THE DUTCH WOMAN'S MESSAGE
Fragments
Fragments
|
From the writer's journal:
Sunday, March 10, 1991 Yesterday we brought the boxes home. And they came up with an exciting bonus. Silvina said she was getting rid of many things, and she offered us a box next to ours, full of old books and magazines. We took a look over the top and were both interested in the material. We will go through all the books she has, and maybe there is something good to read. "These things belonged to my grandmother. I don't know if you remember," she told me. "Yes," I said, "she is the one in the portrait in the dining room." She nodded. "She came from Holland by World War II, and they got married here," she added. I couldn't help saying to her: "She was a beautiful woman." "Yes, she had blue eyes like Mom, but I think she was taller. Mom pulled out Grandpa's dark hair and Grandma's eyes. ""Your mommy was beautiful too, Silvina." Tears welled up in her eyes again, and I went over other things to give her time to compose herself. It must be devastating to lose a mother. Years ago, Paula told my mother that her parents died when Silvina was a few months old, back in 1966, in a car accident on the road to Mar del Plata (which is still narrow and very dangerous.) So these books and magazines must be from those years. When we opened the box with Juan Carlos at home, a powerful musty smell came out. How long will it have been closed? We have to review it. We have left it open so that it can ventilate a bit. |
|
From Tessa's journal:
“4/28/41, Monday
How to start? I need to unburden myself of my heartache, and this is the safest way. I haven’t written here for many days. I'm just on the mend and still have difficulty putting what is going on into words. So much has happened since my last entry!
Klaus kept coming home late, many times a little drunk. One of those nights, he confessed to me that he had signed up for the National Socialist Movement, the NSB, and he proudly showed me the card, which worried me a lot, although I hid my feelings. They have provided him with a firearm, a large revolver, which I barely looked at. He kept it in the night table’s drawer, and ordered me never to touch it. As if I was going to handle such a thing! A gun at home makes me very nervous.
Since the Germans took over here, things have gotten worse for many people in the city. Last month a Jewish family on this same block, the Pauluschs, who had been forced to wear the yellow star, including the young children, suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. All of them are gone. People say horrible things that I can hardly believe. But if they hunt people down because of their race, I hope the Paulusches have fled and are safe somewhere. His house is occupied by a group of strangers now. Lieke and her husband, who are unhappy with the occupation, say the Nazis' hatred for Jews will end badly, with many people killed across Europe. I don't think so. Nobody can be so cruel."
“4/28/41, Monday
How to start? I need to unburden myself of my heartache, and this is the safest way. I haven’t written here for many days. I'm just on the mend and still have difficulty putting what is going on into words. So much has happened since my last entry!
Klaus kept coming home late, many times a little drunk. One of those nights, he confessed to me that he had signed up for the National Socialist Movement, the NSB, and he proudly showed me the card, which worried me a lot, although I hid my feelings. They have provided him with a firearm, a large revolver, which I barely looked at. He kept it in the night table’s drawer, and ordered me never to touch it. As if I was going to handle such a thing! A gun at home makes me very nervous.
Since the Germans took over here, things have gotten worse for many people in the city. Last month a Jewish family on this same block, the Pauluschs, who had been forced to wear the yellow star, including the young children, suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. All of them are gone. People say horrible things that I can hardly believe. But if they hunt people down because of their race, I hope the Paulusches have fled and are safe somewhere. His house is occupied by a group of strangers now. Lieke and her husband, who are unhappy with the occupation, say the Nazis' hatred for Jews will end badly, with many people killed across Europe. I don't think so. Nobody can be so cruel."
