[ WP ] Berlin , 1943 . You 're a Jew who has been successfully keeping a low profile while working as a clerk under the 3rd Reich . You just found out you 've won a contest to spend the day with the Führer .

I let myself in, hair wet and heart drained, hand clutching the announcement slip. 
 
 `` Oh wow, Adeline, I would be honoured to be in your position! I mean—'' Claudine, my co-worker had cried when our supervisor had presented me with the announcement slip,'' —the Führer? Could it get any better than this?'' 
 
 *Pitter patter, pitter patter. * 
 
 “ Jamie? Are you there? Oh where are—ah there you are! Come, come— “ 
 
 “ Ugh mom, you ’ re soaked! Lem me go! ” 
 
 I unloaded my things on to the table, but the sheets that were wrapped around me wouldn ’ t drop. 
 
 “ Oh, wow Mom! You ’ re going to meet him! HIM! ” Jamie had snatched up the slip and had scanned through it at a speed far surprising the normal 7-year-old reading speed. 
 
 Before I could react, he was prancing around the living room, hopping from sofa to ground and back again. Sometimes I don ’ t know whether to be proud of him, knowing that he ’ ll never spread his wings under the red swastika. 
 
 *Pitter patter, pitter patter. * 
 
 “ Yes dear, maybe I will— “ 
 
 “ Maybe? No maybes! You ’ re gon na! We ’ re gon na be famous! ” He didn ’ t know. 
 
 All I could do was to feign a smile like a slap-on sticker. Underneath, the dismay was ripping me apart. 
 
 *How about running away? * 
 
 *Too many questions, too many traces. * 
 
 *How about pretending that you aren ’ t who you are? * 
 
 *The document check, they ’ ll find out sooner or later. * 
 
 I slid onto the recliner, burying my head into my hand. And everything was going so well, keeping my head down and out of the spotlight. 
 
 *How about Jamie? * 
 
 I looked up at him. He was still oblivious to my dilemma, giggling away and waving the paper around like a trophy. I ’ m going to tell everybody! Ruth and Erik from school — 
 
 There he was, the perfect Aryan. Shimmering golden hair, blueish eyes and pale complexion, his cheeks flushed from hopping around. 
 
 *Pitter patter, pitter patter* 
 
 *Perhaps…* 
 
 -- -- - 
 
 “ Here we are, Miss, ” the uniformed chauffeur opened the limousine door, his gloved hand extended towards me. 
 
 Steadying myself with his outstretched hand, I stepped out on to the gravel pathway. There was a percussive tapping from the drizzle on the black umbrella held overhead. 
 
 “ Young Sir, here you go, ” Jamie was helped out after me, in his black school jacket and pressed shirt. My little man. 
 
 We were brought up a flight of stairs and through grand double doors. Jamie ’ s eyes flew left and right, taking in the grandeur of room after room, a level of wealth he had never experienced. 
 
 A uniformed SS officer sat by a stairwell, peering at us intently through his horn-rimmed glasses. 
 
 “ Documents please ” 
 
 I offered my papers and the announcement slip to him. He flipped through the papers lazily. 
 
 “ Ma ’ am, you do understand that this is for a single person, yes? ” His eyes were focusing on Jamie, who was still in disbelief that he was this up close with an SS officer. 
 
 “ Oh Sir, I do understand, but he ’ s such an angel and would absolutely love to meet the Führer in person— “ 
 
 “ One person only! Ca n't you read? ” 
 
 My legs were shaking, palms sweaty, heart palpitating. My hand reached out for 
 Jamie, gripping his shoulder a little too tightly. 
 
 “ But Sir, please! ” 
 
 Silence. 
 
 *Pitter patter, pitter patter. * 
 
 “ Well, all right. Papers please. ” 
 
 Rustling. Pause. More rustling. 
 
 “ Never left Berlin all your life? ” 
 
 “ Ja. ” 
 
 “ Well, Ma ’ am, I ’ m sorry for the loss of your husband. He must have faced the enemy gallantly. ” 
 
 “ Danke, ” In reality, he had been stolen away to one of the camps, back when Jamie was too young to remember. 
 
 “ You can proceed up the stairs now. You—you be good to your Mom now! ” He ruffled Jamie ’ s hair, a slight smile betraying his thin-lipped demeanour. 
 
 Smiling broadly, I quickly guided Jamie up the stairs, my hand reaching out for the dark-stained wooden handrail. 
 
 “ Miss, hold on. ” 
 
 I almost sank to my knees. He must have realised that it was fake. We ’ re doomed. 
 
 *Pitter patter, pitter patter. * 
 
 “ You forgot your papers. ” 
 
 -- -- 
 /r/Ziincworks 

