Number the Stars

Dear Diary,

I am so afraid. And to think just a week ago my biggest problem was Annemarie beating me in a foot race! How is it that so much can change in a week?

 

It all started right before Jewish New Year; when Peter came. (Peter is a close family friend of Annemarie’s.) He took my parents. No, he is not a kidnapper, he just took them to a place that is safer for them than Copenhagen. I am so afraid, because my imagination can think of none other than the worst possible scenarios. However, Mr. Rosen, Annemarie’s Papa, promises me that they are safe. I just hope that there wasn’t a mishap and my parents got ‘relocated’. I am not sure what that is, but Mr. Johansen says it is awful.

 

I am staying with the Johansen’s. Annemarie and I are sharing her bed. I felt like I was intruding, but Mr Rosen said, “Once I had three daughters. Tonight I am proud to have three daughters again.”

 

Annemarie is asleep, so she doesn’t know I am writing. I hope she never reads this; she knows I am frightened, but I do not believe she understands just how scared I am. It would be so exciting spending the night if only I knew where my parent’s were! I am proud to be Jewish, but also afraid that my beliefs will get me in trouble.What they’re doing is simply bullying! It is similar to when we were three and teased each other relentlessly.

 

Oh, how interesting it would be if this were a doll game! Annemarie and I would play this more than Gone with the Wind! But it is my real life. That truth is still sinking in.

 

Anyway, I will soon write again.

 

 With love,

          Ellen Rosendepositphotos_14134665-Star-of-David-sketch

Bubble Wrap

He drove out

all by himself

simply to see us

while the threat

of a tornado

loomed over my head

as though it owned me

but he came all the same

and I’m not sure to say

that I would do that myself

Terrified but sure

that I would hear

the dreadful siren

taunting me for my fear

of all that it stood for

though all I heard

was my grandpa say

that he brought me

a present for New Year’s day

Bubble wrap!

Hooray!

Pop!

it suited me so well

Pop!

I loved it so much

and it calmed me down

Pop!

I grinned giddily

Pop!

Right in Mom’s face!

Pop!

Boom!

I winced at the diverse sound

and cowered

as I stared right at the ground.

But then

Grandpa knelt down

and picked me up

as I looked at him

warily

and he said,

“It’s okay

we’ll be fine.”

Boom!

And then

he said something

that has kept me calm

and will for years to come

he said something

I will never forget

He said,

“God’s sittin’

up in heaven

poppin’ his bubble wrap

just like you.”

 

And every storm,

tornado

hurricane

flood

and possibly a blizzard

can can no longer shake me,

scare me

or even annoy me

And if that taunting siren

ever gets close

I will simply

remember the bubble wrap……..

Pop!ThinkstockPhotos-471630086-1880x1254