Prologue Ruby

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1939

Ruby would always remember one specific day of the war. She was at school on the first of September. It started out as a normal day when suddenly the announcement came over the radio: Germany invaded Poland.

Some of her classmates were cheering and dancing, others were frozen in time. Ruby sat in her chair unable to move or talk. She felt like her heart was ripped out of her chest, leaving a gaping hole. She couldn't hear. She didn't feel her classmate poking her arm. All she could think of was her family. She was already caught in the rift of her family. And now she was caught between two fronts: Her mother sided long before the war started with Germany. Her father, her brothers and grandparents would all fight for England. She felt sick to her stomach thinking of living with people who could eventually be the murderers of her family.

Ruby stood up very slowly and left the classroom. Surprisingly calm was her walk to the small surgery where she helped every day after school. The old Doctor allowed her to help as he knew of her dream to become a doctor herself one day. She would spend every free minute helping the inhabitants of her village.

Without knocking she opened the door and entered the building. All nurses and the Doctor stood in the entrance room, surrounding the radio. Ruby heard Nazi propaganda playing over the radio.

"Have you heard the news?" The Doctor asked when Ruby reached the group. She nodded and lowered her head.

"We are closed for today. Go home. Go and see your family," informed one of the nurses Ruby. Ruby wanted to laugh at the irony. The only family she wanted to see were her father and brothers. Now with a raging war in Europe she most likely wouldn't be able to see them ever again. Still, she went home. As she was walking up the stairs to her apartment she saw more and more boxes on the staircase. The door of her neighbour's apartment was open and police officers were carrying out her things. Ruby heard her neighbour begging them to stop.

"What is going on?" She asked one of the policemen.

"We received the order to clear out her apartment and take the Jewish woman with us.," he answered.

"You can't do this!" exclaimed Ruby angrily and stormed into the apartment. "Leave her alon, She didn't do anything!"

"Ma'am, please leave the apartment," demanded a senior officer.

"Only if you leave her alone." Ruby looked at them with a cold look in her eyes. She put her hand on her neighbour's shoulder to calm her down. Truthfully, Ruby was nervous and scared for Marie's safety. She had heard rumours about how the Jews were being treated by the Nazis. She couldn't just watch and let it happen to her sweet neighbour. Marie was an old Lady whose husband had died five years prior. She would often cook and bake for Ruby and her mother. And whenever Ruby wanted to talk to someone, she made a cup of tea and listened.

"Ruby! Get out of her apartment," screamed her mother with fury.

"Mother, these men want to throw Marie out of her apartment," explained Ruby at pointed at the men.

"They are only doing their job. Come on, we can't be seen with people like Marie." Her mother dragged her out of Marie's apartment before Ruby could say anything in return. Ruby was shocked at her mother's behaviour.

"We can't just watch." Ruby struggled to shrug of her mother's firm grip on her upper arm.

"Listen to me, child. You are going to behave yourself. From now on you will shut your mouth when talking to the police. Understood?" Her mother glared harshly, and her grip tightened.

"Ouch, you're hurting me!"

"Understood?"

"Yes, mother." Finally, her grip loosened, and Ruby took a big step away from her mother. Ruby left the living room in a hurry. She didn't need another lecture of her mother about her behaviour. She fell onto her bed and tears started to stream down her face. She just wanted to go home. Home to her family.

Over the first couple of weeks of the war Ruby couldn't find peace. She knew she was currently safe in her village. She could just go on a life a somewhat normal life like her classmates. But her thoughts always ended up on her family in England. Ruby heard of the German bombing campaign against London where her grandparents lived. And surly her father and brothers would be doing everything to help the RAF fight off any German raids.

"Have you heard? Emma and her family were taken away yesterday. Do you think they will be sent to a concentration camp?" Two of Ruby's classmates were whispering during the lesson. Emma was a kind girl who always look out for others. And now her chair where she would usually sit during class was empty.

"Probably. They are Jewish. My father says, the Jewish belong there," answered the other girl.

"They are humans too. They don't deserve to be hunted and slaughtered," hissed Ruby. The two girls look at her with big eyes.

"Ruby, would you please repeat that?" Asked the teacher and gave her a stern look.

"Of course." Ruby stood up. Her chair was screeching against the floor. "I said that Jews are humans too."

"Leave my classroom right now!" Her teacher's head turned red in anger. Ruby just grabbed her bag and left. She didn't look back once. She didn't care. On her way home she walked past a telephone cabin. Without hesitation she pulled out a couple of coins and punched in her father's phone number. She played with the hem of her jacket while waiting. It felt like time was slowing down. Everyone around her seemed to move in slow motion.

"Colonel Davies, what can I do for you?" Her father's familiar voice answered the phone. Ruby sighed in relief.

"Dad, it's me," said Ruby with a shaky voice.

"Ruby? Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

"I got kicked out. But that doesn't matter. I really wanted to talk to you. I want to come home." The line was silent for a couple of seconds. Ruby could her hear her blood rush through her ears.

"Strawberry, you know it's not possible right now. It's too dangerous with the war going on. There's no way you could make it. It's best if you stay where you are."

"Dad, please," begged Ruby her voice breaking at the end.

"We will see each other when all this is over." Her father hung up the phone. Only an annoying beeping was left. Ruby refused to cry. Her father made his decision and so had she.

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