Photo Prompt for Friday Fictioneers:
PHOTO PROMPT © Sarah Potter
“It’s odd that we’re having snow so early in the season,” Brigitta commented. “Hans, don’t you think it’s odd?”
“Brigitta, you need to take care of your chores and get away from the window.” Hans was gruff in his response. He’d been up at the camp all day performing his duties as a guard.
“It’s very odd snow, Hans. I’ve never seen anything like it.And what’s that awful smell? Phew! It seems to come in the door with you.”
“Brigitta! That’s enough! Mind your own business.Leave me alone. I’m tired.”
Just Writing! 
Dear Linda,
I’m cringing as I think I have an idea of what’s causing the odor. Too many hours at the oven?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I always write my post before I read anyone else’s. Then I went back and read yours. We do seem to have a similar interest.
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Ooh what’s the smell?
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There are clues. German names; his job as a guard at the camp; “snow” too early in the season, his curt responses to her.
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Oh! Very sad ☹️
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Oh… this has me shivering… but not from the cold!
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There is so much horror in what is not said. The snow that is not… the offensive smell… Hans’ jumpiness…
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Exactly right. You got it!
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That is so clever and so chilling. Well-written
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Thanks, Neil.
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Having just seen a German railway wagon used to transport prisons to the extermination camps your writing really hit home. Well done.
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A very clever take, had to read it a couple of times to pick up on the subtlety. Excellent piece.
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Oh this is so dark. Was she really so naive?
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Yes. History tells us that many of the people who lived in towns near the camps truly had no idea what went on there. Some probably chose to ignore it; others believed whatever lies they were fed. There is a photo of US soldiers herding a line of laughing, chatting townspeople up to one of the camps to help clean up. There’s another shot of them on the way back home. No more smiles, no more laughter. They became believers.
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Wow. That was very strong and to the point. Well played on the prompt.
Thank you for reminding us what we must never forget.
– Lisa
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I felt there was something sinister, but didn’t understand utnil I read the comments.
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You’re not the first who didn’t get it right away. I’m old enough that it was all very real to me. WWII was my dad’s war, and I was born in 1947–one of the first of the Boomers–so it was as close to living history as you could get. I don’t think history is being taught these days the way I learned it. The Holocaust should always be taught for just exactly the horror that it was.
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Hard to believe she wouldn’t have known. But people did choose not to acknowledge they knew what was being done in their name. Absolutely chilling.
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While there were those who knew, I do believe there were many who truly didn’t understand the extent and the horror that took place in the camps. They were brainwashed, really, to just not ask questions. And some who knew, had no idea what to do about it.
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True. Like all totalitarian regimes, there was no room for protestors. Once the war began, there was also no way out. It must have been hell for those who were horrified by what was happening.
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Oh! My first thought was: intriguing, then I read the comments. Very well done, subtle, but it’s good not to be heavy handed.
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It took a moment until it clicked. The ‘normal’ in the horror.
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Exactly.
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A poignant reminder.
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Whoa!!! This is so scary. “The camp”! I had no clue till I read the comments. Oh! The horror. So beautifully written.
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Thank you.
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How cleverly you placed all the clues in this tragic story. Excellent work.
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Thank you very much.
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