The Children’s Train

The Jewish ghettos and camps were overcrowded, filled with disease and great despondency, but it was only the beginning of suffering. Soon, Jews were being shipped to death camps in crowded train cars like cattle, mostly in Poland, and mass killings became routine.

On a cold October morning, the door to the Vogners’ Dinsdorf apartment swung open and slammed against the wall. Victor stomped in and read from a list held in his outstretched hands. His face had a pompous smirk, as if he enjoyed the job of announcing the latest transports. “Jacob Levy, Nora Levy, Anna Vogner, Greta Vogner, you’ve been selected for resettlement to the east.”

“What does that mean?” Anna asked, wondering why Eddie’s name was not listed.

“Means you’re leaving tomorrow morning,” Victor said.

Anna and Eddie stood rigid and speechless. Nora stepped up. “Greta Vogner won’t be going. She died,” she said.

Anna glared at Victor. “Remember the old woman you threw out on the street like a dead rat?”

Victor shrugged. “There are so many dead rats.” He crossed her name off the list. “Good. Good. That will give us room for one more. Eddie Vogner. Report at six o’clock in the morning.”