(no subject)
Alright, this story I wrote last year sometime. It goes along with a picture we were showed in English class, however I do not have access to that picture anymore and you will need to use your imagination according to what I am giving you. If I ever find that picture, I will post it here with a link back to this story. And now...
Don’t Fall Behind
By Elena Rothstein
All my life I had told my little brother, David, not to fall behind. In the market, when we were walking home from school, and even during games we played with other children. He never listened to me though. Claire, he would say, why should I listen to you? But I persisted. The times were dangerous ones, with Nazis patrolling the streets. Us Jews had to watch our backs. We were getting carted off to death camps in thousands. Our father was careful to stay on the good side of the Nazis and keep us out of harm’s way.
It was November when the Nazis came for us. David had just turned seven and I, ten years older than him, was seventeen. They came storming into the ghetto with their guns pointed at us. I buttoned David’s jacket up and led him outside, hands in the air.
“Don’t fall behind,” I told him. He stayed glued to my side. Somewhere in the crowd we lost track of our father. He was pulled away into the swirling mass of prisoners. I looked down and noticed that David was no longer next to me. I glanced behind and saw him about two feet behind me, eyes wide with terror.
In that fraction of a second, time froze. I watched him fall further and further behind, almost getting lost in the mob.
”David!” I called. He turned towards me and then was swept away. We were divided into groups. I saw his small head among the group being carted away in the opposite direction of me. Our eyes connected for a split second and then he rounded a corner. We went to our separated camps.
Five months later, my camp was liberated. I went back to my childhood home and met up with my father. David, however, was no where to be seen. Then we received news of his death.
He should have listened to me, was my only thought.
Don’t Fall Behind
By Elena Rothstein
All my life I had told my little brother, David, not to fall behind. In the market, when we were walking home from school, and even during games we played with other children. He never listened to me though. Claire, he would say, why should I listen to you? But I persisted. The times were dangerous ones, with Nazis patrolling the streets. Us Jews had to watch our backs. We were getting carted off to death camps in thousands. Our father was careful to stay on the good side of the Nazis and keep us out of harm’s way.
It was November when the Nazis came for us. David had just turned seven and I, ten years older than him, was seventeen. They came storming into the ghetto with their guns pointed at us. I buttoned David’s jacket up and led him outside, hands in the air.
“Don’t fall behind,” I told him. He stayed glued to my side. Somewhere in the crowd we lost track of our father. He was pulled away into the swirling mass of prisoners. I looked down and noticed that David was no longer next to me. I glanced behind and saw him about two feet behind me, eyes wide with terror.
In that fraction of a second, time froze. I watched him fall further and further behind, almost getting lost in the mob.
”David!” I called. He turned towards me and then was swept away. We were divided into groups. I saw his small head among the group being carted away in the opposite direction of me. Our eyes connected for a split second and then he rounded a corner. We went to our separated camps.
Five months later, my camp was liberated. I went back to my childhood home and met up with my father. David, however, was no where to be seen. Then we received news of his death.
He should have listened to me, was my only thought.