A Shot in the Dark

Submitted into Contest #80 in response to: Write about a child witnessing a major historical event.... view prompt

92 comments

Sad Fiction

My friends are all gone.

Naomi and Leah Baugh.

The Nazis took them.

And they never came back.


One day we were playing marbles on the street with the other kids.

The next their apartment was empty.

Nobody was inside, I checked.

Except for a scrap of lace on Naomi’s bed.


Mama gets a scared look on her face when I mention my friends.

Papa turns pale.

And then they feed me some lebkuchen and put me to bed.

They stay up for hours later, though, whispering to themselves.


The neighbors down the hall are gone, too.

They were nice to me.

Mrs. Akkerman once gave me a new pair of boots when mine were worn out.

I saw them leave with all their belongings on their backs.


I heard Papa mentioning some ‘camps’ this morning.

Where the Führer was sending our neighbors.

The Jews.

I never thought of them as Jews, though, they were just my friends.


There were lots of noises last night.

Aeroplanes, I think.

I would like to be an aeroplane flyer when I grow up.

Then I could fly with my friends high above in the cotton candy clouds.


We celebrated my seventh birthday yesterday.

Mama got me a chocolate cake covered with icing.

Papa got me a new doll that closes its eyes when you hold it.

I only wish I could show it to my friends.


Half our apartment building is empty now.

Some of the shops in town are ruined.

Mama covered my eyes as we walked past.

But I still saw the bodies and the destruction.


We watched the Führer on the Television last night.

His mustache is funny, like a square, and it jiggles when he speaks, which I find funny.

I did not understand most of what he is saying.

But Papa grew paler with every word.


Some of the older kids in school were talking about ‘Hitler’s Youth’.

And marching around giving looks to us younger kids.

One of them pressed a badge in my hand and when I looked at him, he smiled down at me.

It had the Führer’s face on it.


I pinned my new badge on my bookbag and wore it proudly around the house.

Mama’s eyes grew wide and she fluttered her hands at me.

But she did not tell me to take it off or take it off herself.

She only looked desperately at Papa who stared bleakly away.


Papa came home from work today with sad eyes and bad news.

We are at war with the world, which seems rather silly to me.

Why would we war against the world when we were such a small country.

Our lives were no longer our own and our minds were filled with hate.


Mama took me to visit Oma today for her seventieth birthday.

We took the train to Kiel and passed by Auschwitz.

I saw so many people pressed to the fences before Mama pulled me away from the window.

And so, so, so many bodies.


Mama says that our country is doing a bad, bad thing.

I do not understand.

They took away Naomi and Leah Baugh and put them in Auschwitz?

But they never did anything wrong.


The Nazis marched into our house last night.

Demanded to see our identification.

I screamed and Mama screamed when they pointed guns at us.

Papa was scared too, but he gave them what they wanted, and then they left.


The world is on fire, burning and burning until I cannot get the smell of ash out of my nose.

Or at least my town is.

Bombs, Mama calls them, and says that they are very deadly.

We stay in the cellar of the apartment, flinching at every sound, crying softly in the dark.


We hear the tat-tat-tat of shots.

It must be nighttime by now.

My legs are cramped and my whole body is stiff.

My stomach hurts.


Mama tells me to hush when I whimper at the loud bangs.

But, I can not help the loud shriek that comes out from me when the cellar door bursts open.

A man waving a gun appears on the stairs shouting for people to stay here.

He does not finish his statement before collapsing, the back of his head a bloody mess.


Papa tells me, a year later, that I did not make a sound when the Nazi killed that man.

I did not make a sound when he rounded us all up.

Not a sound when they stuffed us into a train.

Not a sound when they put us in a new apartment.


Mama tells me, a year later, that there is no sugar, milk, or bread in our new town.

Our food is being rationed to the tee.

Our lives are being rationed.

There is a family in the apartment across from us, a little boy my age too.


I find out his name is Stefan Fischer and he is eight years old, just like me.

I tell him mine is Emilia Schmidt and I am eight years old, too.

He shares his marbles with me.

I remember two sisters with who I used to play marbles, too.


Stefan and I both hate eating borscht every single day for every single meal.

But we have no choice.

It is either borscht or hardtack.

Which Mama tells me is made from cardboard and bones.


There is constant noise outside our windows, and dust often falls onto us at night.

When that happens, we have to go into the cellar for hours on end.

I once wet myself when a bomb goes off right outside our home.

Stefan slips his hand into mine and whispers that he did too.


I woke up one morning to find the sky blood red.

Aeroplanes buzz over us like the flies that hover over the bodies in the street.

I no longer want to be an aeroplane flyer anymore.

I want to be a hero.


Mama tells me, a year later, that the Führer has demanded Papa join the army.

I scream and plead for him to stay.

But he tells me that a nine-year-old girl shouldn’t scream or yell.

And to be strong for Mama.


Mama cries every day.

I cannot cry, for Papa told me to be strong.

Papa told me to be a brave young girl and protect Mama.

So I do.


Papa never comes home.

Mama turns into a shell of herself.

I can barely get her to feed herself, and we switch roles from mother to daughter to daughter and mother.

I burn my hands a lot trying to heat some borscht for her to force down.


Mama tells me, a year later, that America has joined the war.

I turn on the Television to see that the Führer’s mustache is still there.

I do not laugh anymore, for I know that he is a bad, bad man.

Who does bad, bad things.


Mama tells me, a year later, that the Führer is dead.

I do not believe her.

But her face is shining for the first time since Papa died.

And the sky is silent.


Mama tells me, a year later, that over six million Jews died in the camps.

I remember two little girls with who I played marbles.

And I cry, for the first time since Papa told me that nine-year-old girls do not cry.

Because the war is over, and I am alive. 

February 06, 2021 00:20

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

92 comments

Nainika Gupta
00:29 Feb 06, 2021

Hey guys....oof this was a TRIP.... Bill told me to preach..so preach I will. The reason I told this story from the German's perspective was that most people don't understand that the first country the German's invaded was their own. So anyway, hope you liked this!! -N

Reply

Show 0 replies
Nainika Gupta
01:13 Feb 06, 2021

<3 Exactly Bill *ahem* moto moto

Reply

Show 0 replies
Nora Ouardi
01:22 Feb 18, 2021

Wow.......just wow! I love the perspective you give in this story, and how unique your writing is. It's fascinating to see the point of view of the young, German girl. It is fiction, but it doesn't seem like it. It's these types of stories that spark emotion inside of you, and this one really hit that mark.

Reply

Nainika Gupta
01:32 Feb 18, 2021

Awww, thanks so much! Really appreciate that!! <3

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Radhika Diksha
11:07 Feb 07, 2021

A new story is out would love your feedback.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Kristin Neubauer
19:57 Feb 06, 2021

Another amazing piece - I can’t get over how you can write so quickly. I loved the perspective of the young German girl. You captured her voice so perfectly - she felt real to me. Even though it occurred over just two years of childhood, you showed how she’d grown up, lost her innocence over those two years . Such a poignant final line.

Reply

Nainika Gupta
15:47 Feb 07, 2021

Thanks so much, Kristin! Really appreciate that... :) and haha, i was motivated to write this!! Thanks so much - I was hoping to capture how she lost her innocence from 'cotton candy clouds' to 'blood-red sky' and I'm really glad it came across!! thanks again for the read!!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Carolyn McBride
01:29 Feb 18, 2021

I don't think I've ever read another story like this. It is written with a unique and compelling voice. It is moving, and fascinating, and really should win an award. But more than that, this story made me think - made me consider that horrible time from the perspective of a little girl. Thank you for opening my horizons.

Reply

Nainika Gupta
01:34 Feb 18, 2021

you....awwwww you made my day! Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. This story was the one that took the most outta me, and I'm sUPER glad people really appreciate that :)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Samadhee Ismail
14:14 Feb 16, 2021

This is a beautiful and touching story! Well done

Reply

Nainika Gupta
14:17 Feb 16, 2021

Thank you so much!! Really appreciate that :)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
T. Rezy
00:01 Feb 16, 2021

I don't think a mother would tell a daughter six million jews died. Not only the public wouldn't have known those numbers at the time, it wouldn't mean much to a young child that can bearly fathom the concept of one hundred let alone thst much. A small detail I know but a story that gets this many likes needs some objective feedback. Feel free to check out my most recent story to see if I have grounds to speak. He who lives in glass houses and all

Reply

Nainika Gupta
00:05 Feb 16, 2021

well...that's true..but it IS fiction and I kinda wanted to have it out there, even if it wasn't really plausible....but thanks for that!!

Reply

T. Rezy
00:12 Feb 16, 2021

No I totally understand it's fiction, which is a great art form the world needs more than ever, but I think there's a lot of value in those small details that can make or break a story given that the reader is immersed in it. Because it was believable and you conveyed the young girl's perspective very well. I think it's about navigating the waters of what realities can or can't be bent. The sum of the parts and all. But that's just my take. You're welcome!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
00:13 Feb 16, 2021

Thank you!! Yeah, I understand :)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Mango Chutney
23:53 Feb 15, 2021

Ahh.. Well Written.. And the Ending is awesome ' Because the war is over, and I am alive. ' Loved reading this..!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
23:58 Feb 15, 2021

Aw thank you so so much! Really appreciate it :)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Kay (:
18:04 Feb 15, 2021

This is an amazing story of how it was like during the war! 'I once wet myself when a bomb goes off right outside our home.' You start this sentence on a past tense then on it on a pretense. Other than that great job! Keep writing! I wrote a story in the same prompt and would appreciate it if you read it and gave me some feedback too!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
18:08 Feb 15, 2021

Thank you so much!! Really appreciate that - and oh thanks for the catch..loll i didn't even see that and I'll def give you feedback!!

Reply

Kay (:
18:12 Feb 15, 2021

Lol you're welcome! Thankies((:

Reply

Nainika Gupta
18:18 Feb 15, 2021

yeah!! :))

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Jen Thompson
01:58 Feb 14, 2021

Wow, I love your style! Excellent job!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
02:35 Feb 14, 2021

thanks so so much!! :)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
00:11 Feb 14, 2021

powerful, intelligent, deep, philosophical, and the child's perspective is well-written. wonderful job.

Reply

Nainika Gupta
00:21 Feb 14, 2021

...thank you so so much - really appreciate it :)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Rebecca Cole
16:15 Feb 13, 2021

Wow, this was powerful and emotive. It takes talent to convey such emotions using the voice of a child. This was wonderfully heartbreaking and I absolutely loved it. Great Job!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
16:16 Feb 13, 2021

Aw, thanks so much! Really appreciate it :)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Emily Grice
16:08 Feb 13, 2021

Hi Nainika, this is a wonderful and moving piece about WW2. I love the use of verse too. The fragile naivity of the child narrator's voice is gorgeous. I love the following: 'His mustache is funny, like a square, and it jiggles when he speaks, which I find funny.'

Reply

Nainika Gupta
16:10 Feb 13, 2021

Hi Emily! Thanks so so much - this story really took a lot outta me and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Brad Morris
15:58 Feb 13, 2021

Wow, just wow.

Reply

Nainika Gupta
16:07 Feb 13, 2021

Thank you so much :)

Reply

Brad Morris
16:25 Feb 13, 2021

This is the winner, right here.

Reply

Nainika Gupta
16:31 Feb 13, 2021

aww :)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
12:18 Feb 11, 2021

The style of this story (one sentence per line) threw me off at first, but as I continued reading, I discovered how much I LOVED it. I loved the narration of an eight (eventually nine and ten) year old German girl in World War II. You represented WWII so well! I can't imagine how much about the war you had to know to write something this good XD And you didn't kill everybody! That's good. GRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAT JOB!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
13:33 Feb 11, 2021

Thank you so much!! Yeah, the style for me, was a little tedious to do, but I really wanted to encompass the innocence of a child - hopefully that paid off?? Thanks so much!! I didn't have to do too much digging :) AND YEP i just killed the dad to show a contrast between innocence and innocence lost!! THAAAAAAAANKKKKKKKKS!!!

Reply

13:38 Feb 11, 2021

Yes I really did get the "child vibes" from your story. I could feel the innocence, especially in the beginning of the story. And YWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
13:48 Feb 11, 2021

YAS thank so muchhhhhhhh XD :)

Reply

13:59 Feb 11, 2021

😁😁😁

Reply

Nainika Gupta
14:03 Feb 11, 2021

:)

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Radhika Diksha
02:40 Feb 11, 2021

It was really good. You portrayed the girl's feelings well. I loved how she opposed her own countries thoughts and Hitler, in her emotions. You displayed her life well and showed the plight of the country too. Very nice work Nanika. Keep writing.

Reply

Nainika Gupta
02:41 Feb 11, 2021

Thank you so much, Radhika! really appreciate it!

Reply

Radhika Diksha
02:41 Feb 11, 2021

Can you give feedback to my new story

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Alya Kaikuahine
22:03 Feb 07, 2021

Wow. I love this story. I really liked how you made it from the German's perspective. I also liked how you broke it up into many different lines. So good! Please keep writing! Thanks for liking my stories! Also, is the emoji puzzle Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire?

Reply

Nainika Gupta
22:43 Feb 07, 2021

Thanks so much! really appreciate that!! AnD YES no problem, you're a very talented writer!! YESSSSS you got it!! :D

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Keya M.
01:45 Feb 06, 2021

Is the emoji movie guess, Life of Pi?

Reply

Nainika Gupta
01:47 Feb 06, 2021

YES! :D it was kinda easy loll :D

Reply

Keya M.
02:37 Feb 06, 2021

Yeah, I'm surprised no one got it before me and Meera!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
14:02 Feb 06, 2021

Ahhh yeah!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Keya M.
02:38 Feb 06, 2021

By the way, this story is really good. I especially love the last sentence!!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
14:01 Feb 06, 2021

Aww thanks so much!!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 2 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Meera Lakshmi
01:44 Feb 06, 2021

Is the emoji Life of Pi?? P.S. I like this story!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
01:47 Feb 06, 2021

Aww thanks so much! ANd yesss!! you got it :D

Reply

Meera Lakshmi
16:30 Feb 07, 2021

Do you change the emoji puzzle every month or something? They are fun!

Reply

Nainika Gupta
16:31 Feb 07, 2021

haha, no i'll change it now!! I change them every few days! :D

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply
Show 1 reply

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in the Reedsy Book Editor. 100% free.