Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: LOVE (agape and/or phileo) (03/12/15)
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TITLE: The Taste of Fear | Previous Challenge Entry
By Brenda Rice
03/18/15 -
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Strangers in brown uniforms came and ransacked our house. Papa was questioned about why he had not joined the party. He was angry. I could tell he did not like the men. Mama cried so long she had no more tears. She prayed late into the night. Papa sat at the kitchen table staring. I knew he was planning something. Papa always knew what to do.
Whispers came from the kitchen. I put my ear to the door and heard Papa say, “All right Mama, I will join. Maybe it will buy some time for us to escape.”
Escape what? Where would we go?
Papa went out early pushing his paint cart like always. Mama and I stayed inside all day. Mama packed a few clothes, our family pictures and her mother’s china. When Papa returned he was dejected as if he had let himself down or failed at being a man. All he said was that he had applied for membership in the party.
Heil Hitler!
At sunrise Papa took me by the hand and led me outside to his cart. He patted my head like he always did and said, “Today munchkin, you are going with me. I was excited! He said, “We have a secret, can you keep our secret?” My head nodded swiftly.
“Okay munchkin, you will hide in the cart under the paint clothes, behind the paint cans. You cannot move or make a sound until you hear me say, munchkin come out.” I agreed.
What I did not know was Mama had left before sunrise. She put her suitcases on a sledge used for gathering wood and walked through the forest to the Shellenger house on the river. Papa thought it best we were not seen together.
Rudolph Shellenger and Papa served together during World War I, and they had remained close comrades. I didn’t know then that Herr. Shellenger had agreed to hide us from the Nazis.
Who were the Nazis?
It was a huge relief when Papa and I joined Mama at the big house by the river. Herr Shellenger lived alone. He flew the flag and saluted the Fuhrer. Then he prayed for forgiveness. Papa praised him for what he was doing for us. Herr Shellenger would have none of it. He said, “God instructed us to lay down our lives for our friends. And so it shall be!”
I came to understand his determination one day when he told a story about the old war. Seems my Papa had saved his life by volunteering for a duty that was much too difficult for the older man. Herr Shellenger never forgot the gesture.
The older man obviously had favor with the party, because they never came to ransack his house looking for sympathizers. Then one day the brown uniforms did come. Mama was hysterical. We hid in a secret chamber in the old house. As it turns out they came to chat with the old veteran.
Herr Shellenger hurried to find us when the uniforms left. They told him the party was denying Papa’s application. They said they had orders to pick him up and march him to Dachau with the next group of Jews. They called Papa a Jew lover.
That night, Herr Shellenger quoted scriptures about love to us. He said, “God’s love is the supreme kind of love, because He gave His only son to save all mankind.” (John 3:16 KJV) Then he said, “Because of your Papa I have grown old. My life has been good. Now my country has betrayed me and I can no longer give her my allegiance.
“Tonight we will leave together on a boat waiting for us at the river. In a few hours, we will be in another country and free from the evils Hitler has brought to our nation.”
I have never forgotten the love Herr Shellenger showed our family. Everything I have belongs to God and I give willing to all who are in need.
Love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31 KJV
Inspired by: The Book Thief
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This story although somber held an inspirational note of joy. The love topic was in full view at the conclusion.
Well done...excellent writing.
God bless~