Chapter Two: SOURDOUGH BREAD

The Wagner family Aldous, Editha, and Hannele were hosting a special dinner tonight for their guest Mikhail.

First lieutenant Mikhail Hirogne was a Nazi German soldier. The forty-two-year-old man had been in service for nearly fifteen years. Divorced once and was imprisoned for assault by his ex-wife but instantly got away due to his family's wealth. He had one purpose for attending this dinner. 

It was Hannele.

Mikhail was looking for a new wife that he could easily control, a young one may be, and the petite eighteen-year-old girl suited his taste.

On the other hand, Aldous wanted to introduce Mikhail to his daughter as her soon-to-be husband, the father had promised her daughter's hand to Mikhail in exchange for supporting him for politics after the war, Mikhail was from a noble family in Germany he knew that It would be a sure win for him.

"Chief, what are we going to do with the Children in the hospital? The red cross scheduled a visit tomorrow." Mikhail asked Aldous as their servant Dara was filling up his wine glass.

The American Red Cross involvement in World War II preceded the entrance of the United States into the conflict. The Red Cross became the chief provider of relief supplies for civilian victims. Rehoming children, providing clothing, food, and supplies for the civilians.

Tomorrow would be their visit to Jasenovac. To take as many of the children as possible and rehome them in The States.

"Gas and burn the sick, we don't want the red cross to see such terrible conditions." Hannele's mother suggested.

"Mother! They're innocent children for God's sake!" Hannele said in disgust.

"We're on the other side of the wheel, dear. We get to choose their faith". Editha said in a calming voice

"You're unbelievable." The girl added in disgust.

"Enough of this nonsense, you two!" Aldous shouted while banging his right fist on the table.

"Gas and bury the sick tonight. We don't want their smell to cover this place when the red cross arrives.'' Aldous ordered.

Mikhail nodded in agreement with Aldous.

"My daughter after this war, when we get back to Germany you will wed Mikhail."

"We will have an engagement party as soon as we fly back home."

Hannele was shocked by the words of her father. All she could do was clear her throat of the wine that she was sipping. She suddenly stood up and dropped the glass of wine on the floor.

"You disgust me, father! How could you do this to your own blood? For Power? Politics? You're willing to give me to some man like a piece of meat?!"

She ran towards her room again just like she did earlier that day. There were so many questions running through her mind but all she could do was escape to her only safe spot.

Crying herself to sleep became a routine for Hannele. She feels conscience for their family, she craves freedom for everyone, for her beloved Germany, freedom from this sick dictator.

As dinner finished outside, Aldous and Mikhail were discussing their plans after the war and how victorious it would be, completely disregarding Hannele from their conversation.

"Maybe the dinner party tomorrow night will change her mind so she could bond with soldiers the same as her age".

"She has been locked in this god-forsaken house for ages," Mikhail said with a chuckle

"Yes, dear. Please forgive us. Hannele will be attending your gathering tomorrow night." Editha said with an apologetic voice

After seven glasses of wine, two rare tenderloin steaks, Mikhail bid his goodbyes to the Wagner Family. He was now up for dessert, he drove back to the camp to take care of the innocent souls in the hospital.

"W-hats Going on?! Why so late, my dear? It's nearly midnight". The nun exaggerated while opening the Hospital door.

Four rooms consist of this hospital. The first one to the right was the nursery which kept children from birth to eleven months. There were not enough cradles for everyone. One cradle would cater to three infants.

The second room to the right was for the terribly sick children ages 1 to 9 sharing ten beds were twenty-four of the petite and malnourished children who were almost unrecognizable when they first got to Jasenovac.

The fourth one was the only room to the left, a gas chamber in the morning, it was disguised as the clinic, consisting of metal walls. The hospital gassed the terribly sick children with incurable fever, tuberculosis, or if the infant was simply crying uncontrollably because of its wet nappy that disturbed the mother superior at night.

Tonight, Mikhail ordered to wipe off half of the hospital to be more presentable to the American Red Cross who will be taking the children to the United States.

They then took half of the sleeping infants from their cradle, one-third of the children ages 1to 9, and placed them in the crematorium. Mikhail took a look at their innocent faces one last time and threw gas at them, slammed the door leaving the children in darkness.

"Bury these rats once they sleep," Mikhail ordered the Mother superior.

"Where?" The nun asked.

"Your backyard, now get digging". He commanded once more.

The nun nodded in agreement.

Morning came in Jasenovac. The red cross finally arrived in a white bus. Shocked by the situation, the American volunteer took all the children with them and filled the bus.

"Hannele you have a dinner party tonight, I suppose you will be wearing your special dress, my dear," Editha said while brushing her daughter's hair in her room after her morning bath.

"Where to mother?" She asked curiously.

"Mikhail invited you to the soldiers' gathering tonight, enjoy yourself, my love, it's Friday." Her mother convincingly said.

"That's the only way your father can shut his mouth about you and Mikhail once we get to Germany. After the war, you can live on your own, my love. Be free as a bird! Now, come! Let's have breakfast," she said in excitement.

"Dara! Have breakfast ready at this instance." Editha commanded the maid.

"Sourdough bread, my love." Her mother offered the breadbasket as they sat down.

"You loved this with strawberry jam back at home. I reckon I asked Dara to bake them for you."

Dara was a fifty-year-old jew who had been working for the Wagner family since the camp opened; she was one of the first prisoners that had stepped in Jasenovac. When asked about her family once, she had always kept her mouth closed and always followed Editha's orders with her head down.

"Father, I apologize for what happened last night. Shall we continue our training today?" Hannele asked while her father sat at the head dining table.

"Finally, you've come to your senses" Her father commented. "We leave at 7:30."

"Yes, father." She answered meekly.

After Hannele stole a loaf of sourdough bread, fruits, and five pieces of sliced ham from the pantry, she then snuck it on a small picnic basket. Why? It was for the boy she saw at the lake. She wanted to bring him something knowing that he was probably starving. She also wanted to get to know that handsome boy. She also took a canvas and paint and hid it in her father's car trunk before he could finish getting ready.

The training continued with Hannele and her father that day at the camp, this time he taught her how to load and unload a pistol which the girl easily mastered.

The training ended at lunchtime.

Aldous called Hannele for lunch together with his soldiers. She simply said that she was uncomfortable eating with them because they would always stare at her weirdly and asked if she could go to the riverbanks to paint and have a picnic by herself. Her alibi was accepted by her father given the fact that she will be back before sundown.

The girl walked about two miles from her father's quarters to the plantation of chrysanthemum near the river banks. About twenty meters away from her path she saw the boy sitting near the river banks and she immediately rushed towards him.

"I'm glad you made it!" Hannele said in excitement.

It's as if all her exhaustion went away seeing this boy.

"You can call me Hannele," she offered her hand.

"Budo," the boy stood up and shook her hand.

"What do you have there?" He asked. Curious about the contents of the picnic basket.

"Here, this is for you. I figured you were hungry." She offered

He opened the box as if he was a kid opening up a Christmas present.

"I haven't eaten a proper meal in three days. How can I thank you for this." The boy said as he took a large bite of the bread.

"It's my pleasure." The girl said with a smile.

They sat in front of each other. Hannele began to lay her canvas on the floor and began to paint the boy with flowers in the background.

It took only two bites to finish the loaf for him. He recognized the distinct taste, he has eaten this bread since he was a little boy. Suddenly it tasted like home.

"THIS-THIS BREAD? WHO BAKED IT?" Holding Hannele on both shoulders shaking her.

"What do you mean who baked it?" She said in shock.

"I know this taste. It's from our bakery in Berlin. I've had this same exact bread every single day since I was a child." Letting her go, expressing his excitement.

"Dara bakes them fresh every day. My mother took her in as our maid. I'm sorry," she felt embarrassed at what just came out of her mouth.

"Dara? Dara Haddad?!" He expressed.

"Yes, Dara." She answered.

They were a simple family of five living in West Berlin, owning a small bakery that supported the family's daily needs, as far as he could remember he would take two slices of sourdough bread topped with Brie and scallions to school for lunch every single day since he was seven. He had this same exact bread he was holding now since he was a child. How could he not recognize the taste? it was as if for a second he felt home, he could taste home.

"What have you done to my mother?!" He asked Hannele furiously.

The Wagner family consisting of Aldous, Editha, and Hannele were hosting a special dinner tonight for their guest Mikhail.

First lieutenant Mikhail Hirogne was a Nazi German soldier. The forty-two-year-old man had been in service for nearly fifteen years. Divorced once and was imprisoned for assault by his ex-wife but instantly got away due to his family's wealth. He had one purpose for attending this dinner. 

It was Hannele.

Mikhail was looking for a new wife that he could easily control, a young one may be, and the petite eighteen-year-old girl suited his taste.

On the other hand, Aldous wanted to introduce Mikhail to his daughter as her soon-to-be husband, the father had promised her daughter's hand to Mikhail in exchange for supporting him for politics after the war, Mikhail was from a noble family in Germany he knew that It would be a sure win for him.

"Chief, what are we going to do with the Children in the hospital? The red cross scheduled a visit tomorrow." Mikhail asked Aldous as their servant Dara was filling up his wine glass.

The American Red Cross involvement in World War II preceded the entrance of the United

States

into the conflict. The Red Cross became the chief provider of relief supplies for civilian

victims.

Rehoming children, providing clothing, food, and supplies for the civilians.

Tomorrow would be their visit to Jasenovac. To take as many of the children as possible and rehome them in The States.

"Gas and burn the sick, we don't want the red cross to see such terrible conditions." Hannele's mother suggested.

"Mother! They're innocent children for God's sake!" Hannele said in disgust.

"We're on the other side of the wheel, dear. We get to choose their faith". Editha said in a calming voice

"You're unbelievable." The girl added in disgust.

"Enough of this nonsense, you two!" Aldous shouted while banging his right fist on the table.

"Gas and bury the sick tonight. We don't want their smell to cover this place when the red cross arrives.'' Aldous ordered.

Mikhail nodded in agreement with Aldous.

"My daughter after this war, when we get back to Germany you will wed Mikhail."

"We will have an engagement party as soon as we fly back home."

Hannele was shocked by the words of her father. All she could do was clear her throat of the wine that she was sipping. She suddenly stood up and dropped the glass of wine on the floor.

"You disgust me, father! How could you do this to your own blood? For Power? Politics? You're willing to give me to some man like a piece of meat?!"

She ran towards her room again just like she did earlier that day. There were so many questions running through her mind but all she could do was escape to her only safe spot.

Crying herself to sleep became a routine for Hannele. She feels conscience for their family, she craves freedom for everyone, for her beloved Germany, freedom from this sick dictator.

As dinner finished outside, Aldous and Mikhail were discussing their plans after the war and how victorious it would be, completely disregarding Hannele from their conversation.

"Maybe the dinner party tomorrow night will change her mind so she could bond with soldiers the same as her age".

"She has been locked in this god-forsaken house for ages," Mikhail said with a chuckle

"Yes, dear. Please forgive us. Hannele will be attending your gathering tomorrow night." Editha said with an apologetic voice

After seven glasses of wine, two rare tenderloin steaks, Mikhail bid his goodbyes to the Wagner Family. He was now up for dessert, he drove back to the camp to take care of the innocent souls in the hospital.

"W-hats Going on?! Why so late, my dear? It's nearly midnight". The nun exaggerated while opening the Hospital door.

Four rooms consist of this hospital. The first one to the right was the nursery which kept children from birth to eleven months. There were not enough cradles for everyone. One cradle would cater to three infants.

The second room to the right was for the terribly sick children ages 1 to 9 sharing ten beds were twenty-four of the petite and malnourished children who were almost unrecognizable when they first got to Jasenovac.

The fourth one was the only room to the left, a gas chamber in the morning, it was disguised as the clinic, consisting of metal walls. The hospital gassed down the terribly sick children with incurable fever, tuberculosis, or if the infant was simply crying uncontrollably because of its wet nappy that disturbed the mother superior at night.

Tonight, Mikhail ordered to wipe off half of the hospital to be more presentable to the American Red Cross who will be taking the children to the United States.

They then took half of the sleeping infants from their cradle, one-third of the children ages 1to 9, and placed them in the crematorium. Mikhail took a look at their innocent faces one last time and threw gas at them, slammed the door leaving the children in darkness.

"Bury these rats once they sleep," Mikhail ordered the Mother superior.

"Where?" The nun asked.

"Your backyard, now get digging". He commanded once more.

The nun nodded in agreement.

Morning came in Jasenovac. The red cross finally arrived in a white bus. Shocked by the situation, the American volunteer took all the children with them and filled the bus.

"Hannele you have a dinner party tonight, I suppose you will be wearing your special dress, my dear," Editha said while brushing her daughter's hair in her room after her morning bath.

"Where to mother?" She asked curiously.

"Mikhail invited you to the soldiers' gathering tonight, enjoy yourself, my love, it's Friday." Her mother convincingly said.

"That's the only way your father can shut his mouth about you and Mikhail once we get to Germany. After the war, you can live on your own, my love. Be free as a bird! Now, come! Let's have breakfast," she said in excitement.

"Dara! Have breakfast ready at this instance." Editha commanded the maid.

"Sourdough bread, my love." Her mother offered the breadbasket as they sat down.

"You loved this with strawberry jam back at home. I reckon I asked Dara to bake them for you."

Dara was a fifty-year-old jew who had been working for the Wagner family since the camp opened; she was one of the first prisoners that had stepped in Jasenovac. When asked about her family once, she had always kept her mouth closed and always followed Editha's orders with her head down.

"Father, I apologize for what happened last night. Shall we continue our training today?" Hannele asked while her father sat at the head dining table.

"Finally, you've come to your senses" Her father commented. "We leave at 7:30."

"Yes, father." She answered meekly.

After Hannele stole a loaf of sourdough bread, fruits, and five pieces of sliced ham from the pantry, she then snuck it on a small picnic basket. Why? It was for the boy she saw at the lake. She wanted to bring him something knowing that he was probably starving. She also wanted to get to know that handsome boy. She also took a canvas and paint and hid it in her father's car trunk before he could finish getting ready.

The training continued with Hannele and her father that day at the camp, this time he taught her how to load and unload a pistol which the girl easily mastered.

The training ended at lunchtime.

Aldous called Hannele for lunch together with his soldiers. She simply said that she was uncomfortable eating with them because they would always stare at her weirdly and asked if she could go to the riverbanks to paint and have a picnic by herself. Her alibi was accepted by her father given the fact that she will be back before sundown.

The girl walked about two miles from her father's quarters to the plantation of chrysanthemum near the river banks. About twenty meters away from her path she saw the boy sitting near the river banks and she immediately rushed towards him.

"I'm glad you made it!" Hannele said in excitement.

It's as if all her exhaustion went away seeing this boy.

"You can call me Hannele," she offered her hand.

"Budo," the boy stood up and shook her hand.

"What do you have there?" He asked. Curious about the contents of the picnic basket.

"Here, this is for you. I figured you were hungry." She offered

He opened the box as if he was a kid opening up a Christmas present.

"I haven't eaten a proper meal in three days. How can I thank you for this." The boy said as he took a large bite of the bread.

"It's my pleasure." The girl said with a smile.

They sat in front of each other. Hannele began to lay her canvas on the floor and began to paint the boy with flowers in the background.

It took only two bites to finished the loaf for him. He recognized the distinct taste, he has eaten this bread since he was a little boy. Suddenly it tasted like home.

"THIS-THIS BREAD? WHO BAKED IT?" Holding Hannele in both shoulders shaking her.

"What do you mean who baked it?" She said in shock.

"I know this taste. It's from our bakery in Berlin. I've had this same exact bread every single day since I was a child." Letting her go, expressing his excitement.

"Dara bakes them fresh every day. My mother took her in as our maid. I'm sorry," she felt embarrassed at what just came out of her mouth.

"Dara? Dara Haddad?!" He expressed.

"Yes, Dara." She answered.

They were a simple family of five living in West Berlin, owning a small bakery that supported the family's daily needs, as far as he could remember he would take two slices of sourdough bread topped with Brie and scallions to school for lunch every single day since he was seven. He had this same exact bread he was holding now since he was a child. How could he not recognize the taste? it was as if for a second he felt home, he could taste home.

"What have you done to my mother?!" He asked Hannele furiously.