CHAPTER 7

Summer holidays

Our summer holidays started earlier than usual in June 1941. We didn't ask any questions, as we were only too happy to come home again for the long holidays, usually until early in September.

At home we had billets. Officers of the German army. They stayed in the manor house, but they came to us for meals. The troops were billeted in the barns. They slept on straw. They all seemed to be having a marvellous time in Schönsee, especially the officers, full of free time, swimming and boating on the lake, and enjoying the good food, the park and the pleasant surroundings. One of them was a medical doctor.

"You should really bandage your ankle bones," he said, looking at my festering sores on both of them.

"Do you really think so?" I asked somewhat doubtfully. "I've had them for weeks, and every time a scab forms there, I knock them again with the heel of the other foot when I walk."

"That's why they should be bandaged. Come over to my room in the manor house and I will do it for you."

"Thanks, that'll be great." From then on we were friends, and the sores began to heal. One evening, after he had put a new dressing on, he told me: "We have to go away from here the day after tomorrow."

"Oh, what a shame. Can't you stay a bit longer? Why do you have to leave?"

"I'd love to stay longer but I can't, and I'm not supposed to tell you, but we have to go further east."

"Further east?" I said in a parrot way, for I knew that could only mean Russia, but then Russia was an ally of Germany. So I was confused.

"Don't ask any more questions. I can't tell you any more." "At least let us have a nice day tomorrow. I'll row you, and you can relax and look out for the beautiful white swans, the herons, and the other birds. Best thing is you don't think at all about the day after tomorrow."

He smiled at me and ruffled my hair. "Pity I can't take you with me." "No thanks, I'd rather stay here."

"I thought you would, but that's a good idea of yours, to have a really good day tomorrow. Let's do that."

We went over to our home and had dinner. I didn't say a word to

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