M I D D L E of Enemy Lines

Chapter One

" Ahhh!" I scream as someone puts their hands over my eyes and began to pull me somewhere from where I used to stand.
" Ha ha ha." I hear the ecstatic voice laughing amused realizing that it is my very close cousin, whom I love, Nico.
" Nico, you dummkopf! You scared me to death! I thought that I was getting kidnapped!" I shout at him pissed as I turn around to face him: still laughing with a large grin plastered onto his stupid face.
" Boy did I get you good cuz! You should have seen your face!" I just rolled my eyes at him. " Oh come on Mir, I was just joking around." I grab his head putting it into a headlock as I gave him a noogie. " Woah, woah, woah. Not the hair! Come on Mir, not my beautiful golden, groomed hair! It took an hour to comb!" Nico yells at me and I release him as we both laugh this time. Joyful smiles sprawled over our light and tan skins.
" You mean your hay hair, right? It is closer to looking like hay than gold." I snicker out with him as our laughter dies down.
" Boy, have I missed you cuz." Nico says to me as we give each other large bear hugs.

" I have missed you too. Five years is too long. I wish Uncle didn't move, but at the same time I am glad, because he got married and had you awesome cousins. I just wish we both lived closer. You only have your mom's side here, in Germany. I feel bad that Uncle John-"
Nico interrupted me not letting me finish explaining.
" Joseph. Dad changed his name to Joseph just to let you know— so he wouldn't sound so foreign and out of place here." Nico explained to me.
" Oh, um, okay... as I was saying I feel bad that Uncle Joseph doesn't get to see any of his family." Nico picked up my bags and we walked out of the Berlin Airport. We make our way to a very sleek schwarz Mercedes Benz. " I mean his parents; childhood and college friends; and all of his siblings live in the U.S. either in California or over in New York." I point out to Nico as he opened up the car door. " Danke." I smile graciously at Nico as I slide in. Nico shuts the car door and puts my luggage into the trunk. He slams the trunk shut and opens the door behind the driver. We buckle up and the Mercedes Benz pulls into the traffic with the rest of the busy Berliners all trying to get somewhere important to them.
" So, how was the plane ride? How are you holding up?" I look over at Nico.
" It was fine, very long... I am stable, so you can say I am holding up fine... I guess. You know as best as I can in a situation like this."
Nico nods his head understanding what I was trying to get out. There is a short silent somber pause: " It is a shame really. I cannot imagine what you must be feeling. I mean it devastated us, but for you- being here now during all of this." I nod my head looking back out of the window staring at the city.
" Wow, I never knew Berlin was this beautiful." I spoke in a serene voice. It was ironic how back at home we think of things differently once something unpleasant is happening their. How once you think someone is ruthless, a monster you think their city would be too, but it wasn't a pit. It wasn't in ruins like London was from the constant bombardment from the Nazis.
" It truly is." Nico's voice content.
We kept on talking throughout the drive to my cousins house. My eyes stayed fixed on the outside world. My expressions a mix of awe in the beauty and just the excitement of a new city I've never been too, and gloomy at the despairing sight of all the red flags waving ' proudly ' all around with it's big ugly black symbol that at first; seeing in the paper was supposed to be a spider that an abstract artist or a eight year old drew. I look over to see Nico feeling culpable.
" Don't worry about me cousin. As you said in your letter earlier will be in the countryside, not in the middle of the city. Will be away from it all. Away from all of this nonsense war that a crazed, madman created. Correct?" I ask him again still seeing the blameworthiness in his eyes. There was an unbalanced silence for minutes between the two of us. " Right? No more seeing Swastikas, or Nazi soldiers walking about patrolling?" I asked again starring my cousin in his light, almost clear blue orbs. He only gave me a weary smile and turned his attention forward. Towards the driver's back, toward the front of the road.
After five minutes of when we crossed the edge of town we turn left and go down a long road. Two large black gates opened and we drive through. The road makes a circle in front of the large stone grey house. As we pull up to the two story with a balcony smack-dab in the middle, above the large double doors. On each corner of the doors just below the balcony hung two very large, very vibrant, and very ' proud ' but menacing looking Swastika flags. I shake my head as a horrid thought popped into my mind. ' They are required to have those stupid, ignorant flags hanging from their home.' I thought reasonably to myself. Logic was my way of coping. Finding the most reasonable and logical solution to everything that happens in life. Letting your absurd and creative thoughts run wild could get you killed in this time and place.
" Welcome back Herr Nico. Hallo there. Who might you be Fräulein?" A tall, muscular, ominous man asks me in perfect German.
" Miriam Winter. Their cousin." I tell the tall and all honesty; not too bad on the eyes looking, young man. He nods his head, smiling sickly sweet, showing he is pleased.
" Your Vater wants you to see him at once." The young German man told to Nico in a stoic tone. Nico nods his head and makes his way up the front steps, disappearing into the large, grey, stiff mansion.
I pop open the trunk of the sleek schwarz Mercedes Benz: taking out my luggage. I lift them up and start making my way to the front steps.
   " You don't need to do that. Don't worry yourself Fräulein. We have... things to do that for you." A grimace appeared on the young German's face. His once pleasing face now appalling. Looking as if he had stepped in something quiet displeasing. Disgusting that makes you repulsive.
   " Nein. It is quite alright Herr. I can handle it. Wouldn't want to burden anyone with this measly task." I say to him waving my hand around in the warm air as I pick my bags up starting to step onto the first step.
  " Nein!" He screams. Quickly the young German soldier goes into the house shouting at someone to come out. A little, very skinny, and fragile old man hobbles out of the large front doors. I notice he is wearing very thin, worn out, light blue and white striped shirt and matching pants that remind me of pajamas... hmm, striped pajamas.
   " How can I assist you?" His German tone is breathless. Exhausted. His eyes looked as if they had gone out: the color and life I mean. Bags, many, many bags hung underneath his kind and wise, worn out eyes.
   " Take this mädchen's bags up to her room."
The old man nods his head obliging. He lifts up my luggage walking up the steps.
   " It is not a problem! Really, I can take them. It is not a bother! After all I carried them myself all the way from home. That is across America, across the Atlantic Ocean, to England, passed France, and Belgium. I am perfectly alright with carrying my suitcases up some stairs to my new room." I protest with determination and confidence in my voice. A slight annoyed tone hung in the air as I watched the poor old man in the striped pajamas, his right leg limping as he 'walked'. The Nazi soldier mutters a string of curse words about how stupid and annoying I was being. I could care-less what that devil of a Nazi soldier thought about me. I only followed behind the limping old man into the foyer.
To the right was the living room. Cozy, yet spacious. On my left stood another pair of two large doors.
" He is in a meeting right now. He will be out in a few minutes." Nico says coming out of the office doors on the left side of the foyer. On the same side; the left at the corner of the square shape foyer is a long narrow hallway I assume leads to the dining room and kitchen. In the right corner after the living room doorway is stairs leading up to the second floor. Up top was open so you could see the hallway stretching across above the foyer. Most of the rooms down the left side. My Uncle and Aunt's bedroom was on the other end, by the stairs.
" Miriam! You are finally here! My Uncle Joseph says grinning as he walks out of his office toward me with his arms open wide. He wraps me up in his large arms; barring me into the best, and very much needed bear hug. " Oh, how I have missed these hugs of ours. It has been far too long." I only mumbled nodding my head holding back the tears. I truly did miss my Uncle, even if he now goes by Joseph instead of John.
" The trip was okay? Any problems?"
" Yes, it was Uncle. No problems."

" Wonderful! Stand back, let me get a good look at my wonderful niece." He tells me as I step back. I wore a simple olive/army green knee length dress with soft light pink flowers. My shoulder length light brown, with dark brown 'lowlight' hair down in soft curls.
" Wow!" My Uncle breaths out in awe. A hint of sadness and pride in his shiny bright, vibrant blue orbs. " You've grown up so much. I might add you look very beautiful and mature... those American boys must be all over you. Certainly these German men will be enchanted with you. Your beauty will make these young men wonderstruck and in awe of you, My Dear. Wanting your hand in marriage and start a family once this war is over with. "
" Thank you Uncle." I giggle and playfully hit his arm at the comment of the young eligible boys chasing me. " I've got my eyes on a handsome young man back home." I comment back. I hid my passive-aggressive tone. Even if it was just slightly there.
" It was lovely to see you again Miriam. I must be going- before I forget we will be having steak for dinner. Is that alright with you Mir, My Dear?"
" It is perfect. Sounds wonderful Uncle. See you at dinner." I make sure to tease him on how he always used the word 'wonderful'. Uncle Joseph kisses my forehead before he disappears back into his office. I turn back to Nico as I hear footsteps, but something light red catches my deep blue ocean orbs. I let out a gasp.
" Mir! Miriam you're here!" My other cousin Liesel , who is my age, squeals excitedly as she runs down the stairs engulfing me into a perfect fitting hug. I always enjoy her hugs too. Our bodies were the perfect shape to fit together. We would joke when we were little that we were secretly twins.
" Hiya! I just got here." I tell her grinning. We are the same height. If my hair had red in it, or if her brown was more darker or more dominate we could look like identical twins. ( It is a good thing our different features were prominent. Especially if we were in a room full of the Nazi doctors, or Nazi scientists. ) " Where are the little ones?" I ask looking around: peeking into the living room and down the hallway. Expecting them to come tackle me down at any moment.
" They're out playing with their friends."
" What about Auntie?"
" The market."
" Ah." Was all that came out of my mouth as I examined the inside of the house more closely. Nico and Liesel look at each other before looking back at me. The air was thick, almost fogged up with uncertainty, betrayal, heartbreak, and uneasiness.
" What is wrong Miriam?" Liesel asked worried.
" Hu? Oh, nothing." I say too quickly. So sharp as if I had cut the air and it made a loud, precise crisp crunch. As if I broke a bag of chips all at once.
" Tell us." Both Nico and Liesel demanded from me