Darkened Secrets

Chapter One

I will always remember that sickening day when my life changed. My name is Marie Kate Anderson. I am a Jew and have been prosecuted for my beliefs. I was born on August 17, 1925. I am one of two children and I have a sister named Grace Elizabeth Anderson who was born on May 28, 1931. My parents are Franchesca Edintacalf and my father is Thomas Anderson. We used to live in Diemen, Amsterdam on 753 Weeperstraat Lane until we moved to America after the war. World War Two offically began on September 1, 1939. My family went into secrecy from November 19, 1941 till our capture and unfair punishment of being sent overseas to Auschwitz. Believe me, it was like hell there. As I look back now, I truly realize how bad it was because as a young child, I underestimated just what other humans, just like you and me, could do.

________________________________________________________________________________

November 17, 1941 (My home)

"Finally! Mom I'm almost done packing. Do you need any help once I've finished?" I asked since I really wanted to wander down to the market and talk to my friends but I knew my mom really needed help packing.

"No, darling. You go run along. You may go to the market as I know you are dieing to go their and you may talk to your friends. Say your goodbyes and wish them the best of luck Be back by six as you know that at six thirty the nazis start their patrol around six thirty," she answered.

"Thank you mother," I exclaimed and gave her a big hug before I ran to the market to find my friends and say goodbye.

I knew that my tears would begin not too long after my friends and I started talking along with saying goodbye. As I wandered down towards the market, I came across a stray calico cat. I picked her up and pondered about what to name her. I also wondered what Mother would say when I brought home a stray cat. Anyways, I had to find my friends to talk to them and explain about my situation and that me and my family were going into hiding. My friends, Sara, Maybelle, and Georgia would come to the market every night. I looked where I would normally go to see my friends and they summonded me over with motions of their hands.

"Hello Marie," Maybelle said.

"Hello Maybelle," I replied.

"Why did you want to me?" Sara inquired.

"It's really important yet sad," I answered. "You see," I paused to hold back my tears which I was choking on in my throat. "My family and I are going into hiding," I said.

Before they could gasp, I quickly added, "But you cannot tell anyone because if the nazis come and find us, me and my family will probably be taken away," I finished before sitting down on the old wooden milk carton that served as a seat.

"Wait. Wh-what did you just say?" Georgia managed to ask before tears began pouring down her face.

I walked over to comfort Georgia. She was trembling and puring tears. So were my other friends. I had my arms around them, hugging them close, as I let the tears spill down the side of my face.

"Why, Marie, why?" Sara sobed.

Suddenly a nazi came up to us and tapped on my shoulder. I quickly spun around to see a tall, buff solider in full uniform towering over me and staring at me

"Why are you crying, young girls?" he interrogated.

"M- My cat died," I answered.

I knew I obvisously that I couldn't tell him the real reason.

"Why don't I walk you home?" he asked in a way that made me feel somewhat unsafe and scared.

I knew that he might take me away from my family. Rumors were going around saying that people were randomly disappering at night from the city.

"No thank you, sir," I replied sweetly. "I'll simply walk home, thank you."

Then my friends and I walked away to talk somewhere else. Little did I know that the nazis including this one would ruin my life forever along with scaring my memory as I grew up throughout what would soon be war.

As we walked down the road, we talked amongst each other.

"I can't believe this is happenning," Sara muttered as she wiped a single tear from her face.

We arrived at a new place that we called the back up hideout. We actually had about five back up hideouts. I looked amongst my friends and struggled to hold back the tears. I looked at Sara and remebered the day I met her. I was rushing home from the market as I was doing another errandf for my mom when I didn't pay attention to what I was doing and ran into her. We laughed and helped each other up along with helping gather the food we bought into our baskets. After that we became best friends. I looked at Georgia and Maybelle and I then remembered how I met them. It was a hot summer day and I went to the park with my family. I went to go play with the other people there and once I met Maybelle and Georgia, we were friends right away. Now as I looked at them, I realized who I would have to leave behind. I couldn't hold the tears back any longer. I let them spill from my eyes, creating a puddle of tears across the ground. My friends came over and comforted me. Now I knew what my parents went through when we moved to our new home.