"The Trio" Story Book

The Trio

Written by Emma Campos and Thalli Galicia

Illustration made by Canva AI Image Generator

Best Friends

Brrrring brrring.

“RaceyoutotheparkAlice!”shoutedCharlotte as the school bell rang. We ran through the bustlingcityofAmsterdam,Ireachedtheswings andjumpedwithsatisfactionbecauseIwon,which meantIwouldbetheonewhogottotakeTheo home.Begrudgingly,Charlottetookoutthethird memberofourfriendship,asmall,soft,tanteddy withasunsetorangebowandblackbuttoneyes.

“Don’tforgettoreadhimabedtimestoryorhe won’tfallasleep,”saidCharlotte.Itishermost prizedpossession,eversinceshewasborn.Nowin Aprilof1940,sheneverfailstoleavehimbehind.

“Iwon’t,"Ireplied,“pinkypromise”.Looking back,Theohasgoneeverywherewe’vegone.

WhenIhadtogotothemedicbecauseofa highfever,CharlotteandTheostayedwithmeall daytokeepmecompanyuntilIwasdischarged fromthehospital.Sheevengotourclasstoallsign agetwellcardforme.WhenCharlotte’sfamily tookaholiday,Icriedalldaywhenshebrokethe newsbecauseIwouldn'tbewithherforweeks.So muchsothatmyparentsarrangedformetojoin them.Thethreeofusbuiltsandcastlesontheshore onZandvoort,collectedseashells,andplayedinthe waterallday.EvenwhenSasha,theschoolbully, wasmakingfunofCharlotte'shairribbons.She saideight-year-oldsshouldn’tbewearingthem,so Ishovedhertotheground,claimingribbonsare forbabies,TheowatchedasIdefendedCharlotte.

Eversincewehadmetinourfirstyearof school,wehadbeeninseparable.Iwasvery nervousthatdaysinceIwasanonlychildand wasn’tusedtobeingaroundsomanykids.Onthe otherhand,Charlottewasveryexcitedforschool, shehadwatchedallhersiblingsgoofftoschool andlongedforthedaytojointhem.Shenoticed mesittingaloneduringourlunchbreakand offeredmesomeofherlunch,itwasatosti,my favoriteandweimmediatelyhititoff.

AfterIbrushedmyteeththatnight,Iread The Three Little Pigs toTheo.

Changes

Thenextday,IgaveTheobacktoCharlotteon mywaytoschoolandnoticedshewaswearinga straponherarm.Itwasyellowandhadacoolstar onit.Shesawmelookingatitwithfascination.

“Fathersayswehavetowearitforoursafety,” saidCharlottelookingannoyed.

“Ilikeit,itmakesyourblueeyespopout”,I saidtocheerherupanditworked,shesmiledand wewereonourwaytoschool.

Oncewearrivedattheclassroom,Mrs.Baltus gaveusanewseatingchart.Sheonlymovedfive outofthethirtykidsthoughsoitwasunusual.It would be understandable if she moved the troublemakers but all the kids moved had no behaviorissues,however,theyallworethesame yellow badge as Charlotte; yet, I didn’t think anythingofit.

“Charlotte,pleasemovetothefourthseatofthe thirdrow”,saidMrs.Baltus.Shegotupreluctantly, we could no longer pass notes to each other withoutgettingcaught.

Atrecess,Charlottereassuredmebysayingwe arestillinthesameclassandwilltalktoeachother duringbreaks.Wewantedtoplaymonkey-in-themiddlesoweaskedMarylintoplaywithus.

“No”,sherepliedquickly,staringatCharlotte's yellowbadge.Thatwasstrange,eversinceher growthspurtcameearly,Maylinhasneverrefused toplayagameofmonkey-in-the-middle.So,we endedupplayingcatchinsteaduntilrecesswas over.

DuringlunchtimeIwassummonedtothe officeandIwasworriedIhaddonesomething wrong,eventhoughIhadn’t.ThenIremembered IhadforgottenmylunchboxathomesoMother must’vedroppeditoff.AsIwaswaitingforMs. Smit to finish filing papers, I overheard a conversationintheteacher’slounge.

“...GermanylimitedthenumberofJewstheir grammar schools as early as 1933 through the Overcrowding of German Schools decree, I wonderiftheywillimplementsomethinglikethat here,”saidMrs.Baltustothegroupofstaff

“Iwouldn’tbesurprised.AlthoughIdothink cuttingdowntheamountofJewishstudentsto only 1.5% would be very drastic,” our school janitor replied, “Amsterdam has a large Jewish populationandlotsoftheirchildrenwouldnot receiveeducation”

IwonderwhattheJewsdidtonotbeallowed togotoschool,andwhotheyare.Mythoughts werequicklycutoffbyMs.Smit.

“Hereyougohoney,enjoy!”shesaidtome.I gaveherthanksandleft.

Inthecafeteria,noonewantedtositaroundus. IwonderifIsmelledthatbadbecauseMotherhad toldmetotakeashoweryesterdaybutIrefused. Ohwell,aslongasCharlotteisthereIwillbe morethanfine.

Onceweweredismissedandonourwayhome, IrememberedIhadgottenmyallowanceearlier thisweek,sowestartedwalkingtoJansen’sParlor, ourlocalicecreamshop.Aswewalkeddownthe street,Inoticedpeopleclearingapathforus,itfelt likewewereroyalty.

“Ifeellikeaprincess,”ItoldCharlotte.

“They’renotmovingoutthewaytobenice Alice,theyaremovingbecauseofmybadge,” Charlottereplied,“IwishIcouldvanish.”

“Ifyoufeelthatway,whydon’tyoujusttakeit off?”Iasked,“It'sasifitwereapairofmittens,if youdon’tlikethemthendon’twearthem.”

“Ican’t,MothersaidifIdosoldierswilltakeme away”shesaid.

“That’sabsurdCharlotte,they'reheretoprotect us”Ireplied.

“Nottoprotectpeoplelikeme,”saidCharlotte “Whatdoyoumean?We’rebotheightyearold girlswhohaveeverythingincommon.Welikethe samebooks,playwithdolls,anddressalike”I explainedtoher.

“NoAlice,”Charlottesaidbleakly,“I’maJew” “Sowhat?Onethingaboutyoudoesn’tmake youworsethanothers”,IsaideventhoughIwas confusedonwhatexactlythatmeant.Soldiersare meanttoprotecteveryone,it’swhatmyparents alwayssay.

“Alice, you don’t get it so just forget it”, Charlotte responded in an irritated tone and changedthesubjectbysaying,“Whatareyou goingtoorder?”

“Theusual,abanana-split-sundaeforusto share,”Isaidwithasmile.

WereachedJensen’sandoutsidetherewasa signthatread“NoJews”inbrightred.Whyis beingaJewsuchabigdeal?Charlottestoodidle, mesmerized by the sign. Clearly she was not allowedin,butIdidn’twanttogoinifshe couldn’tsowewenthome.IrememberedMother hadmadepastriesandinvitedCharlotteinside.We hadsomeandplayeduntilitwasdinnertimeand shehadtoleaveandItookabath.

Thefollowingday,wesatatthelunchtable aloneagain,eventhoughIbathed.Towardsthe endoftheday,Mrs.Baltussaidweweregoingto belearningaboutRacialSciences.Itsoundslikea funnysubject,howisracingascience?Doesit makeCharlotteandIscientists?

“Germansaresuperiortoeveryone…Jewsare unimportant…”Mrs.Baltusbegan.

IlookedoveratCharlotteandthereweretears streamingdownherface.WhywasMrs.Baltus beingsomean?Shehasalwaysbeennicetous,did she forget the countless times Charlotte has broughtheranapple?Itallmademefeelterrible.

Sasha,whoalsorecentlyworeayellowbadge, gotupfromherseatandshouted,“No,no,no!My parentsaregoodpeople,notliarsordeceiversor cheaters!”andthensheranoutthedoorasthe schoolbellrang.

Onourwayhome,Charlottewassilentand veryattentive,itwasalmostasifMrs.Baltuswould jumpoutofabushifsheutteredevenasingle word.WhatcouldIsaytomakeherfeelbetter? MymindwasblankandIendedupcontributing tothesilence.

“Father,whydoesitmatterifsomeoneisaJew ornot?”Iaskedaswewerehavingdinnerlaterthat nightandFathernearlychokedonhiswine,stared atMother,andtookalongpausebeforeanswering myquestion.

“Darling,toputitsimply,theycausetrouble,” hereplied. “ButCharlotteisn’ttroublesome,she’sjustlike me,”Isaid.

“Honey,Ithinkit'sbestifyoudon’tplaywith heroutsideofschool,”Motherchimedin.

“What?Why?I’vealwaysgoneovertoher houseandshe’salwayscomeovertoourhouse. She’snotabadinfluence,quitethecontrary.She’s alwayshadgreatmanners,“Isaid,tryingtoreason withthem.

“Don’t

talk back Alice,

it’s

already been decided,”Fathersaid,“Iwillbepickingyouup fromschoolfromnowon.”

Defiance

Thenextcoupleofdaysatschoolfeltreally weird.IfeltlikeIwasmissingsomethingevery timeIwouldleaveclass.Mylunchbox.No,Igot that. My pencil bag, No, I packed that. My allowanceforanafterschooltreat.Nope,Ialready useditthisweek.ItwasCharlotte.Weareusedto always hanging out, playing games, window shopping,andofcoursegoingtogeticecream. Now,myeveningsfeltmeaningless.

Atschool,Icouldn'tfindtherightwordsto explainwhyIcouldn'thangoutwithCharlotte.In fact,Ididn’tevenunderstandmyself.

“Charlotte,youknowifanyoneisbeingmeanto you,Icanhelpyouout.I’vebeennoticingweird changeslately,likewithmyparents,Mrs.Baltus, andthewaypeoplearetreatingotherswhohave thesameyellowstarasyou,”ItoldCharlotte duringlunch.

“Well…”Charlottebegantotearup.I’venever seenherbecomeemotional.Exceptforthatone timewhenwewereplayingtagandsheslipped andscrapedherknee.Butthistime,itfeltdifferent. Hersobsreallyaffectedme,theymademewantto crywithher.

“Myteacherisseparatingme,Iwasn’tallowed togoonaschoolfieldtrip,peoplegivemerude lookswhentheypassme,andIfeellikeIamlosing oneofthemostimportantpeopleinmylife.You.”

AsCharlottecontinuedtotalk.Ibeganto noticethatitwasalmostliketheyellowstarwas reallystartingto“define”her.Eversincethefirst daysheworeit,shewasbeingjudgedandtreated unfairlybecauseshewasaJew.Weremyparents supportingthis?Wasthiswhymyparentsdidn't wantmetoplaywithher…becausesheisJewish andworeayellowstar?

“YouarenotlosingmeCharlotte.Andyouare notlosingTheoeither.Weareateam,weare bestfriendsandalwayswillbe.IknowIamnot supposedtobewithyouafterschoolbutmeetat theicecreamparlorarounddusk.Iwillfigureout awaytoseeyou.Besides,it’syourturnforTheo!” Charlottewashesitant.Iwasstartingtothinkthat shedidn’twanttohangoutanymore.Ormaybe shethinksitwillbetooriskyformetodisobeymy parents.

“Areyousure,Alice.Idon’twantyoutogetin trouble.Plus,mysistertoldmethatthingsare startingtogetworsereallyfast.”

Worse?Iamalreadynotallowedtobewithmy bestfriend,howcanthingspossiblybeanyworse?

“Don’tworry.Justpinkypromisethatyouwill meetme.”

“PinkyPromise.”RepeatedCharlotte.Theseare neverbroken.

Laterthatafternoon,Istartedtodevisemy sneakingoutplan.Iwasn’tverygoodatitthough. I’vehadnoexperiencewithtryingtosecretlyleave myhousewithoutmyparentsknowing.

“Unlockthewindow.Jumpdown.”Iwhispered tomyself.Nope,toohigh.

“Find a ladder that I could drop from my window.”No,Icouldn'tcarrytheladderupthe stairswithoutmakingaloudnoise.

AllIcoulddo,safelyanyways,isgodownstairs and have my dogs distract my parents from thinkingthatIamgoinganywhere.

AsIwalkeddownstairs,Ioverheardmyparents talking.Now,Iamtakingmystepsdownthestairs veryslowlysoIhaveachancetolistenwithout themknowing.

“Ijustdon’twantAlicetogethurt.Itseemsthat everymonthnewregulationsandmeasuresare issuedagainstJews.Sheisgoingtocatchonsoon” Motherwhispered.

“Don’tworry,nowthatwe'reunderNazi occupation,theyaregoingtobetakenawaysoon. It’sMayandbecause85%oftheJewishpopulation havelivedintheNetherlandsforcenturies,itwill begoodthatwearen’tatargetanymore.Wethen won’thavetoworryaboutAlicehangingarounda Jewishgirl.Shewillmakenewfriends,stepoutside hercomfortzone”Fatherexplained.

SothisiswhatCharlottemeantbythings gettingworse.Theywillbetakenawaysoon?I don’tunderstand.Wherearetheygoing?CanIgo too?AllIamthinkingis,IhavetotellCharlotte.

Not Goodbye Yet

It’snow7:15pm.ThesunisabouttosetandI havesuccessfullymadeitoutofmyhouseandIam walkingtoourfavoritemeetupplace,Jansen’s Parlor.TimebegantopassbyandIwasworried CharlottehadgottencaughtbutIsawafigure withribbonsintheirhairapproaching.

“Charlotte!”Isaidexcitedlybecauseseeingher alwaysmakesmydaybetter.

“Alice!SorryIamlate,Iknowit’snotlikeme. It’sjustalothasbeen…”Shewasalreadysounding different. Does she know? We tell each other everything.

“It’sokayCharlotte”Iinterrupted.“Eventhough Idon’tunderstandexactlywhatyouaregoing through,IjustwantyoutoknowthatIamhere foryou.”

Charlotteremaineddisquieted.Iwasn’tsureif shewashappythatIwasthereforherorifshewas stillsadabouthersituation.

AcouplesecondslaterIblurtedout“Please don’tleaveme!!Idon’twanttoeverseeyougo! Whereareyoubeingtakenawayto?CanIgo withyou?Pleasestay,wehavesomanymore gamestoplayandTheotoo!”

Ifeltlikethewholeworldwasonmyshoulders. DidIjustscareCharlotte?Whatifshedoesn’t knowthatsomemysteriouspeoplearegoingto takeheraway?

“IknowIamleavingAlice,Ijustdon’tknow when.Myparentstoldmetostartpackingmy favorite belongings. I might not ever see you again.Idon’tknowwhattosay,Alice.”

“Justdon’tsaygoodbye.”

“Atleastyouwon’thavetosaygoodbyeTheo. Iwantyoutokeephimandtakegoodcareofhim” Charlottesaidwhimpering.

“AshardasitisformetodenytakingTheo,he isyoursafterall,”IsaidasIpulledTheooutofmy backpackandextendedhimouttoher.

“Theoisbothofours.ButIwantyoutokeep him.WhatifIcan’tkeephimwhereverIgo?” Webothbegantocryaswestartedtowalk backhome.Themostsilentandheartbreaking timewehaveeverspenttogether.Leftwithour neverendingthoughts,Ibegantothinkaboutall of the memories we created together. The laughing,thepranking,thesillynoteswepassed duringclass,thewalkstogeticecream.

OncewearrivedbackatCharlotte’shouse,a couplehousesnexttomine,wesaidgoodbye. Differentfromalltheothergoodbyehugswehave exchanged.Everythingbegantofeelreallyreal.All ofasudden,Ibegantofeelveryfrustrated,nobody wasgivingusanswerstoallofourquestions,we wereconfusedbutcurious.

“Iamgladwewereabletohangouteven thoughwetechnicallyweren’tsupposedto!Ihope wecandothismoreoften”Isaid.

“Hopefully.Iamsoluckytohaveafriendlike you,Alice.Idon’tknowwhatIwoulddowithout you. And Theo, of course! Don’t forget the bedtimestories!”SaidCharlotteasshewaswaved toTheoandI,walkingbackintoherhouse.

Brightandearlythenextmorning,Ihearloud marchingfootstepsoutsidemywindow.Ihear loudwhistlingsoundsanddemands.Ihearthe cryingofyoungchildren.Iopenmywindowto seedefeatedpeople,oneinlineoftheother,

leavingtheirhousesandpetswithonlytheirmost valuable things. The streets were filled with suitcases,bags,dishes,papers,andfadedpaintings.I randownthehalltotellmyparentswhatwas goingon.Fatherremainedunconcernedwhilemy motherfollowedmetowardsmywindow.

“What’sgoingon,Mother?Isthiswhatdad

meantbyCharlottebeingtakenawaysoon?”Isaid inawhimperingcry.

“What?DidyouoverhearyourfatherandI’s conversation?Thatwasaprivatematter,Alice.” “Ijustwantedtoknowwhatwashappening.Iam scared,mom,forCharlotte.”

Thatdaywasablur.Mothernevertoldme whatwasactuallygoingon,shejustcomfortedme andallowedmyselftocalmdownforabitaswe watchedthetrailofpeopleinlineslowlyfade away.Mybestfriend,gone.AndhereIwaswith herprizedpossession.IwishIcould’vegivenitto her.

Acoupleofdayslater,mymomandIwere runninganerrandtoastorethatwasontheother sideoftown.Itwastheonlyplacethathadthe doughweneededtomakeourfavoritepastries.I noticedsomethingthatcaughtmyeyeaswewere walkingin.Isawtworedribbonstiedonagirl’s hair.Itlookedfamiliar.Iknewitfromsomewhere.

Only a few seconds later, I realized it was Charlotte. 25

“Mom.That’sCharlotte.Overthere,inthat fencedarea.”Iquicklytoldmymom.

“Thatmusthavebeenwheresheandherfamily weretransported.Thatonedaywheretheywere marchingoutsidehadledthemthere!”

AsIwalkedcloserInoticedpeopleslumping over,liketheywerehungry.Isawdroopingeyes, liketheyweretired.Isawhorrorandhopelessness ineveryone’sfaces,liketheywerecertaintheir livesweregoingtobecompletelytakenawayfrom them.

MyMotherandIwantedtohelpout.Buthow? IfweweretobecaughthelpingoutJewsina nearbyghettowecouldbeinserioustrouble;or that’swhatmyFathertoldusanyway.Wewere willingtotakethatrisk.Charlottewasmybest friendandIwoulddoanythingforher.Luckily, mymomunderstoodthat.

Thenextcoupleofweeks,MotherandIwent tothatsamestoreandboughtacouplegroceries forCharlotte,herfamily,andanyothersaround. Everymorning,Ilookedforwardtogoingtothe storeandhelpingtheseinnocentpeople.But,my heartbrokeeverytimeIsawsomeonesocloseto meandsosimilartomebeingtakenawayfromher homeandsenttosuchacrampedplacewherethey weretreatedlikeanimals.

The Duo

Onemorning,aswearrivedattheghetto,it wasastheywereplayingthequietgame,therewas nonoise,Motherlookedtense.AsInearedthe fence,Inoticedsomethingshinyburiedinthedirt. Iburieditoutwithmyhandsandheldthemost beautifulgoldwatch.Ithaddiamondsforthetime markers and flowers engraved into the band. Somethingsovaluableshouldn’tbeburiedlike that.IgottoCharlotteandI’smeetingspot,butno onewasthere.Ieagerlywaitedforsomeonetopass bysoIcouldaskiftheyhadseenherbutthe neighborhoodwasempty.Ibegantopanic,where hadtheygone?

“Charlotte!”Iscreamed,witheveryfiberinmy beinghopingforhertendervoicetorespond.

“Charlotte, this isn’t funny!”, again I shouted hopingshewasplayingaprankonme,"Charlotte! Charlotte!”Ibeganrunningaround,lookingfora signofanyone.

“Darling,it'snouse,”MothersaidasIdroppedto theground,“they’regone”.

Thedrivebackhomewasthemostsilentand dreadfuloneever.MyMotherandIdidn’tknow whattosayorhowtosayit.AllIhadnowwas Theo.Doesthismakeusaduo?Whoisgoingto taketurnstakingcareofTheowithme?Andread himbedtimestories,ortakehimontheswings, playcatchortag?Theonlyrightanswerwas Charlotte.Wewereatrio.Mythoughtswereleft spiralinginthesilence.

WillIeverseeCharlotteagain?

THE End