Randolph's Tale (A Journey for Love)

Randolph had just closed the door of the shed which stood behind his house. Once Heidi had gone into the woods for her long quest to safety, Randolph finally broke down. How he was able to muster up the courage to lead Heidi away from those soldiers was beyond him. It took all his self-control not to show his nervousness it front of the superior and the other German soldiers. His legs felt weak and his hands were trembling. He knew he had to remain strong for Heidi’s sake. She was on the verge of losing it completely and he could not let that happen. Now that she was gone, he took a few moments to compose himself. He knew what he needed to do next. He had to return to Heidi’s house or what was left of it for the rocking chair he had made her for her seventeenth birthday. Somehow, some way, he would return the rocking chair to her one day. The pleasure it had given her for those short few weeks made him want to retrieve it even more. He knew he would be in danger returning to Heidi’s house but he took the chance. Upon arriving there, seeing her home destroyed and her father lying there in a puddle of blood left him sick. Heidi’s father, Ira Kaufman, was a good man. He didn’t deserve to die such a brutal death. Randolph went into the bedroom and came back with a sheet. He placed it over the body of the man he now knew he would never really get to know. It was the least he could do knowing that Heidi’s father would never get a decent burial.  None of these people deserved to be treated this way.

How could such a great country let itself become corrupted by one man?  A sick man by the name of Adolph Hitler. Then he saw it. The rocking chair was exactly where it was just moments ago when he saw it last even though it felt like hours. Heidi had persuaded her father to let her take it along with them on their escape. The escape that never took place. He took hold of the rocking chair and carried it back to his house. He placed it in his shed with every intention of coming back for it when things quieted down. Randolph hurried about. He took a blanket off a shelf and hid it in a corner where it could not be seen just in case someone came into the shed.  Randolph fastened the door with a lock. He needed to get back to the troop he had deserted many hours before. Randolph needed to come up with a great excuse for the time he had been away. A quick goodbye to his parents and he would be off. Just as he was heading toward his back door, he was startled by a group of soldiers. It was the same group that he last seen in the Kaufman house. He stood there frozen. The soldiers moved apart for someone to come through. It was the superior of the troop.

Randolph didn’t know what to do. He just stood there.

The superior came forward and stopped right in front of him and said, “I told you that if we were ever to cross paths again, you would be sorry. Especially if you were caught in a lie. You helped those Jews escape. Didn’t you?”

Randolph couldn’t speak. Not a sound was able to escape his lips.

“Don’t you want to know how I know this you little piece of shit? Answer me!

I demand an answer!” and with that the superior slapped Randolph so hard that he fell to the ground. “I had Hans follow you after you left with those four Jews. I knew a kid like

you wouldn’t be sent by General Rothkamp. And I was right. I knew just what Hans would report back to me. He watched your every move since you first left the house with those Jews. I haven’t been in the German army all these years for nothing. I sat back and watched and knew your every move. I left those four Jews alone. They won’t get far. These woods are crawling with German soldiers just looking for target practice. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have already been shot to pieces,” the superior laughed. “I know when I smell a rat! Actually more a Jew lover!” the superior yelled. “Isn’t that right boy? What did you do? Have the hots for the little Jew girl? Was that the case? Answer me when I speak to you,” demanded the superior.