Edith's Story

Title: Edith's Story
Genre: Non-Fiction

So much has happend in the book since my last blog post, so lets get going! So last time I introduced you to Edith's family, and the things that are starting to happen. So as I said before Edith is going to go live with Adries aunt and uncle in Breda. She is living in a house with the family Mr. and Mrs. z. K. and there daughter Ineke. Also right next door to Edith's room there is a German commander living there! Edith is so very terrified, all she can think of is how it will be if anyone finds out she is not who she really is. Edtih does chores around the house, but it doesn't bother her since she doesen't need to do anything else. Each morning Edith has to bring the German commander his cup of coffe to him, and then later on when he is gone off to work she tidy's up his room. Mrs. z.K hands her a cup of coffee, Edith is so nervous she thinks she might spill the drink! She walks quickly into his room, sends him a good morning and walked out of the room almost running!

Soon enough the German commander was transported and out of the house. Edith is not allowed to have any picture of her family, But she is allowed a picture of Adrie since he is not Jewish. But Edith does get letters from her family, in the letters just in case they do not call Edith by her name, instead her German name Nettie. In the letters they might say other things for example, little friends or friend of our son. Edith finds it strange having to write a letter back saying her parents last name, and then she having to write Mr and Mrs. z.K as her parents. Edith recently got a letter from her mother telling how everything was going. She said that the plaster on her leg was finally going to be taken off! Omi (Edith's grandmother) and her father were doing nice and splendid as well. She had also been told that Adrie had seen Jules a.k.a Alfred van Meurs. So Edith is so glad that her family is going fine, she wishes so badly to see them! When Mr. z.K was working as a collage teacher he had a friend named Mr. Gokkes he was a french teacher who is also Jewish. He has a wife and a son named David who is eight. One afternoon when Edith had finished her chores Mr. z.K said it would be nice if she went over and helped them out since they couldn't hire anyone non-Jewish, or could only go shopping for 2 hours. Edith was very delighted to and secretly eager!

So Edith arrived at the house and greeted by Mrs. Gokkes, Edith saw the star sewed on to her apron, and how happy she was with the compassion and grateful that Edith could come because (non jewish). But then edith felt uncomfortable seeing how grateful she was being Jewish, and Edith pretending she is not. So mrs. Gokkes went out shopping, and Edith stayed and played with David, when she came home Edith was peeling potatos. Mrs. Gokkes said she should wear an apron so she wounl't get messy, she went and grabbed an apron and put it on Edith, and stood there astonished and said, "Hevans! Look at you! Now you look just like a Jew". Edith so badly wished that she could tell her she was Jewish but she had to keep the secret. Just glancing down at that yellow star, wanting to shout, Stop it! Its not necessary! Its nothing special!I am Jewish too and I know exactly how you feel! But Edith just smiled and said Glad to help.

A week later the Gestapo came for the Gokkes. They had barly any time to hand little David over the fence to the neigbors. There was also another family the Koperbergs, they thought it would be there time to go into hiding too. They had found a farm with a farmer wh would let them hide in the barn, and a little hatch wood door in case of danger. One dark rainy evening they arrived, and sneeked into the house, they spent the night and then early in the morning they left to go to the farm. Edith is happy that they have made it safely to the farm. Latley Edith has become good friends with Ineke, she helps her with homework and does other fun things with her like playing the piano, but also Edith makes sure that she never gets in the way of Ineke and always makes sure she is shinning. And lastly Adrie and his parents have came to visit, and his mother brings Edith bad news, that Omi and her father have been kicked out of there house by the Germans and our name staying at the Thalheimers house which were some of there friends, but also the Thalheimers had fled to Switzerland at the beginning of July. She had also brought a letter. Which contains more information.

Oh my! So much has happened! Just all these things just really make me think how amazing her life was and there is still more to find out! Just how she survived and all these things that Edith has gone through, all I can say is that Edith is the most courage and is the bravest girl ever!