Young Writers Society

Chapter 2:

I woke up the next morning to very loud snoring. I sighed quietly in annoyance. Jesus Christ, what have I done to deserve this? I slowly got out of the bed and, creeping over to the door opposite the bed, opened one of the wardrobes. Black curtains were pulled over the windows and door, as if trying to hide what was inside the room. I was intelligent enough to see that the Führer was probably trying to hide me and the fact that I’m sleeping with him from the other three maids, but even then I wasn’t very sure of how correct I was. I didn’t want to peek out from behind the curtains, in the fear that the sunlight coming through might wake the Führer.

I saw that my items in the wardrobe on the right side of the door, although I am still very curious as to how much the soldiers saw in my house. Whether they looked through my personal belongings or not. Ha! I bet they went through my all my paperwork to check if I wasn’t some spy or something. I instantly recognised my blouses, underwear, bras, tights and long skirts. However, I saw that the soldiers added something extra. It was the same clothes that the other maids wore. I guessed they used the size labels on my other clothes to save time making the clothing. Still, I was curious to know whether it was the other maids who made it or if it was done by someone else.I took out the maid outfit carefully. I was extremely quiet, as was required of me if I didn’t want to wake the Führer. I quickly dressed myself and left the room, before sneaking down the dark brown stairs, placing every step carefully. The walls in the entire house were either white or cream-coloured, along with a few beautiful patterns on the ceiling. I immediately changed my posture when I was spotted by a soldier, who was patrolling the bottom floor. When I finally reached the end of the stairs, I was standing in front of him, although this had me looking into his chest. I saluted the soldier and spoke,

“I am ready to start my job.” 

“Gut, follow me.” The soldier replied in a very deep voice. The soldier led me to what I guessed was the living room. In the centre of the huge room was a large black wooden table, with two black leather sofas arranged perpendicularly to the entrance. The walls here were white and the ceiling had the Nazi flag printed onto it just over the table, but it did not cover the entire ceiling. The rest of the ceiling had carved swirl patterns. Just ahead of the table was the exit to what seemed like barracks and a backyard. About two metres right from the table, was a chimney. I was worried they were going to give me something worse to do.

“Clean up the cinders. Now.” The soldier commanded. I nodded in obedience and got right to it. I grabbed the metal dustpan and brush, the kind that has very long handles, and began to sweep up the cinders. Every time I tried to sweep up the mess onto the dustpan, a lot of the cinders went into my face, which was not the nicest of things. I began to theorise that they did not choose this kind of brush by accident. I had this very old, grey bag where I guess I should put the cinders in. Suddenly, I heard steps from my left and turned swiftly to see who it was. 

“Well well well, it seems we have a little Cendrillon over here.” Henriette chuckled. I smiled sarcastically in response.

“You know what?” Klara said. “How about we give you a nickname? ‘Aschenputtel’ should do the trick; you don’t deserve to be called something as elegantly-sounding as ‘Cendrillon’, especially after you slept with the Führer last night.”

“Look, I did not ask for this.” I quickly explained. “He forced me to. That was why I fainted.”

“So you lied to us?” Kasia raised an eyebrow. Dammit. I knew this was going to happen sooner or later. But I could not lose face in such a situation.

“Ok, I admit it. I lied to you, but only because I wanted to explain it to you in more detail-”

“Look, spare us your explanation.” Klara cut in. “We’ll give you another chance. Just don’t test us like that, ok?”

“I promise that I will respect you more.”

“Dobrze.” Kasia said. “Now clean those cinders Aschenputtel.” The three maids went out of the living room and deeper into the house. I sighed and returned to sweeping up the cinders.

That same day, near the afternoon, the Führer decided to present me with the gift of his presence. I was in the kitchen, washing the dishes from dinner, when he approached me.

“Fräulein Jeanne,” He said. “Would you mind coming with me?”“But, mein Führer, I’ve still got-” I began.

“Would you mind coming with me?” He asked, his tone slightly aggressive.

“Yes, mein Führer.” I left the dishes and wiped my hands with a dirty cloth the soldiers provided me with, before following the Führer up to the first floor, to the balcony. He had a seat on one of the deckchairs. He offered me the one opposite, so I took a seat.

“So, Fräulein Jeanne, tell me of your family.” He said. “Do you have any siblings? What jobs did your parents have?”

“I am an only child.” I replied. This wasn’t exactly true, because my mother remarried when I was about 17. She had a baby with another man and my real father died two days after the baby was born. I haven’t really talked with my mother ever since. All I know that the baby was a boy. “My mother was a tailor, she made most of my clothes when I was at school.” I continued. “My father was a pilot and died in action.”

“Did your mother remarry after that happened?”

“Yes. I haven’t heard from her ever since.”

“That must have been very hard for you.” As if he’d know it himself.

“Is this all, mein Führer? I need to return to my du-”

“You will leave when I say so.” I was prepared to either slap him or throw him over the wooden barrier of the balcony. However, that second idea probably wouldn’t end in death. Well, technically, it would; it would end in my death.

“What else do you wish to know?” I asked.

“How are the other maids treating you?”

“They accept me, and that is all I ask of them.”

“Good.” I was really beginning to think he was judging me against a very specific criteria. I felt a sudden rush of relief at what he said next: “You may go.”

“Thank you, mein Führer.” I stood up and left. I wondered if he could tell that meant ‘Thank God, it’s over’. 

“Oh, just in case you wanted to know,” He called after me, I stopped and listened. “You are sleeping with me again tonight.” I went pale and my eyes widened. Please, no, not again, I thought. I took a deep breath and replied,

“Ja, mein Führer.” I quickly ran to the kitchen and returned to cleaning the dishes. Klara walked in as soon as I began cleaning one of the bowls in the large sink.

“Good work, Aschenputtel.” She said. I could tell she was smiling.

“Thank you.” I replied. Then, I stopped cleaning and looked Klara in the eyes. “Klara, I need to tell you something. But I really need you to understand that I have no choice-”

“The Führer asked you to sleep with him again?” There was a short awkward silence.

“Y- yes.” I replied. “I really don’t want to, but I have no choice. You have to believe me!”

“Hold your horses! I believe you! It’s just that you seem to attract him so much, and I really don’t know what is so attractive about you.”

“Believe me, I don’t know myself. I thought I was repulsive, or at least not beautiful enough for the Führer himself.”

“I can guarantee that your dealings with the Führer won’t affect my view on you, but I don’t know how Henriette and Kasia will react. I will try my best to make them see things the way I do, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“I understand. Thank you for being so kind.”

“No problem. Now hurry up with that cleaning, Aschenputtel.” Klara smiled as she left.

Then, a year after all of this happened, things changed immensely.

Author’s Notes:I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Here’s are the English translations for a few words in this chapter:

Fräulein - Miss (German)

Aschenputtel - Cinderella (German)

Cendrillon - Cinderella (French)

Dobrze - Good (Polish)

Ja - Yes (German)