Chapter 17 Section 17

We later learned that this Jewish family was from Constanta, and they were very happy to hear my story about my recuperating and vacationing experience there in the past few years.As we continued talking, even Mom became involved. Perhaps this was the first time someone showed sincere sympathy for Dad's misfortune. Golda hugged her mother and cried with her. I could feel that this gave her a little comfort in her heart.We also listened to how this Jewish family and their relatives and friends were persecuted by the Iron Guard and the Nazis one after another. Until then, I had always thought that my dad being shot was the saddest thing that could have happened to me, but the stories Haim told made me realize that my dad's death was not an isolated incident.The once civilized nations of the world are rapidly returning to barbarism.

"I plead guilty to God," said Hayim at last, holding my hand softly but firmly, looking humbly in the direction of heaven, "but I am afraid that we have offended the Lord because he has not responded to us. prayers. Maybe our camp will be a new beginning for all. I really hope so.” He turned to me and said, "But Anka, my boy, don't believe anything lightly. I know we are Jews and your ways are different from ours, but listen carefully to what I have to say and keep these words in your heart. " His hands clenched, as if to add weight to what he said next. "Son, when we arrive in Bucharest, no matter what you see, keep out of your sight. Don't be emotional, no matter how hard it hurts to turn a blind eye. What others tell you, you obey immediately, don't question, don't exceed the rules , and you can't be perfunctory. Promise me, you will always take your brother with you, and your hand will always be on your mother's arm. "

I looked into the depths of his eyes and saw tears welling up in him.I had never seen a man cry before, but today, first Maxim and then Haim wept in front of me.I was touched and cried too. "Maybe, kid... I just said maybe... After the war, we can still see each other, and then we can be friends in a fair manner, just like these two children are now." He pointed to Nicholas and Yilo, they fell asleep next to each other quietly. Then he let go of my hand and glanced out the window, "But now, we're going to Bucharest soon. From now on, we're going to pretend we don't know each other at all again. Goodbye, my friends. May God bless you both."

Before I could answer him, the lights of the Bucharest station shone into our carriage, we exchanged hastily farewell words, and as the train came to a shuddering halt, my mother nervously dragged me along with a bleary-eyed Nikolai gone.Nicholas protested loudly that he couldn't accept that his friendship with the girl ended so suddenly, without a word of explanation, yet Mom's stern warnings forced him to stay with us while Ilo was restrained by her parents I stayed, although some noise and resistance were inevitable. We sat quietly, waiting for instructions from the guards in the car.

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