1943

I miss my mother and father. I wish my papa could come get Michal and I and take us away. I wish he could hug me and tell me it was okay. I wish my mom would hold me and bring me barszcz. All I have now is a loose shirt and long pants. No warm bed to sleep in. No creek to jump in. Nothing.
I wish I could see my sisters. They both had dirty blonde hair and grayish green eyes that lit up whenever I told a joke. We'd play hide and seek everyday after school. They'd hide in the closet together and I'd pretend to be a big monster.
The only monster now is a large man with scary black eyes and blonde hair. He has not smiled once. When he speaks you can see his yellow teeth. He smells like dirt and fire. Michal and I are not allowed to speak to each other. We can only look at each other and see the fear radiate out of our souls. I have no idea where they are taking us. Their eyes are hunting my courage. Killing my hope. I know these men killed my family. They killed my mother. They killed my sisters. And now they will kill me. I hope one day someone kills them. My sisters never deserved to die. They never did anything that was worth their lives. But now they are gone. Dead. Along with everyone of my friends. They will kill Michal. I do not want to see it. To see his life leave his body. The only thing that remains is a hollow shell that looks like him. We won't be remembered. Our lives won't be celebrated. My mother wont cry. We will be forgotten. Our bodies will be buried in unmarked graves. Stolen lives left in the dust. 

1940-1943

August 13, 1941

Ulanow has been occupied. I don't know where my family is. I miss them every day. The synagogue is still burning red flames. The books of the library also burn. Kuba has been transported and I fear I will also be taken but I hope they don't make me leave. I hope papa comes to save us.The Jews in the town have already began to prepare for whats to come. No one knows if it will be as bad as we've heard. Small rumors have made families paranoid and they've locked up their belongings in neighborhood homes.

September 1, 1941

They forced me to come to work as a laborer for the German army. I had no choice. Thankfully, Michal has also been selected so I wont be all alone. They are men with no souls. They shoot at anyone that is too weak or broken to go on. They show no mercy. They don't even flinch when they watch an innocent child drop at the sound of their pistol. I heard they make men work to death. Before the transport they warned all the remaining citizens of Ulanow that to harbor Jews or their belongings was punishable by death.

November 13, 1941

I've been working for over a month in a camp in Ulanow. I can recognize the city from where we are. Michal and I are staying in the same place. I'm glad I have him with me. We often speak of ways we could escape. His father taught us many ways to fight and how to live off the land. Michal was able to hide a pocket knife with him during the transport. We've heard rumors that the Germans have plans to expel all the Jews from Ulanow in the next few weeks. If anything like that happens Michal and I are running. We are not scared anymore.

January 12th, 1942

The Nazis ordered a roundup yesterday for all of the Jews in Ulanow. I thought i should stay and see if my family is there. I knew I wouldn't meet them there. 40% of Ulanow is Jewish. Most of the town will be gone in a few days. I don't think i'll ever see my family again. Michal and I have decided that staying in Ulanow would get us killed. We grabbed everything we needed and ran.I think we ran for around an hour yesterday before we got tired. We use to run all the time. Now its just a way to stay alive. I think we are near the outskirts of Ulanow now. There are many fields and forests wherever we are. We are hiding up in a tree. This is where we will sleep. Goodnight.

March 4th, 1943

We've been eluding the Germans for more than a year now. They're so stupid they followed fake foot tracks we made for over a mile in the opposite direction we were in. Were planning on staying in a rye field tomorrow. We have not been there yet so i'm not sure what its like but Michal said that its a quite little place. No one will find us there..I hope.Its about 5 now. I've learned how to tell time by the placement of the sun. I think that's pretty cool. Our school never taught us abut half the things I've learned while living in the forest. This has been a lot of fun. Of course i'm scared at times when the Germans come a little too close or when I see smoke in the distance. 

March 5th,1943 

The second Michal and I got to the rye field we could hear barking. We drove into the plants and now we're barely breathing. I feel like if I move a dog will pounce onto my body and crush my skull. Michal is shaking. The plants around him looking like they have an electrical current running through them. I hope they can not see it as well as I can. I can hear foot steps coming closer and closer. i hear their breathing or is that just mine? I can feel my heart exploding in my chest. I want my mom. I want her warm vegetable soup after a cold day. I want to wake up. This has to be a terrible nightmare. Michal was found. somehow they didn't see me. A dog is staring me in the eye now. They see me...

1939

September 1, 1939 

We were almost done to getting everything ready for our move to America today but Germany invaded Poland and I'm not exactly sure what happened but I am scared. I want my family to be safe. My father is gone and I'm the oldest boy so I have to take care and protect my siblings and mama. Kuba, Michal and I were supposed to meet each other at the creek in 30 minutes but I don't want to leave my family alone in the house. I might quickly stop by and see if they are there and ask them if they want to stay at my house with their families for better protection. I want Michal's dad to come over with his guns in case the Germans come here. 

September 3,1939

I'm worried for Ulanow. While I was attending the religious school we learned that 40% of Ulanow's population is Jewish. The synagogue is very large part of our city because the Jewish council has organised many things for us. The large library in town has been maintained by the Jewish community for a great amount of time. Many of my friends and family are Jewish and look Jewish so it won't be hard for the Germans to see the difference of us and the Christians in Ulanow. My great uncle Jacek has a majestic beard that is dark brown and it almost blends in with his enormous fur coat. But his wife, Agata, has blonde hair and hazel eyes. She is catholic but still celebrates Jewish holidays with us and we celebrate catholic holidays with her. I cant belive how heart broken she'd be if somthing were to happen to Jacek or their two boys. 

1932-1939

November 6, 1932

Nice to meet you!

My name is Marcus Fass but my family calls me Moniek. I live in a house in Ulanow with my three siblings and parents. My father works as a tailor in town. I go there often to read the books in the large library and hang out with my friends. We play around town all the time. I have buddies from my old religious school and my new public school. I'm so happy I live near town because I get to see them almost everyday! 

This is what my block looks like! Its cold now but hopefully it warms up soon so we can go swimming in the creek!

August 21,1935

My father recently moved to America. My mother has become a seamstress to help pay for us while he is gone. He also sends us money from his job in America. Its been strange without him in the house but soon we will join him there. I don't know how long it will take to get our papers but I don't really want to leave. I want to stay here with my friends and stay at my school. America seems boring anyway. Its much more fun here playing in the streets with Kuba and Michal. They are my best friends. We've spent all summer running around and swimming in the creek. Michal's dad even took us camping in the forest and we got to use his guns! His dad took us fishing too! We made a fire and cooked the fish we caught! I will miss them if I have to leave.

July 28,1939 

Its my birthday today!! I'm 14 years old! I'm super excited to spend the day with Kuba and Michal because we are going to see The Vagabonds at the cinema. I also finished secondary school and i'm sooo good at math and science. Kuba just came over so we are going to leave. I will write again later, bye.