A girl and her camera

Chapter eighteen

Hanna didn't get the chance to tell Martha, over the telephone that evening. But when the two were at school together, the next day, it was the perfect time to confess all. When the two were, as per usual, eating lunch in the editing room. Hanna was keen to tell somebody, and Martha was keen to hear every, single detail. Particularly about whether or not Bart had taken their courtship any further.

"So how did the dinner talk go?" Martha asked her.

"Surprisingly well," Hanna explained, "Mama was actually willing to engage in the conversation, and Eve, well...I don't even want to tell you what Eve did!"

"Did she say something to ruin it?" That was what Eve usually did, Martha thought.

"It wasn't something she said," Hanna said, "It was something she did. To Bart! While he was explaining about his aunts baby, she had his hand on his leg! Right under the table. I couldn't believe it, Martha. She will do just about anything to make me miserable for the rest of my life."

Eve made a pass at Bart? Martha thought that was just, plain petty. How manipulative could she get? Was there no end to how far she would go? It seemed not. Poor Hanna, Martha couldn't help but think. How humiliated she must've felt.

"What did Bart do?"

"Oh," Spots of red began to appear in Hanna's cheeks. "When I walked him to the door, I told him I wouldn't be too upset if he felt...tempted. He told me he didn't, and then he..." Hanna giggled, as the blush increased. "He proved he prefered, err...something else. Or someone else."

He kissed her! Bart kissed Hanna. Martha was just bursting with joy and pride for her friend. Finally, Hanna would know the brilliance of what sweet, genuine kisses felt like. At last, they could both feel the joy of it, with boys they were hopelessly in love with. Only...Hanna had yet to feel the fullest of that joy. And even when she did, it would be nothing like Martha's first time. It would be on their wedding night; expected, anticipated, allowed. Her first time wouldn't be going against the law.

"So, how did it feel?" Now it was Martha's turn to question Hanna.

"The way you said Sam made you feel," She said, "It was like magic! I swear to god, nothing else could've possibly ruined it for me. Not even Eve's scheming!"

Martha was happy for Hanna. What she had with Bart was everything a girl wished she could have with a boy. Sweet, innocent, but most of all; safe. Hanna didn't have to worry about hurting Bart by loving him, or even having him killed because of her love. She was lucky, Martha thought. Cupid had been good to her in gifting Hanna with a boy like Bart.

"I'm glad for you," Martha said, "When will you see him again?"

"This afternoon," She said, "We're going to get some ice-cream together. How about you with Sam?"

"This afternoon," Martha couldn't help but grin, just a little. "But I'll have to do my filming first. The Commandant expects me to be finished within a week and a half."

As Martha said this, she froze. A week and a half. Oh goodness. If she only had a week and a half to finish filming, then that meant she only had a week and a half left with Samuel. She'd forgotten all about the dead-line! And now she wished she hadn't. How on earth was she to tell him? She stressed. Of course, it wasn't inevitable that the Commandant would take away her access pass; but it was highly likely that he wouldn't let her into the Ghetto again, for no real reason. Unless, of course...but could Martha get away with it? Without letting anything slip?

"That's not much time," Hanna commented, "And you and Sam..."

"I know," Martha sighed, "I'll have to tell him. I don't want to leave him, but if I ask the Commadant to keep letting me visit...I could hurt him even more."