Dear Edlin

Edlin: she knew

Edlin POV 

Entry 2 (Day 2) - Earliest memory

September 5, 1941

I got home yesterday grinning like a cat. 

When I entered, my mother openly scowled because she knew that i'd spent the whole day with Tad and it was obvious I was happier than usual. 

Seeing my mother reaction brought a wave of mixed feelings. I was sad to know she was once again disappointed in me, but more angry that she felt so aggressive towards Tad when he'd done nothing wrong.

 I went to bed without talking to my family because I hated how they thought Tad was nothing other than a disconvenience. 

When I woke up today instead of going to school I walked to Tad's house, mostly because I wanted to hang out, but also because I wanted to prove to myself that it didn't matter that he was jewish, we were going to stay friends no matter what.

 As I was walking closer to his house I noticed a mob of trucks along the whole block, they're deathly black color stood out like a shadow in a field of colors.

 I felt a tingle go down down my spine and I noticed for the first time how unnaturally cold it was that day. Tad lived on a block that was occupied mostly by Jewish people, him being one of them. Instead of walking closer I stayed back, watching.

 I waited until I saw Tad and his family with suitcases and they were getting ready to board the trucks. I felt the breath catch in my chest. 

I wanted to call out but something stopped me. I watched as all of the Jewish families on the block were moved onto trucks. I'd heard that things like this were happening in other places, that jews were being "relocated". 

Once Tad and his sister disappeared from view I ran back, my heart pounding against my chest. When I got home I ran inside about to ask what was happening with the jewish families. 

But my mother looked away, giving me the same look of shame that infuriates me to no end.

She knew.