Comment from CrystieCookie999

Excellent

I liked reading this. The last book I read all the way through was "Stolen Girl" by Marsha Skrypuch, which tells about other children who were taken away from Ukrainian and Russian families. Sometimes events happened in the Second World War that people just didn't know about. Well-done with the child Anne's optimism in spite of what the parents might suspect.

 Comment Written 08-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 08-Oct-2023

Thanks, Crystie. I hated to write this, but it has to be brought up from time to time.

Comment from Aussie

Exceptional

Ah, Paul, your true story flash bit hard. The only comfort you have is the Jews are God's chosen people and their spirit goes on forever. I love reading about the Jewish faith and the name of my home is Shalom. Best wishes for the contest. K xx

 Comment Written 05-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 05-Oct-2023

Thanks, Kay. It gives me shivers whenever I think about that time in history.

Comment from Thesis

Excellent

Hi Paul, I'm trying to figure out if this is you or a story about a family with a father named Paul. Being that it's non-fiction, I'm trying to figure out the perspective. Assuming it's a family during WW2, I get it, but it's unclear.

 Comment Written 04-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 05-Oct-2023

Sorry about being unclear. That is not me. I'm sure this was a situation that was played out many times.

Comment from Liz O'Neill

Excellent

Goosebumps. This scenerio ties in very closely with some of my past life stuff. These words are trigger to some truth I fight to move on from. I know everyone was victim or persecutor at one time in their lifetimes. It's just difficult as different ones are stirred up. Very powerful & moving presentation.

 Comment Written 04-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 05-Oct-2023

Thanks, Liz. Sorry to bring up something that brought up unpleasant memories of the past.

reply by Liz O'Neill on 05-Oct-2023

Having this happen is actually healing. I didn't happen upon this one by accident

Comment from JSD

Excellent

This writing is so painful. It depends on everyone knowing the truth behind the train journeys and thus its brevity is moving. The choice of a child as a subject makes it even more hurtful. Well done and thank you for keeping this theme alive in our hearts.

 Comment Written 04-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 04-Oct-2023

Thanks, John. It is painful but necessary to bring this to light from time to time.

Comment from Paul Manton

Excellent

Dear Paul, Many of us in Europe have become inadvertent students of the Holocaust. I, because I have taught in several Jewish Schools, I live in North London, a very Jewish area - and of course, I have many Jewish friends.

British television is inundated with with stories of Nazi hunters - and only three hours ago I saw on tv the statistic that 96% of all Nazis who committed atrocities have never been punished - and that would include people like Albert Speer who lied his way out of a certain noose.

So your understated and 'innocent' story of this little family is all the more shocking because we know (a kind of dramatic irony) exactly what is in store for them. And all we can do is weep.

Paul

 Comment Written 03-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 03-Oct-2023

Thanks, Paul. It must have been hard at times teaching those Jewish children.

reply by Paul Manton on 04-Oct-2023

Not at all. What was hard was my work with autistic boys - some of whom were Jewish. I got invited to some strange Bar Mitzvahs! Some, though were delightful.

Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Excellent

A stunning little flash here, Paul, especially after being cunningly misled by the title.The awful tragedy of those train rides to concentration camps must forever remain in our memories if anything is ever going to change. Well done for saying so much in such an economic form. An art in itself! Good luck! Debbie

 Comment Written 03-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 03-Oct-2023

Thanks, Debbie. It is unbelievable that something like that could have happened. I would like to forget something like that, but I can't. Man's inhumanity to man is unforgivable.

reply by Debbie D'Arcy on 03-Oct-2023

I think that's a great entry ...and I only wish I could withdraw mine which is looking more and more trivial as the days go by:((

reply by the author on 03-Oct-2023

I'm sure that yours is fine.

Comment from Wayne Fowler

Excellent

Well written. Point made.
But yet idiots continue to shoulder the Nazi flag. And idiots continue to espouse the vile filth of the Third Reich.
Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 02-Oct-2023

Thanks, Wayne. Ignorance is an amazing thing.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

Agreed - may it never happen again. Yet, there continued to be stories of genocide in African countries and Asian countries after this horrific one that is far more well known. Great job condensing this into a flash fiction size. Best wishes in the contest!

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 02-Oct-2023

Thanks, Helen. What goes through the minds of those who perpetrate these atrocities?

reply by lyenochka on 03-Oct-2023

It's hard to imagine. But when people forget that there is a God Who made all people, they think strange things.

Comment from Pam Lonsdale

Excellent

I have been reading "The Face of War" by Martha Gellhorn, and she talks of these train rides. Chilling, brutal, monstrous . . .

Paul, I'm not sure but I believe this has to be YOUR true story for this contest. Either way, I wish you luck.

Pam

 Comment Written 02-Oct-2023

---

reply by the author on 02-Oct-2023

Thanks, Pam. This is true only because I'm sure that it happened many times. We have to be reminded of this tragedy from time to time.