The Pamiętnik (Mature)

[Casmatori]

[Nina, 8 years old, is sitting on her grandmother's knee in Des Moines, Iowa. They are looking at and discussing photographs and family diary entries from the 1920s and 30s taken in the grandmother's childhood home of Krakow, Poland]

Grandma: 1936 - There was happiness, prosperity; and a great huge wedding too.
1937 - Oh. A great year: the family business was doing better than ever.
1938 - Cold, cold winter. But we made it through okay.
Look. Your great-great-grandfather, look at him. Wasn't he handsome? [Grandma closes the diary]
Okay: let's look at something else. Do you have anything to show your babcia (grandma)?

Nina: No grandma, I want to see what happens in 1939 - I like this, it's cool. I love looking at your old albums.

Grandma: The pamiętnik (diary). It is not mine my dear. It belongs to my eldest sister who moved here before they came. My own photographs were taken from me. They were taken from me long, long ago.

Nina: Who came? Who took them from you grandma?

Grandma: The Nazis did. They came, September 6th 1939. We were made to wear white opaski (armbands). With a star like this [Grandma picks up a book with the Star of David on the cover]. It was tough times. You must remember Nina; we lived in a very dark and vicious world back then. I don't think you're ready for it quite yet.

Nina: No grandma. You must tell me. Tell me what Krakow was like.

Grandma: Krakow. Krakow was beautiful. There was a river. Beautiful old town homes. Luxurious apartment blocks. Immaculate parks with trees as high as the stars.

Nina: But what happened to all the people in the diary? Where did they go?

Grandma: No no, I don't think you're ready my Nina. Not quite yet.

Nina: Please grandma, please! Tell me exactly what happened to them. [Nina says with a happy and inquisitive smile]

[Grandma hesitates. She looks deep into Nina's eyes and sees her curiosity burning like a flaming sun. Without warning, she opens the diary and puts her finger on each and every picture]

Grandma: This is your great-great-uncle. He was shot in the street by a drunken Nazi. Then his body was set on fire in front of our house as a crowd of soldiers laughed and warmed themselves. It was pieklo (hell). This is his wife and son. They were taken away one afternoon when we were moved to the ghetto. Zmarły (dead). My best friend: Sveta. She was taken one day when I was working at a factory outside of the ghetto. I never saw her again. Cousins Elizi, Izak, Jana, Helena, Ismael, and my own grandmother - They were sent to Auschwitz. They were probably gassed or shot. This is my mother, my sister Rachela and my aunt Brishka - they were shot at Płaszów concentration camp while I was sleeping in the barracks. I heard the shots and they woke me up, I didn't realize it was them who were shot until I didn't see them again. I was 9.

And that's exactly what happened to them.

[Nina looks on stunned. For a moment she is silent. Then she begins to breathe heavily and uncontrollably like a panting dog. Her eyes become water-logged and she bursts into tears]

Nina: I'm sorry grandma, I won't ask again. [she says as she hugs her grandmother tightly]

Polish words are translated in blue afterwards

[rupertpupkin]

Hi. Powerful stuff and a totally absorbing read. I think the way you suddenly introduced the horror was very effective. A good use of language and a nice way with words help the reader enjoy this harrowing yet true tale. Well done with this, Sean.

[Jahaliel]

That's very depressing, possibly because of its accuracy. The suddenness of the horror creates a vivid contrast to the tranquility of the scene with the grandma and child.

[AnIdeasman]

I like the formatting of this story, the script style makes me imagine it as a stage play. The dialogue between the grandmother and granddaughter actually gave me goose bumps, that image of an elderly women reciting the horrors she went through in Poland during WW2 to a child is an incredibly powerful and touching scene. Thanks for sharing this.

[Dana Renee]

Countless times something like this has played out between a grandparent and grandchild. You penned it so well. This was very moving Casmatori. Thank you for sharing!

[msebert72]

I can totally picture this conversation and it saddens me how often this may have occurred. Truly a touching a memorable post, I shared it with my wife.

[Josie]

This was a conversation between a grandmother and her young granddaughter that highlighted the Nazi terror that decimated the grandmother's family and friends. Congratulations on the TPS Spotlight. How brave and caring was the grandmother who shared those painful moments of her life. How receptive and understanding was the young girl to realize the suffering her grandmother endured.

[tangerinepie]

This is a stunning spotlight choice.It brings to light the tragic tales survivors must relate to upcoming generations.The world must never forget this unbelievable atrocity, a terrible blight on humanity...A wonderful story you told.Tangie.