Deception - WWII Resistance / Holocaust Novel

chapter 25: the yellow star

Herr Fehmer had been irritable for the entire week. He seemed to bark orders at anyone and everyone who was in his presence. And it was I who bore the brunt of his violent temper. He chewed away at his nails for days with nervous anticipation of the high ranking official who would 'grace' us with his presence all the way from Poland.

Obergruppenführer Schmidt.

I peaked through the blinds on that Monday morning when Herr Fehmer masked nervous look he had worn on his face for several days prior. The two shook hands firmly before disappearing into the meeting room.

Obergruppenführer Schmidt looked as though he had well passed sixty. He was tall and skinny in statue. His face was sunken with age and wrinkles. His head grey and balding.

An hour later, the two returned from the board room, but were joined with an unknown woman who I had not noticed before who seemingly trailed behind with her head hung down as though her eyes were glued to the floor. She was dressed in a plain long dress. Her black hair, parted in the middle and neatly brushed back into a tight bun.

Anneke and I stood up abruptly to greet our guest. Herr Fehmer, with his hands clutched together, proudly introduced Obergruppenführer Schmidt. He waltzed over to Anneke and asked her for her name. Anneke awkwardly mumbled her reply. He then turned and made his way towards my desk and asked me for mine.

'Mieke de Jong,' I replied confidently. 'We are so honoured to have you here in our office Obergruppenführer Schmidt,' I said, giving his hand a firm shake and letting my touch linger longer than what would have been appropriate. 'Herr Fehmer has only spoken with the utmost highest regard for you.'

'Thank you Miss de Jong,' he beamed at the compliment. 'Herr Fehmer did mention you are one of the most hard working individuals are this floor.'

My eyes panned over to connect with Fehmer who was watching me intently before returning my gaze to Obergruppenführer Schmidt, 'Well, it is team work between me and him.'

Schmidt turned back to Fehmer and began discussing the shared office space arrangements for the duration of his stay.

'She can sit here,' Obergruppenführer Schmidt pointed towards the spare desk at the end of the room. The unnamed woman crossed the room with no eye contact at all, bundles of papers and files clutched between her hands, pressed against her chest.

Once she had set the documents down on the table, I could not contain the gasp which escaped my lips. I stared in disbelief when I noticed for the first time since she entered the room, the large yellow badge neatly sown on the front of her dress.

'I do apologise if you find the arrangement for this week uncomfortable,' Obergruppenführer Schmidt stated. 'Unfortunately, staff is very limited in Poland and some of these people have useful skills. It is not ideal, but we must make due. I guess we can't get rid of all of them,' he said in a joking fashion.

I felt my legs shake, luckily hidden from view behind the desk. I sat down and tried my hardest to distract myself with papers stacked on my desk, but my eyes could not stop staring at the yellow star on her dress.

A/N Yay I finally updated! This chapter is a bit short as I am trying to get back into the writing process. I mapped out the rest of the book and plan to post more regularly during this lockdown period.  Enjoy! And please don't forget to vote and comment :)

P.S I updated the cover!