told them both, “I love both you girls very much, I have missed you both so much, do not ever stop thinking about that! Girls I need you both to do me a favor, could you both be real good girls for me. If you are, than I will tell you what, I will come see you again next week! Would you both like that?”

  “Ya that would be so wonderful!” Both girls answered back. Then they each kissed them on the opposite cheeks.

  “Ok then, you have to be extra good girls this week, could you do that for me?” Abram said.

  “Oh we will, Poppa we promise!”

  Now gently touching his swollen eye,” does your eye hurt Poppa? It’s all swollen up, and changing colors. Did that happen when you were in the ring?”

  “Yes honey, I am afraid so, but not to worry you should see the other guy’s eye! I got him real good, but both his eyes look like mine, but even worse.”

  “Ok my husband, they do not need to hear all the gory details of your fight!”

  “You’re absolutely right my love!”

  I noticed Abram showed equal loving towards both of the girls, I think deep down without me saying it; he knew that if we could survive this, then we would be raising our niece as our own.

  It sadly became abundantly clear our five-minutes were now up. I had to say it went so quickly. The guard came over to us,

  “Alright you, your time is up, let’s go!”

  Abram acted quickly, and gave me a quick kiss - all the guard would allow him to do before he came over and grabbed him.

  Abram told me, “I love you sweetheart, hang in there. Girls I love you both! I see you all next week I promise! You can all give me a big kiss then, until we see each other again!”

  I felt a bit more reassured him saying this, as if he was pretty confident of another chance already. I watched on with intensity, as they led my husband away as a mere prisoner once more, he looked back at us as he walked away. Fighting to watch us as long as he possible could. Nevertheless, the soldier leading him away jammed the butt of his gun in the mid of his back, ordering him to turn around.

  Then the same soldier that had minutes earlier stuck up for us abruptly, and coldly I might add, said, “You three come with me,”

  They both were now leading us to an area where there were houses, and tall trees off in the distance, it was rather pleasant; it made me think of home, seeing this. Clearly, this was the area where all the officers and their families must live, off away from the true horrors of the camp. We ended up walking right up to the nicest house on the entire lane.

  We halted abruptly in front of the house, the place was so big I could not believe it, “You three, wait here a moment!”

  The soldier then went up the steps located on the back of the house, and then knocked on the door. A few moments later, answering the door was an older looking female Jew dressed just like me, but cleaner. The soldier spoke to her a moment. Getting a satisfactory answer, the soldier turned and left us in her care, now saying a single thing to us as he walked by us. I think he was thankful he was done of three of us - he would in all likelihood just like to kill us. He had purposely bumped into me, as he had turned and walk on by. The blow was so hard it nearly knocked me right off my feet. Somehow, I managed to stay upright.

  Then the Jewish female then signaled for us to come with her. We then walked inside the home, and shut the door quietly behind us; once inside the mason, she went ahead and introduced herself, “Hello my name is Sura, so your name is?”

  “Hana, nice to meet you, Sura!”

  Showing my manners, I extended my right hand out to her, but she did not bother shaking my hand. I had thought that to be rude.

  She was not much for making small talk either, I quickly had learned; I guess she was like the rest of us, gloomy about our present situation, not wanting to be here. Realizing just because she was cleaner than we were. She still was a prisoner, and I would venture to say just being here, she had in fact lost everything, and probably much of her family. If you face what we all had been facing daily under German occupation, then you would identify with what I am saying. Understand the levels of torment every Jew had been facing since the beginning of the war. We had all suffered somehow at their hands.

  She asked, “So Hana can you cook?”

  Responding to her, “Oh yes, I am quite a good cook, so I am told, taught by my Momma who was the best in the town, where I was born!”

  The thought of having a chance to cook again sounded so good! To get my mind off of things, Felt normal even on the smallest of level.

  “Good let me show you the way to the kitchen then. Your job is to have breakfast prepared promptly by six am every single morning, I warn you! Not a minute later than that, or you will immediately be sent directly to the concentration camps, that’s what happened to our last cook; Oh make sure you cook enough for at least six very hungry men, but usually it only ends up being the commander, and his wife, and two children. Even if it is only the commander. Here is the menu his wife
expects to be served in the morning. I am sure you will be able to find everything that you will need. If you cannot find something, then please come get me immediately - never disturb the Mrs. Of the house.

  Then the help is permitted to all eat together at seven thirty, you will be making enough for usually four, plus you and your two kids. The family is served lunch at noon. And then dinner promptly at seven pm. Every week on Saturdays, the Mrs. Loves holding a dinner party for usually twenty - four his senior officers, and wives. She will personally be presenting you a menu each day, for the next day. Each day I expect a grocery list to be presented to me.

  That’s enough for now. I will tell you what, why don’t you all go ahead and follow me upstairs to the third floor were all the help stays. I will show you to your room, I am sure you and your children are tired, and you have to get up early.”

  We then followed her up the stairs.

  She spoke up, “Only please whatever you do only use this set of stairs. Well this is to be your room just over here. Now my room is directly across the hall from you. I will introduce you to the rest of the help in the morning. If you need anything, let me know. Now the bathroom is just down at the end of the hall, go ahead and help yourself, I am sure you would love to clean yourselves up, pardon me saying be you sure look like you need it. Now listen to me Hana, we are offered much more freedoms here, than even our own families, but I have to warn you, if we mess up even here just once, the Germans in charge will have this person shipped out. I need to caution you, to keep the noise down at all times - we are not to be heard ever, especially after 9 pm. You’re only permitted on this floor, and the kitchen and dining room only. Never look at them eye-to-eye. I am the head maid of this house, so please come to me, if you need anything at all.”

  Sura then glanced down at the two girls, “The girls are to remain in your room or in the kitchen with you. They allow us all a break outside for a half-hour once a day, to get some fresh air; if you try escaping, you will be shot. I will let you know each day when we can go outside. For our Gods sakes, make sure that they behave themselves; I do not want anything happening to them too! They’re both quite pretty, they remind me of own daughters.” I noticed tears welling up in her eyes.

  “Thank you Sura!”

  She half-cracked a smile, turned, and walked over to her room, and quickly said, “Goodnight! There is an alarm clock in your room I suggest you set it, do not run the risk of over sleeping on your first day. And do not be out of your room after nine o’clock.

  Then finally, we were left alone. I opened up the door to the room, awfully surprised what I was finding. There was an actual bed, something I hadn’t slept in since before the war broke out, and it was surely large enough to sleep the three of us, and oh actual clean sheets, and two blankets and two pillows. And a chair and a small table. And there was an actual window that had bars over it, to keep us from escaping. I would have to wait until tomorrow to see what the view actually was from the tiny window. There was a boiler by the window that heated the whole house.

  The girls and I were so excited to see that bed, we were all on cloud - nine. I wanted to lie down and relax on it. This had really turned out to be a terrific evening for us. But after getting a look at those clean sheets, and then back to my dirty girls, I decided before I was going to let anyone into this clean bed, we were all going to take a bath, if there was a tub available I think I would cry with joy!

  “Look girls, Isn’t this wonderful, we actually have our own room, no sharing with anyone else, just us. I just want you both to know this all has to do with your Poppa, and your uncle, we have him to thank for all this then. But girls, you had to give your word, to be very good girls. Never make any unnecessary loud noises, and do not wander off, make no trouble, you need to remain unseen, just like when you both joined me in the factory, while I worked.

  So what do you girls say we go see if there is a tub, and if there is we go take ourselves a bath, would you both like that, then we’ll get to sleep in an actual bed tonight. I have the perfect bedtime story to tell you both. Now come on follow me!” Both girls had a huge smile on their faces - it was good seeing them both smile. To our delight, we discovered a huge bathtub, even warm water. And no one else wanting to use it. We had to hurry; we only had a half hour!

  Chapter Twenty-two

  “The Commander’s house SS lieutenant Colonel Rudolf Hoess”

  I thought that being transferred to the house, out of the work camp, was somewhat nice. The conditions had to be better. Because we were slowly being starved to death. Turns out, this was not to come to us. There was no care about our health here either.

  Because of this, it was extremely difficult on the three of us being forced to be around so much food, and yet unable to eat any of it, to physically see it, and smell it cooking, and whatever was not eaten, was being either being fed as table scraps to the family dog. Often, it was simply just thrown out, without a care to all our well-being. Could you image the family dog was eating better than us?

  The first morning after arriving at this house, I was introduced to my nightmare; the commander’s wife came waltzing into the kitchen. She looked to be in her late forties, her face was beginning to show signs of wrinkling. Her hair was long, but showing signs of early graying, even early in the morning she had already managed to be all dressed up, she wore high heels. Make up painted heavily on her face, long painted fingernails. It was clear and immediately, she took one gaze at me, then wasting no time to get her point across, sternly began forewarning me,

  “Do not just stand there, my yourself useful, Go make me a cup of coffee, with cream and two sugars!“

  “Yes Mrs. Hoess!

  Then as I was brewing her coffee, she came over, got directly in my face, too intimidate me I am sure, and snarled out, “If I ever catch you stealing a single crumb of my food, then I will personally see to it, to have you sent to the concentration camp, along with those filthy girls you brought of your! Frankly, the only reason their being-permitted here, is because of my husband. If I had my way, well they would be out of here in a heartbeat. I hate other people children, almost as much as I hate Jew’s. But thankfully my husband’s work is being very successful here!”

  She personally preceded to layout her set of rules that I was to follow. Still very much, in my face, her voice had risen, by the time she was done going over the rules, she was nearly screaming at me for no apparent reason.

  She was quite adamant that I was to follow, and abide by her rules, in all intents and purposes I was now her personal slave! Follow her rules and live!

  Mrs. Hoess raised her voice, raised her left hand up to about the level of her forehead, singing her finger back and forth, “I am going to be trying your food you are now preparing for breakfast. I am warning you, if it does not pass my muster, then I would have absolutely no quandary at all, about sending you, and your girls off, back to the concentration camp. Just being done with the mess of you.

  I am electing to stand here and watch what you’re cooking.”

  Then of course came her absurd rules:

  One: You are never, ever to step foot in any of the unauthorized areas of this house. Only where I have instructed you to be!

  Two: you are only allowed to eat what I tell you what you may consume, and when. From there you will personally be responsible to divide it amongst the other Jews working in this household.

  Three: you are in no way ever to make eye contact with anyone other than your fellow Jews, remember your place. None of you are good enough to look a superior German in the eyes.

  Four: You are on no account at anytime, to be heard, in less, you have been asked a direct question, and you are therefore instructed to answer.

  Five: You will be supplied an extra uniform so that you will always be clean. It is your responsibility to make sure both your clothing and yourself are clean at all times. Bath yourself daily. I will be inspecting you each vigilantly each morning in a line up. You will be be
aten if I find you otherwise. I cannot tolerate the way you Jews stink!

  Six: You personally will only cook from my designated menus I have laid out for you each day. Follow my own recipes precisely.

  Seven: With regards to my two sons, and three daughter, they are not to be fed snacks, or desert unless I instruct you do give them a treat, & keep you Jew girls away from my children, I never want your girls in the room with them!

  Eight: You will be allowed to go outside only once daily. That is predicated of course only when I consent it, and your work is finished. When you are done preparing your meals and the kitchen is cleaned, then you are to stay in your room until required again.

  Nine: Meals are to be ready for serving each day when I have instructed them to be prepared, not a minute later you hear me.