Chapter 1: When everything changed, and we were already used to it. (Part 1)
“...it will be a glorious nation! A german nation!...” Elise turns off the radio. “Isabell dinner is ready!” Elise shouts across the house. She picks up the two wooden plates with a small amount of meat and vegetables on them and proceeds to walk to the table.
“Coming!” A young female voice response from outside.
Elise set’s down the plates with the wooden cutlery on each side of the plates, knife on the right side facing inward, fork on the left side. The door opens and a young girl comes walking in.
“Shoes off at the door, Isabell.” Elise commands.
“Yes! I know, no need to tell me!” Isabell responded with an annoyed voice.
“If you know, then why do you forget it so often? Maybe you should sweep the floor next time you forget.” Elise stats.
The girls sit down at the table and start to eat.
“So tell me how was school today? Did you ask the older kids for help in math like I told you to do?” Elise asked.
“No, the teacher was really mad at us today and gave us all a beating for doing poor homework, we were not allowed to talk for the rest of the day. Kevin however dared to talk, his hands are as red as a tomato for the next couple of days.” Isabell explains.
“Serves you right, either you do your homework properly or you will stay dumb for the rest of your life. That Kevin kid obviously does not know what respect towards your elderly is when he does not heed the warning of the teachers.” Elise said.
“But that is so unfair! It is cruel that the teacher punishes us, they are not even ou-” Isabell get’s cut off.
“Drop it Isabell, I do not want to hear another word from you on that topic! You know better than you argue about this.” Elise said angrily
“Bu-”
“Alright to you room! NOW!”
“NO!”
“NO?!, Isabell to your room NOW or you will receive a beating too today.”
“You're not my mother!”
“I’m your older sister that gives me enough right to raise you properly!”
“Mom would have never allowed this.”
“HOW WOULD YOU KNOW! YOU WERE TOO YOUNG TO EVER GET TO KNOW HER.” Elise yells across the entire house.
Isabell pushes the plate with the rest of the food to the floor and starts running crying to her room.
Elise stand up hastily almost knocking her chair to the floor. “ISABELL! YOU COME CLEAN THIS MESS UP RIGHT NOW! AFTER I GIVE YOU A BEA-”
A loud knock on the door cuts Elise off.
“For god's sake what is it now” Elise starts walking towards the door, tying her her back into a ponytail.
As she opens the door two male soldiers in black uniform stand in front of her.
“Good day to you mylady. I’m sorry if we come at an unpleasant moment but we would like to speak to you.” The first soldier said.
“Oh no do not worry about it, please come in.”
“Thank you kindly young miss.”
Elise closes the door behind her after the two men enter. “Just take a seat there by the table.
The two men take a seat and start to take out papers as Elise cleans the floor and table, form the leftover food.
“Problem with the kid?” asked the second soldier?
“No, sister, but yeah she has been a problem the last couple of days.” Elise said while putting the dishes on the counter.
“Now, what business would you have with me?” Elise asks as she sits beside the two soldiers.
The first soldier gives her a paper, and a small wooden box.
“Your father, served the kaiser greatly in the great war. Although he died in battle he would have received a second class iron cross upon his return.”
Elise opens the small wooden box and takes out an iron cross and a dog tag. On the dog tag the following was inscribed:
Jürgen Eberhard
Potsdam Vogelsang
7. 2. 85.
D.R.8. ERS.ESK 2.M.G.K.3.ESK. Nr 14
“Yeah this is definitely my father's dog tag, but why are you giving me this?” Elise asks
“Well we got orders to recruit you into the army, you are to be station in Bayern and train at a camp there, because your father served Germany greatly during the Great War the pay will be great if you do accept. As for your sister she will be send to another camp where she will be kept safe during your absence.” The Second Soldier explains.
After a few minutes of thinking Elise started to talk.
“Well this is certainly a surprise visit to me on such a short term. I do understand the circumstances thou. After all I owe Hitler a favor, he has provided many of us homeless people a home with almost no tax to pay for it, I could not be anymore grateful. Still on that term I could not possible thing of leaving my sister behind. Even if she is going to a camp where everything will be provided to her. I’m sorry but I must decline.”
The two soldiers look at one another and then proceed to stand up.
“We understand young lady, in that case it is a shame, however the offer still stand anytime.”
The second soldier gets out a small piece of paper.
“Here is the address of the nearest wehrmacht office incase you do decided to enlist, there is a small office not to far from here, the german wehrmacht would certainly have an advantage with you teaching the children of tomorrow.”
Elise accompanies the two soldiers to the door.
“Thank you I will certainly keep that in mind. Good day to you gentlemen.”
“Good day.” The two soldiers replied, leaving the house and disappearing down the street.