The Rocking Chair

Heidi recalled their most horrific encounter. The four of them were in desperate need of food. Off in the distance was a small farmhouse. After careful consideration, they voted in favor of making an attempt to stop at the farm. In broad daylight this could be very risky for all of them all. Belle had instructed her three children to remain silent. Belle would try to persuade the owner to give them some food. The four of them walked to the front door. Heidi could still replay the scene so vividly in her head of what took place next.

"Good morning Sir, my name is Belle, and these are my children." The man, who looked weathered from years of hard labor outdoors, stared at them with a look of disgust. "I come to you in hopes of some food and water, " she continued. The man took a step outside onto his porch along with a small, framed woman, who appeared to be his wife. Two small boys stood along side of her.

"Youngins, go off and tend to the sheep out back" ordered their father. The boys ran off as instructed to do so.

The man turned to Belle and said, " Why would I give you food?"

Belle taken back by his coldness responded "We can help around your farm. My two oldest can put in a good days work out in the fields. Please, we are hungry, Sir. My youngest needs anything you can spare. A piece of bread perhaps. I'm not asking for money for exchange for our labor. Just a smitten of food, please! " begged Belle. The woman looked for what to do next from her husband, remaining silently for his response. She too seemed very cold towards them.

"Are you a Jew?" he bluntly asked.

Heidi had stood back and had heard enough. She stepped in front of her mother and said, "Why does that matter to you, Sir?"

"Please, Heidi, let me handle this," Belle insisted.

"No mother, I asked the man a question and I would like to know his answer. I'll ask it again. Why does it matter if were Jews or not, Sir?"

The man glared at them with pure hatred and evil in his eyes saying, "You are Jews. You want Me to feed a bunch of Jews," he laughed. His laugh was very disturbing to the four of them. He continued, "How on earth did you Jews ever get this far without getting caught? I thought our soldiers were rounding all you Jews up and sending you all off to some camp far away. I must confess, you do look like a sad bunch. A couple of pieces of some fresh baked hot bread might satisfy that hunger of yours. Wouldn't that be nice, Jews?"

"Oh, yes Sir," Belle said excitedly. "My youngest boy needs it the most. He can barely go on. He's so weak."

"Is that right, ma'am? Well, let me tell you what I'm willing to do. See all that fresh bread I told you about. I'd rather feed it to my pigs in their pen, then feed you filthy animals." Heidi couldn't believe what she just heard. After everything they had been through, and now this evil man toyed with their minds. He almost had them convinced that he would feed them.

"How dare YOU!" Heidi screamed. "Filthy animals! Is that what we look like to you? We're human beings just like you. We're proud to be Jewish. Does that make us bad people? What did we ever do to you?" The woman tugged on her husbands arm. The man didn't budge.

"Your kind thinks your so superior. Always has, always will. Well look at you now. Who's begging who? Now get your Jew asses off my property or I myself might make you my target practice. I'll give you to the count of three to get moving. One... two..." The woman pulled harder at the man and made a gesture for him to go inside the house. The man just stood there ignoring her. The woman didn't want any trouble. Not so much for the Jews, but for her own families safety. If the Nazi soldiers were near by and heard gunshots, they might come and investigate. By not reporting the Jews they would certainly be punished. All she wanted was for the Jews to leave. She feared bloodshed was about to take place. Innocent lives would be lost. Ones she didn't care about either way. It was the aftermath of deposing of their dead bodies that troubled her more.

"I should get my rifle I keep for hunting. These Jews don't seem to want to leave." The man proceeded to enter his house and in less than a minute was back outside with the rifle in hand. He aimed the rifle right at them. He kept his arm steady the whole while.

Belle panicked at the sight of the rifle. She grabbed Jared by the hand and fled to the fields. Benjamin too scrambled for safety. Heidi stood still. The event unfolding right before her eyes was baffling. This man, who was of German decent, was just as evil as the soldiers who invaded their home. Whatever this man called Hitler had used to brainwash these people to denounce all Jews, had worked. This farmer was living proof to that testament. As Heidi now backed slowly away, she stared straight into his eyes. She wasn't certain if he would use the rifle but she took her chances anyhow by saying "We will leave your farm. We came only in peace. All we asked for was kindness for your fellow human beings. You treated us with nothing but hatred. I only hope and pray that you and your family never fall behind times. May you never know hunger like we do right now, and may only good fortune be bestowed upon you. You see Sir, this whole experience will make us stronger and in the end, we will survive.