The Children’s Train

As they were pulled out of the truck, the police suddenly jerked Nora away and pushed her into another group heading to a different train. Anna and Eddie’s group were herded toward a train on another platform.

“Nora!” Anna screamed. “Nora! Grab my hand!”

Nora strained to get back to them, but the police, almost shoulder to shoulder, prevented her from reaching Anna and Eddie. She jumped up and down, trying to see them over the police, as tears streamed down her face. Suddenly, complete fear replaced the sadness.

“Anna?” Nora yelled. “Help me!”

Anna, being pulled in the other direction, grabbed onto Eddie’s arm and struggled to get to Nora. “Nora! I love you!”

Realizing she could not force her way through the Nazi barricade of police, Nora jumped up one more time. “May God go with you!” she yelled, suddenly completely alone after the death of her husband a short time before, and now the separation from her best friend. She was empty. There was nothing left. She succumbed to the pushing police and the surging crowd and was swept along with her grief in a sea of deportees.

Anna gripped Eddie’s arm as they were pushed into the center of the group. Anna’s response could not be heard over the rumbling of the approaching train, taking them to their uncertain destination.