The Watcher by Joan Hiatt Harlow Page B

mistaken.”
    â€œWendy, you have no idea how many . . . undesirables . . . Jews, Gypsies, Bibelforscher —are disappearing once they’re put into the camps, even if they are German.”
    â€œThere must be something you can do to avoid that.”
    â€œ Ja. They have given Bibelforscher a choice because we are German citizens. If we sign a paper saying we will give up our religion and Heil Hitler and obey the Nazi rules, we can go free.”
    â€œYou mean if you just sign a paper, you’ll be free?”
    Johanna nodded.
    â€œThat seems easy enough,” I said after thinking aboutthis for a moment. “Why not just sign the paper, and then do what you want?”
    â€œI couldn’t live with myself if I did that. You don’t understand.” She stood up to leave. “I’ve said too much already.”
    I grabbed ahold of her sleeve as she started to walk away. “Please don’t go, Johanna. I’m sorry. You’re right. I don’t understand. And trust me, I’m here only because I have to volunteer at something, not to spy on you.”
    Johanna swung around, and I could tell she was not convinced. “I hope not.”
    â€œI’m here because I didn’t want to join the girls’ youth groups.” I lowered my voice. “They don’t seem to be doing anything useful. They dance around and do cartwheels and wave flags—at least that’s what I’ve heard and seen in the newspapers. And what’s worse—they’re only my age, and I’ve heard many of them are being groomed to be mothers.”
    â€œ Ja, most of the babies here have young, unmarried mothers,” Johanna said with a nod. “But the children will probably never live with them.”
    â€œWell, I certainly don’t want to be a young unmarried mother. I would much rather be here just caring for the babies. That’s why Dr. Ernst asked me to . . .”
    Johanna took in a breath and her eyes widened. “You are friends with Dr. Ernst?”
    â€œI only met her . . .”
    â€œI didn’t realize you . . . ” Johanna straightened her apron and then turned to walk away. “I can’t help youafter all.” This time she moved quickly and resolutely away from me.
    â€œWhy not?” I called after her. “What have I done?”
    Johanna whirled around accusingly. “She—Dr. Ernst and her daughter, Gertrude —put you here to . . . trap me . . . to make me surrender who I am inside.” She patted her chest. “To make me one of them.” She stood tall, her face determined.
    â€œI hardly know them. In fact, Gertrude was so rude to me, her mother gave me this job instead of her. She would be here in my place if she could be. Neither of them is a friend of mine,” I said, crossing the room to catch up with her. I put my hand on Johanna’s arm. “Please don’t go. Can’t we be friends and work together?”
    Johanna stared at me for a moment and must have seen the earnest sadness I was feeling, because she reached out to me. “I would like a friend, but only someone I can trust. You tell me to sign the paper and be free. I would rather you encourage me to stand firm in what I believe. That’s what a friend would do.” Her voice quavered.
    â€œI’m sorry, Johanna. Where I come from we never hear of things like this. We aren’t given choices like this. I think you are very brave.”
    Johanna came closer and whispered again. “Anything I say might endanger my family or my friends. If you are a friend of Dr. Ernst, or . . .”
    â€œI swear to you, I hardly know either of them.”
    â€œI want to believe you, Wendy,” she said with a cautious smile.
    I put out my hand, pleading. “Please believe me.”
    Johanna took my hand. “We will be friends, but please,