Rosa Carn

Chapter One

       "Rosa! Get up and get changed for breakfast. We best be up early if the Nazi come knocking." Mama called from downstairs. I sighed and lifted from my white bedspread. My clothes were lying on the floor from last night. The memories of hiding in my closet flashed back, as I kicked them away and stared at my feet. 

        "I'm coming." I said quietly, knocking on my window. Haley knocked back, as I grinned at her and quickly took my nightwear off and put on my white floral blouse and navy blue skirt. I walked gracefully down the stairs, making sure my new heels clacked loudly on the weak floorboards. I stared at my new shoes, looking myself over. I wasn't the pretty, spoiled little girl I was one year ago. My clothes were a size too small, and all my shoes were bought from some rich girl that had worn them before. My new heels weren't at all new.

        "Papa, Mama, why can't I go to the dress shop and by myself a beautiful outfit?" I asked Mama, as I sat down on my creaky wooden chair and fluffed my tight skirt.  Papa looked up from his newspaper and Mama looked up from her sewing. She sighed and put her hand on her head. I shuffled uncomfortably, already knowing the answer.

       "The Nazis won't let us, Rosa. And even if they did, I wouldn't let you." Mama said, as if I should have known that the day I was born. But the reason I thought we couldn't, was that Papa owned a utility store by my school and the awful soldiers closed it, so we are suffering money shortages. Papa has already told Mama that he didn't know how long we could survive. 

     Haley always knew the Nazis would come. She knew some group of people would not like Jews and try to rid them. Her family has already purchased Christian identification papers from a salesman. She is safe. Her family will not be murdered, unlike mine very well could be, due to the current way my family has perished. Grandmother died months ago from a very cold concentration camp, and my cousins died recently on a train shooting. I had seen the cold-blooded murderers in my own eyes. I would never forgive any one of them. Not even the kindest, most sincere Nazi soldier. In my eyes, they would all be evil.