The Children’s Train

That night as Vincent neared the Vogner Fastener Factory, he saw the building ablaze before he even got there. Vincent froze in his tracks, staring at the factory his father had built, watching his livelihood burning down. The flames taunted the dark sky, and smoke billowed from the broken windows.

A group of Nazi storm troopers watched the fire from across the street, a safe distance from the deliberate destruction. They laughed and cheered, as if they were at a bonfire.

“I could cook a bratwurst or two on that fire,” a storm trooper said. Then he turned and saw Vincent standing there, stricken with horror.

He pointed accusingly at Vincent, as if he was to blame, and then the others rushed toward him. Vincent turned to run, but the storm trooper quickly overpowered and restrained him, dragging him off. Nazi terrorism had taken his business and his freedom, all in the same night, the night of broken glass.