Brave Face: The Inspiring WWII Memoir of a DutchGerman Child by Evenbly Meta A. & Crocker I. Caroline

Author:Evenbly, Meta A. & Crocker, I. Caroline
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers
Published: 2022-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

14

CONTINUING CHALLENGES

I walked home slowly while chewing on my collar. What should I do? Tell or not? My father was sitting at the kitchen table peeling potatoes when I arrived. Seeing him who had always been my security, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Pappa, I’m very worried about something,” I hesitated before continuing. “But I don’t know if I should tell you.”

Pappa put the knife down and drew me to his side. “You can talk to me about anything. You know that. What’s up?”

“Umm, you know how Sieglinde often goes straight upstairs after school? Well, there’s a reason. She doesn’t want you and Mamma to know. She says it’s a secret. But I hate how miserable she is. I think maybe this is the kind of secret I shouldn’t keep.”

“Sounds like it. Go on.”

“Pappa, when she’s alone with me, she cries. I just don’t know what I should do.”

“You’re doing the right thing in coming to me. Tell me, Meta. What’s going on?”

“Siegie says the boys at school keep pestering her. They call her a mof and tease and try to hit her. They laugh when she runs away. I haven’t seen it myself, because I hang out with friends after school. If I did, I’d probably punch those guys right in their noses! But what can I do, really?”

“She needs to learn to defend herself.” Pappa got up and walked to the bottom of the stairs to the bedrooms. “Sieglinde,” he called. “Come here, please.”

Sieglinde came downstairs with reddened eyes, and we all sat in the chairs by the kachel, Sieglinde and I sharing one chair. “What is it, Pappa?”

“Your sister tells me you’re being bullied at school. Is that true?”

Sieglinde gave me a dirty look and then hung her head. “Yes, some of the boys pester me. They tease me about anything: my curly hair, my German mother, and about being shy. Anything really. Some of them even pull my hair and kick me. I try not to cry, but…” Her blue eyes filled with tears.

Pappa leaned forward. “Kindje, kindje toch, why did you keep this a secret? You need to defend yourself. Do you remember what I taught you? Show me how you can hit me.” Pappa stood and opened his arms.

Sieglinde got to her feet and swung at him feebly.

“Harder! That wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“I can’t, Pappa! I can’t hit you—I don’t want to hurt you. Also, the boys are so big! I’m scared. Please don’t make me…” She started to sob in earnest, and Pappa enfolded her in his arms.

Looking at me over my sister’s shoulder, Pappa said, “Meta, I think she needs your help. This has to stop, so let’s practice some of the tricks I taught you earlier.” He put Sieglinde aside. “Come on. First the uppercut and then the left hook.”

I was more than willing. And as Sieglinde watched in horror, I punched my father as hard as I could in his stomach. He didn’t react. I took a deep breath and threw all my weight into the next blow.

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