Julius Rosenthal will make candy no more and other short stories by Nicholas Russell (young adult books to read .txt) 📗

today?” Fredrick rose again; he took a step towards the front but decided against it, turning instead to the back windows. “Did they give you papers, Julius?”

Julius thought of the envelope that Hans handed him and absentmindedly placed his hand against it. Hans had sacrificed a great deal to get whatever was in that envelope. He told him not to tell any of the soldiers about it and to be honest Julius had forgotten about it until now. He wasn’t sure if he could trust Fredrick; he reminded Julius of his son and that was clouding his judgment. As quietly as he could, he pulled the white envelope from his pocket and unfolded it. The back had not been sealed; instead it was simply folded in. Julius pulled the flap free and found a stack of folded sheets. His hands were trembling slightly as he pulled them free. Julius hadn’t noticed that Fredrick had stepped around and watched as Julius unfolded the pages. He looked through each page dropping the page as he moved to the next; they were blank every one. He had given his shop away for nothing.

Julius looked up as tears flowed across Fredrick’s cheeks, he had started to speak but only a croak could escape his lips. Fredrick swallowed hard and tried to say something as well but could not. Julius let the last page fall and rose from the fountain; Fredrick reached out to stop him but Julius pulled away. He walked to the rear doors pushing them open. Julius looked to the snow-covered trees and saw not the winter darkness before a beautiful spring, but the bleak desolation of a life’s end. His knees gave way, and he fell to the ground, exhaustion overtaking him quickly.

The distant sound of bells and a sore shoulder greeted Julius at dawn. It had been years since the sun had beaten Julius from bed. As he looked about the sunlit station, the events of yesterday came rushing back to him. He was still lying just outside the rear doors; it was a miracle he had not frozen solid in the night. Julius’ shoulder was sore as he stood and looked about; the rear of the station had fared worse than the inside and front. He walked back inside, expecting to find Fredrick asleep or at least pacing as he was prone to do. But instead Fredrick was gone.

Julius wasn’t sure if he was happy or sad at Fredrick’s departure. The young man had seemed nice enough, but Julius wasn’t sure he could look past the allegiance he had sworn to the Gestapo. He started to walk around the fountain. Julius figured that Fredrick would have taken the basket, but was surprised to see it still sitting where he had set it the night before. He sat down and looked inside the third beef sausage was still there, but the bread was gone. Julius pulled the sausage out and closed the lid. Julius wasn’t usually one to eat breakfast, it was the only time he indulged in his one bad habit – coffee.

The sausage was cold and hard but filling. Julius moved the basket and his cook book around the fountain so that he was facing the back entrance. As he sat eating the sausage he started to wonder what he should do with himself. He had no desire to return to town and be denounced. He considered returning to his home and waiting to see those whom he had loved and lost. The train would probably be arriving soon and Julius realized that he should make his decision quickly. As he placed his book on the basket’s lid Julius was startled as he heard the slow creak of the front door.

He turned to see Fredrick, but it was not the Fredrick he knew. The officer from the day prior was gone, and the man before him was dressed in the clothes of a civilian. His face carried a half-smile as he walked the rest of the way in. “Julius, I hope you do not mind that I borrowed your blank paper.”

He crossed the room and handed Julius a single page folded into a neat square. Unfolding it, he found a transit order for one Julius Rosenthal to exit Germany via train. He looked to Fredrick and his confusion must have been evident, because Fredrick’s smile widened. “I told you I typed the transit papers. I hope you don’t mind that I used the other pages.”

Julius nodded and looked down at Fredrick’s clothes. “I have decided to renounce my membership in the Gestapo.” His voice held a reserved sadness and as he spoke Julius sensed that Fredrick knew the course he had chosen would not be a simple one.

“What will you do now?” It was strange that in this moment the only question that Julius could think to ask was what Fredrick would do but he had said it.

Fredrick’s face changed the half smile was gone for a moment but only a moment. Once Fredrick realized what he had done, he forced a lopsided smile. “I have dispatched two letters - one to my father and one to my commanding officer - announcing my immediate resignation.

“You should gather what you have your train will be arriving soon.” Fredrick reached into his pocket and pulled a few Reichsmarks out. He held his hand out to Julius. “Take them. I will be able to get more, but you will need some money after you have crossed over.”

Julius took the bills and stuffed them into his pockets as the train could be heard drawing close to the station. Fredrick gathered Julius’ things and checked through the basket. He let the forced smile fade and his true melancholy showed through.