He looks at me with a serious expression, as though he wants a reply. I don’t know what to say. It’s scary. Not just for myself, but for Lotti. I’d hoped that I’d be able to persuade Mother and Father we ought to go on another holiday to Bad Schandau – maybe Father could try to climb his beloved piece of rock again. But now I realise that won’t be happening. Probably not ever. Certainly not until this bloody war is over. I can feel tears starting to well in my eyes, and don’t want Father to see them, so I rush from the room and up to my bedroom. I slam the door shut, then get Lotti’s most recent letter, lie on top of the bed, and read it through for perhaps the twentieth time.

Bad Schandau 21.07.1939

Dearest Arnold,

I am so sorry that you say you will to this go Scarborough for holidays this year and not again come to Saxon Switzerland. Is there something you could say to make your parents do a different decision?

So we will instead write each other.

Please tell me about Scarborough when you go. How lucky you are to have the seaside only seventy kilometres distant. The nearest seaside in Germany it is nearly five hundred kilometres! I have only ever one holiday made there. We go camping in the Baltic coast.

You say you are worried about what is happening in Europe and that your father thinks there will be a war. I do not think this and my father is agreeing with me. Hitler is only asking for what is correct. Poland is unreasonable demands making. It is obvious that Danzig is a German city.

School was boring for me too so I am pleased the holidays here are. Mutti and Vati give me a little money for helping in the guest house. We do not have English guests this year but lots of Germans. We are very busy.

Do you still our kiss remember on the platform of the Personenaufzug? I hold it close in my heart and I will kiss you again soon. I hope it, anyway.

Write me soon!

Your girlfriend,

Lotti XXX

Chapter 13

13

Dresden

February 1982