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rested on worm-ridden floorboards in
the middle of the room. Underneath the two grimy windows were two beds, or
rather two woollen blankets (during the winter however the two blankets would
become one as the two children, hugging each other for warmth and comfort,
slept together). A medium-sized trunk with a heavy padlock - which was also
chained to a water pipe - sat upon the floor in the corner. Thankfully, what
with one of the windows being able to be opened and closed, the room was ventilated
and free from the putrid air of the rest of the tenement. So too the room
seemed cleaner, tidier than the other cells that the Corporal had witnessed as
he had ascended the numerous flights of stairs (with doors closing and fearful
silences erupting as he did so). He looked down and noticed a basin of spirits,
which Thomas suspected was used to delouse the family.
    Halina Rubenstein remained transfixed at the imposing
soldier, her hands clutching her apron. Kolya too stopped eating and glared up
at the German and large rifle which was slung over his shoulder. Even Solomon
seemed to carefully and intently assess their unexpected visitor. Nothing good
could come of this. It was the stuff of nightmares.
    Jessica looked up at Thomas and then turned her head towards
her family again. She broke the silence and inaction by unloading the food from
her arms and his and placing her bounty on the table.
    "I saw Andrzej today and he gave me all this food (a
white lie that Jessica had prepared, which she would square with the would-be
suitor and son of a Jewish Council member when she next saw him). Unfortunately
the bag split. The Corporal kindly helped me carry it all home. He speaks
Polish."
    Realising the confusion and anxiety he was creating in the
household Thomas decided to take his leave. He fully understood their wariness.
But how did Jessica expect the family to react? He also thought to himself as
he descended the stairs how he even might've caused unwanted trouble and
attention for the family in terms of the other Jews living in the building.
    "Sorry, I do not wish to intrude or cause any
inconvenience," Thomas politely issued and smiled nervously whilst running
his fingers and thumbs around the rim of his steel helmet. The Corporal bowed
to the mother and Jessica and then left.
    "Thank you again Thomas," Jessica exclaimed in his
wake. Halina Rubenstein neither approved of her familiarity with the soldier or
the telling expression upon her face. The mother eyed her daughter
suspiciously, accusingly, but Jessica refused to bow her head before her. She
was embarrassed for herself and the Corporal - and angry at her overbearing
mother. She knew that it had been a mistake, a silly and dangerous one, to have
invited the German up but equally the daughter was in no mood to suffer one of
her mother’s moods and lectures.
    "Smiles at him she does and calls him by his
name," Halina remarked with disdain, waving her hands in the air. One
couldn't be sure if she said this to herself, her husband or her idiotic
daughter. Maybe all three.
    "What was I supposed to do? Leave the food in the
street? The rats already eat better than us!" Jessica replied.
    "You weren't supposed to bring one of them back
here!" Halina spat back, "What are the neighbours going to think?
What did he do to you? What did he say?" Halina shrewishly gunned out,
raising her voice even louder than her daughter's as if volume alone would
decide who was in the right. Soon she would strike the girl if she continued to
talk back, or did not answer her questions satisfactorily.
    "Nothing. Nothing," Jessica remonstrated, stamping
her foot. Her eyes filled with tears as she remembered what he did and the
exhausted girl found just enough energy to convulse and sob. She felt isolated.
Violated.
    "You can't worm your way out of this by crying. You
stupid, stupid girl!"
    Kolya climbed back down from the window - from where he had
watched the soldier leave their building - and sat at the