If it’s a school for children of Nazis, that means Marlene’s little mind will begin processing the form of corruption next week. Whatever she hasn’t already picked up at home, will be burned into her head quickly, I’m sure.
“Do we walk together?” I might be setting myself up to be laughed at with how little I seem to know compared to them.
“Of course,” Celina says. “We can walk to pick them up together in the afternoon as well.”
“Thank you. That would be wonderful.”
“Where’s the little angel?” Rosalie asks.
“Taking a nap,” I say, feeling uneasy about the way Ada shared that tidbit of information. Flora has not taken a nap in her crib since I’ve arrived. Unless she’s rocked to sleep and shushed for an hour, there hasn’t been a hint of rest.
“She got her to go down?” Rosalie continues.
“So she said.”
“Hmm,” Celina says.
The same thought went through my mind too. I’m sure they’re figuring she’s been given a helping of bourbon.
“That boy up there, he fancies you, doesn’t he?” Rosalie says, looking at the attic window.
“I don’t know him. I’m not allowed to converse with anyone in the house.”
“Of course,” Celina says. “We know that. But let’s be honest with each other. Who can truly live like that?”
“I suppose.”
“It’s a matter of being able to avoid getting caught doing the things we’re not supposed to do,” Celina whispers.
“You aren’t very good at that,” Rosalie tells her. “Your voice carries, you know?”
“Oh, and you’re as quiet as a butterfly?”
“I suppose I’d be cautious if I was you, in that house too. There’s no saying what that SS man will do next. He’s far worse than the other two on this street. Ada isn’t much better, but she’s been brainwashed into submission. She doesn’t even know who she once was or where she came from.” Celina leans in closer to me. “From what we’ve heard, she was raised on a farm, working alongside her parents until she was old enough to marry. She has a whole family who’s never even been here to visit or meet the children. It’s quite odd.”
“Everything is odd,” Rosalie adds. “We’re living in a dark, miserable world that will likely never see the light of day again. We’ve gone back in time to when women have no voices and citizens have no say above the reigning government. We’re nothing and no one, and we may never be someone again.”
TWENTY-FIVE
HALINA
August 5,1943
It’s the night before school recommences for the children, and also the first night in a while that the entire family have been in the house together without yelling or shouting. Perhaps it’s just the calm before the storm…
Ada walks past me as the girls finish their supper and shoves two pleated dresses against my ribs. “You’ll need these for the morning.”
“Yes, do they have knapsacks, or school supplies I should prepare? And what about their lunches?”
“You,” Ada says, flapping her hand at Kasia. “You have all that, yes?”
With a simple nod, Kasia dries her hand on a rag and shuffles out of the room. It’s getting close to the time when she, Gavriel, and Adam leave the house for the night to return to Auschwitz, but she still has a sink full of dishes. And I’m just standing here. I push my sleeves up to my elbows and tend to the sink, avoiding any passing gaze from Ada. I shouldn’t need to worry aboutHeinrich as he’s sitting at the table, unengaged, legs crossed, and a newspaper open full spread in front of his face.
With the first dish in hand, I take the wet soapy rag and begin to scrub. Ada shoves her elbow into my side, and I swallow a gasp before looking over at her. Her bulging eyes, scrunched nose and pursed lips sneer at me, telling me all but the word, stop. She’s silent about her demand. Another unlikely gesture from her. I figure she would want to put a target on my back and tell her husband to grab the gun.
I won’t bother explaining that I was trying to help since I know Kasia will be leaving soon, but there’s no purpose. Kasia returns and hands me two brown canvas knapsacks, both weighed down with supplies inside. She cracks open the refrigerator and points to two brown paper bags, each with the girl’s names written across the top. She must not be allowed to speak. Though I’ve heard Gavriel speak to Heinrich.
“Both of you, go wash up and get ready for bed. You need your sleep tonight,” Ada tells Isla and Marlene.
