Threats

Samuel's mother was standing at the back of the railway station's platform, waiting for soldiers to take a look at the family's credentials. Her clothes were colorless and plain, and as she stood clutching her bag with her scarf pulled tightly around her lined face it was as though she was hiding from the cold wind, and from the coldness of the soldiers that were around her. They seemed to take forever to document her loved ones. When they stamped Samuel’s passport and told him to move on, she walked slowly towards the small family, tears in her eyes and her lips pulled tight with emotion. It had been a long nine years since she had seen them, and with the passing of her husband, she pined even more to embrace them once again.

Back at her meager apartment, she poured her heart out to her cherished son and his wife. Since the Nazis posted signs saying to boycott Jewish businesses, even her most loyal customers had been afraid to support her. Their fears were justified. There were threats of murder, beatings occurred openly in the streets, and twice her shop window had had bricks thrown through it. She was afraid to say what was happening in her letters for fear of Nazi censors, who often took mail from the post office and opened it to see who was and who wasn't supporting the party.

As the family sat at the wooden table, she reached across and like a typical Jewish mother, took Samuel by both of his hands, and said pleased she was to see them. Even though Samuel was just as concerned, he tried to assure her that things would eventually come right. The sound of a male voice in the home made her feel so much better.

Over the next few years, Samuel invested the rest of his savings into the small and ailing business. He retired his mother from the store, changed its name, then advertised that he had purchased it and that it was now American owned. Fortunately, his mother had married a Gentile and his birth certificate didn't mention anything about him being Jewish. Much to his mother's relief, that brought back a flood of old customers and set the business back on its feet. Despite the presence of the Nazis, Samuel enjoyed the challenge of running a business, although he did have a problem with the language. He was in his early 40's and found it hard to retain a foreign dialect.

Jerry however, picked up the language easier from talking with new friends who were fascinated by the fact that an American had come to their school. Jerry was a gangling kid; looked like an early version of his dad, but less weather-beaten, and a lot more hair. It was at school that he made one particularly close friend. His name was Karl von Ludendorff. Karl was different from the other boys his age. His friendship was more than a superficial fascination for the fact that Jerry came from the country that made movies and where people drove big cars.

To be continued.