Antoš Frolka [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Gerda clutched the bill-of-sale in her hand, glancing with smug satisfaction at Rose Zukerman’s amethyst ring that now sat tightly on her own fleshy finger. Franz had purchased it for her, along with the Zuckerman’s house. Gerda had always coveted that elegant townhouse with the piano (that she couldn’t play), the many books (that she would never read), and the china (that would end up broken).
They had gone to the Zuckerman’s early this morning, even though it was a Sunday. Gerda was afraid that some well-connected Party official would get the house first. They’d offered Dr. Zuckerman a fair price. Better than being thrown out, she had sniffed, when the doctor had hesitated at the offer, a sum that was far below what the house and its contents were worth.
Dr. Zuckerman was no longer allowed to treat Aryans, and most of his Jewish patients could not pay him. He could not afford to live in this splendid house, even if he was permitted to stay in it. Gerda chose to forget Dr. Zukerman’s gentle kindness. She chose to forget how he had traveled in a blizzard to treat Franz for pneumonia. Gerda brushed aside the thought that now their medical care would come from Dr. Höss with his trembling fingers and schnapps-scented breath.
I’m not a monster, Gerda thought. We’re giving them the day to pack up some personal items and food. The image of the two little Zuckerman girls with their honey-colored curls who had clung to their mother’s skirt stayed in her mind; she wondered where the family would go. Well, it’s not my concern. They’ll be with their own kind.
She understood that the hook-nosed caricatures of street posters bore no resemblance to the educated, cultured Zuckermans. But still she thought with pride that now true Germans would get their due. The Führer would make Germany great again.
She urged Franz along. She didn’t want to be late to church. She wanted to pray to God for their continued good fortune.
This is for Jane Dougherty’s Microfiction Challenge , but I’ve gone over the word limit. The prompt was the painting above by Antoš Frolka of a couple going to church.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Pingback: The Sale: Microfiction — Yesterday and today: Merril’s historical musings – Albspirit Post
True and very sickening.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
I hope it’s the subject and not my writing that is sickening. 🙂
Hugs back to you, David!
Tease, you know it is. It reminds me how many Christians can explain away what they did and still attend church on a Sunday. In fact just how many are Christian on a Sunday only and behave as they want the rest of the week. So hypocritical.
xxx Gigantic Hugs xxx.
Yes, exactly, David.
Hugs back to you.
Oh my gosh, Merril, this is sobering and scary. Powerful writing!
Thank you very much, Kathy!
Terrific, and sad, portrayal of one of the worst aspects of the 20th century.
Thanks so much, Cindy.
Shuddering.
Sorry? 🙂
That’s the risk with being a writer: upsetting other people heh.
I suppose so, but if someone isn’t upset by some subjects, then they are lacking in some vital piece of humanity.
There is a place for those people: it’s called politics.
I like to think that their may be some who actually want to serve the public. I’m an optimist. 🙂
Wow. Fantastic. I do fear that this is where we are heading, tiny step by tiny step. Have you read the Winter Men (I think)? It’s about how people convince themselves that they are not evil, they are just good people forced to act by circumstances.
Thanks, Sarah. I haven’t read it, but now I will. Thanks.
Have you read City of Women? It’s a novel I can’t stop thinking about. It’s about what “ordinary people” do in WWII Berlin, which has become mainly a city of women.
I’ll look it up!
It’s by Jesper Bugge Kold. It’s horrifying, but it does make one question oneself.
Thanks. I just looked it up!
Eish! as we say in South Africa – spine chilling reflection on current dynamics. The past is always present. Thanks Merril –
Thank you, Susan. Yes, exactly. There are definite, spine chilling parallels.
Profound
Thank you, Derrick.
I’ve just read it again, and it’s even better.
Oh gosh. Thanks so much, Sarah!
Sad, but likely happened many times over.
Very well written.
Thank you very much, Ken. Yes, I’m sure it happened many times.
Sadly, I have seen this hypocrisy in the church. Too sad for words. You certainly have written a great story!
Thank you very much for reading and commenting, Gwynn. I’m glad you liked the story, but sorry you’ve seen this hypocrisy in your church.
Whoever the woman in the painting is, I hope she deserves the blackening she’s getting. You packed a lot into this story, Merril, emotion as well as controlled writing.
Thanks, Jane. I know. Poor woman–she was probably some kind soul, but I took such a dislike to her. I don’t know if it was from your initial comments or what.
Oops. I hope she’ll forgive me, if forgiveness is needed 🙂
Yes. I hope so. 🙂
But for the women (and men) who did behave this way–well, the stories need to be told.
I think you did a pretty good job with this one. It’s fiction only in the details. The gist of the story really happened so many time.
Yes. It did. And too many people still feel that way.
In some parts of the world they never stopped, incredible as that may seem.
Yes, and here in the US, it’s now out in the open thanks to DT.
I’m still in denial about the US elections. I can’t believe that the richest, most powerful nation in the world has political debate of such puerile idiocy.
Many of us cannot believe it either.
We think our politicians speak in a pompous, oratorical fashion, but they come over as real intellectuals and philosophers compared with the likes of Trump. Hilary is no doubt a very intelligent woman, but there’s just no scope for intelligent debate, it’s just mud-slinging and fist-waving. Like semi-literate kids.
Yes, she is intelligent, and she tries to discuss policy, while he does just sling mud. DT is so bad that he makes Bush look good. 🙂
That you can rise to become head of state just because you have millions, and come out with kind of populist garbage you hear from drunks in a bar is worrying enough, but that half the voters in the country agree with him!!! That is terrifying!
Well, I and many others are hoping that it does not happen. The thought is terrifying!
Yep.
You’ve done it again, Merril. The story not only is gripping in its descriptions, it packs an extra wallop because it hits so close to home. I’d love to see this published more widely. Huffington Post perhaps?
Thanks so much, Janet, for your comment and affirmation!
It hits very close to home. I’ve seen some awful things coming from DT’s supporters.
I imagine you have, Merril. Woody and I marvel at how much safer we feel living in such a remote, isolated place as we do, than we did living in Philly. And that was on the good old days. We must stay alert, speak up when we can, and speak out when we must. I’ve written down the two titles mentioned earlier by you and one of your commenters. Susan, I think? They sound like important reads.
I live in S. Jersey, and I feel safe here. But it’s just scary the things I’ve seen written online.
“History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.” Karl Marx. Somehow the farce today could be a tragedy come November.
I hope it does not.
Pingback: Microfiction challenge A Satisfied Couple: the entries – Jane Dougherty Writes
That smugness continues — a haunting and terrifyingly true write.
Thank you very much. Yes, she looked very smug to me.
I hope God turns a deaf ear to her (and “them.”)
This was very poignant and current, too. I think of the terrible past of the multitudes killed due to a false leader. Blind following which seems farcical but was (is) real.
My grandma was named Paula Haller, came to America with her mother. She would not allow us to play good guys vs. bad guys due to the Germany she had left behind. Once married to my grandpa from Sweden, they joined many caring people in their New York neighborhood in activities. My Mom remembers stories of how people shared their talents, recipes and crafts.
Funny, Merril. Wait till you read my comment on your tic tac poem about a slimy mouthed talker! Sincerely, I have this bad habit with blogs starting with the newest and edging backwards. I mentioned “gas” in Germanyou of the past, in a reference today.
Thanks, Robin. I’m glad the story resonated with you and brought back family memories. There are too bad similarities between what is going on now, and what happened then.
I often just start at the top and work down in comments and email, so I also sometimes read the most recent first. Like this one. 🙂
This post really worked to integrate the past of how disrespectful and devastating people were then and how hurtful and disgusting they are still towards those who are different from themselves.
I hear derogatory comments still aimed towards the Jewish communities, among others who are faith based. I am glad some repairs and reparations have gone to living family members of the Holocaust. Never enough.
I agree, Robin. It is scary that some now feel that it is fine to openly express their horrid views.