Edith's Story by Edith Velmans

Author:Edith Velmans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: memoir, world war 2, holocaust, jewish, awardwinning, diaries, holland, anne frank, nazi occupation, hidden child
Publisher: van Horton Books

A Visit to Father

My flight to Breda had not brought with it the freedom I had expected. If anything, I was more of a prisoner here than in The Hague. Unlike at home, where I had always been free to shoot my mouth off, here I was guarded about what I said, even when there were no strangers around. I was free to go out; indeed, the z.K.s insisted that I do my share of grocery shopping, to show my face around town and ‘just act normal’. But inside, I often faced a terrible loneliness, having no connection with anyone outside my foster home. I was afraid, too: I had heard that there were people who had taken up Jew-hunting as a sport. (In Amsterdam special search-teams were formed to hunt out hidden persons. Some were paid the princely sum of Fl. 7.50, or about $4, per head.)

The war had made shopping for food a major chore. To be sure not to miss any of the scarce supplies when they came into the shops, housewives had to shop often, and pay attention to tips and gossip heard while waiting in line. Mrs z.K. decided that my daily task should be to visit the grocer in Marathonstraat, and the corner bakery. One day on my way to the grocer’s, I noticed a man standing in a window, watching me. When I came out of the shop, he was still there. Still watching me. Why?

I hurried home, scolding myself for being such a coward. But the next day, he was there again. This time when I got. home I told Mrs z.K. about the man at the window. ‘I am not going to go out any more!’ I said through clenched teeth.

‘Nonsense!’ she said. ‘If there is any danger, if that man is really spying on you, don’t you think that by not coming back, you’ll arouse his suspicions even more?’

The following morning, I refused to come downstairs. ‘There are too many Nazi Jew-hunters out there,’ I said. ‘I’m safer staying in my room from now on.’

I shall never forget Mrs z.K. standing at the bottom of the stairs, aiming her pointed index finger at the floor like a gun. ‘You come downstairs right this minute, young woman. Put on your coat. You are going out. The grocer knows you: you are one of his regular customers. If you don’t go, we’ll miss any supplies he might be keeping for his “regulars”. I forbid you to be afraid, do you hear? Square your shoulders, keep your head high and show them how fearless you are!’

Sheepishly I stumbled downstairs, and put on my coat. I was more afraid of Mrs z.K. than of any Nazi. Relenting, Mrs z.K. decided to go with me - ‘just this once!’ - to be on the safe side.

The man at the window was gone.

---

Mother’s frequent letters kept me up to date on what was happening in The Hague, which was being turned into a fortress to protect the occupiers from possible Allied sea attacks.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.