March 19, 1940
Dear Diary,
I am truly frightened! I am writing now, hoping to chase away the dark shadows that never cease their haunting. I am crouched behind a bush, praying the soldiers don't find me. I had spent the whole of last night drifting in and out of dreamless sleep, and as a result I woke up this morning disoriented and groggy. I threw on my old sweater and headed off to paint fences. I walked into the run down building as I do on any other day, but this time Mr. Wilson simply stared at me, his eyes glued to my sleeve. I looked down, and a yellow star caught my eye. I had worn the wrong sweater! I hadn't ripped the star's seam off this one. I was basically advertising to the world that I was a Jew! This grave mistake would surely be the cause of my death. Mr. Wilson reached a shaky finger out and pointed it at me.
"Jew!" he shouted. "Jew!" he walked to the door on unsturdy legs and called to the Nazi soldiers on the streets.
I had made a break for it, and ran as fast as my nimble legs could carry me. The soldiers were not far behind, and the moment they were out of sight, I crouched behind this bush. They're here, though. I can hear the crunch of the leaves under their boots. They smell of tobacco, and i hate them for smelling like Papa. I hope I can make it safely home. I'm paying extra careful attention to the leaves around me and the way the wind feels, because I can tell I won't be back outside for a very long time.
YOU ARE READING
Diary of a Holocaust Survivor
SpiritualSylvia Zipper is a 14 year old Jewish girl living in Poland during the Holocaust. She hides from the Nazis with her large family in the attic of generous Mrs. Simon, however the small cramped space is too much for Sylvia. With her older sister Cassi...
