A Soundless World a World War 2 book

A world without sound

As Annie was getting changed she couldn't stop herself from remembering the day she had lost her hearing. The doctor's had done everything they could for her, which was nothing. The doctors had said that it was possible that since her hearing had just suddenly gone away that maybe it would come back, but Annie didn't keep her hopes up about it. That had been a year ago. I seemed like ten years to Annie. It was funny how sound made things go so much faster.

As Annie continued on with her morning routine there was a knock on their front door. It was the German soldiers. Annie's father ran into her room. "Annie" he said both with his mouth and through sign. "What is it father?" Annie asked. "Pack your bags we're leaving." he said it so fast that Annie had to look at his hands instead of his lips. Annie had taught herself to read lips after the accident and since she had been fifteen when the accident had occurred she already knew how to talk. "German soldiers have come to take you." Annie's father said. "Why I'm not a jew." Annie said thinking she had read the sign wrong. "Hitler has declared that people with deficiencies are also to be sent to work camps because they are "imperfect" and should not be allowed to live." her father said as he packed her things, which made it very difficult for Annie to understand what her father was saying.

Annie didn't know what came over her other than she knew that if her parents resisted the soldiers they too would be taken to concentration camps. She walked over to her father gave him a hug and a kiss, went down the stairs walked to her mother did the same as she had to her father and walked outside and straight up to the soldiers and said "I'm ready." The soldiers were amazed for a moment because Annie had spoken but they knew it was her when one of the soldiers, once a friendly neighbor, assured the soldiers she was deaf.

......................................................

Annie was dizzy. What had just happened? There was a loud buzzing coming from every direction but no other sound could be heard. She saw someone running towards her. It was James her neighbor. Before James got to Annie she clasped to the ground. James picked her up and carried her to the house.

The next few days James checked in on Annie to see how she was doing. When Annie's parents had been told she was now deaf they didn't think there was anything they could do, but James had never given up on Annie and had helped her to read lips. Then he was called to to soldier training camp.

......................................................

Annie flashed back to the future. She wondered what they had done to James, her used to be friendly neighbor, that would turn him into a person who would hate the deficient.

As she got into one of the German vehicles Annie was finally thankful to be deaf, so she didn't have to listen to her parents crying as they pulled away from everything Annie knew and loved.

Annie had been the first to be picked up that day but many more were taken from their houses. Some families fought to protect their family member sometimes even neighbors fought, but if they did they were either shot or brought along. Other families willingly brought their deficient family members out willingly without any pity on their face. Then there were some like Annie who gave themselves up in order to protect their family. It was the worst thing Annie had seen in her sixteen years.

The camp was a nightmare, even from the outside. Even though it was a bright beautiful day the camp made everything seem dark and dead. It was even worse on the inside. All the soldiers had on gray uniforms, the living quarters were grey, and everything was grey but the one waving object in the very middle of the camp. The nazi flag, and though Annie knew she should be thankful for the color she couldn't help but wish it was grey too, so it would show the true color of the Nazis.

The soldiers were saying orders that Annie could barely make out because the soldiers were talking so fast. She was one of the only ones who did though. There were multiple deaf people there with Annie and she could tell that the deaf were the majority. Annie found a boulder, stood on it and started signing the orders the guards were giving. Soldiers tried to pull her down but she was determined. A soldier held a gun towards Annie. Another soldier told him to stand down. Annie could tell this was the commanding officer of the camp.

"What are you signing?" the commanding officer asked. "The orders that your soldiers are giving." Annie said hoping her voice was not too weak. "Why are you here? You appear to have no deficiency." the officer asked. "I'm deaf sir, but I've learned to read lips." Annie could tell she had spit out the word sir. The officer was smiling now. "Let her sign or we'll get nowhere with half these people." The officer then turned around and left.

Annie had to go to all the living quarters to sign directions for the morning. They got a work outfit, grey, and a blanket for the cot, also grey. Annie was thankful though for the blanket and cot. She was worn out from the day and wanted a way to escape the nightmare. Sleep seemed like the best way, but before she could escape a soldier came to tell her she was expected at the Commanding officers quarters as soon as she was ready in the morning. What did the commanding officer have in store for her? Annie would think about it later but for right now she wanted to escape.