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Leah Starkman Holocaust Survivor - Part 1 | South Carolina Council on the Holocaust | YouTubeToText
YouTube Transcript: Leah Starkman Holocaust Survivor - Part 1
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This is a personal testimony detailing the harrowing experiences of Leo Stockman, a Jewish boy, who survived the Holocaust in Belgium and France, recounting his family's flight, his separation from his parents, and his subsequent journey through various hiding places and orphanages until liberation and eventual reunion with his father.
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the ones from
for you with an only child come yeah now
we have another leo we all named Austin
okay we're standing by so it would be
just a couple seconds now and when I
start to ask you questions you know that
in the beginning okay please tell us
your name or my name is Leo Stockman and
where and when you were born on Berlin
in Charlevoix Belgium and July 31st 1929
can you tell us something about your
life as a young child in Belgium well my
parents were just average people my
father was a shoemaker my mother was a
housewife part-time dressmaker seems to
reveal and we had a normal life my
father was very active in the Jewish
community so I was always behind him and
going with him every place I was an
amateur actor at the age of five with my
father guiding me he was a singer and I
enjoyed doing things with him what time
is the school till third grade till the
wolf started and do you remember any
anti-semitism in Belgium not really
known for the war or maybe of there was
aa we didn't get in contact with it
nothing at all we have Gentiles under
live are enough there were only maybe
two or three Jewish family in that
street and that said you know I mean it
was like town half they would call here
you know it's not little single home and
my father had his business right at the
beginning of the street there by the
Main Street and now I didn't know that I
remember I didn't see nothing we got
affected me wholly were your parents
born in Belgium no my parents are born
in Poland my mother is from I don't know
if she was balling chance to cover but I
think it's outside of change the cover
and my father's perform I applied chance
to cover our membership it did you ever
have an opportunity to go to Poland yes
in 1938
I went to Poland and I only saw one set
of grandparents from my mother's side
and her sisters she had the fourth
sister there I had four cousins and from
my father's side there was he had one
sister to sister one when one child
above one cousin was alive and the one
the oldest sister had six of seven
children but is only one who is alive
who survived Leah can you tell us how
life began to change for your family and
1940 when the German enter into Belgium
and we heard about it
I live in the southern of Belgium so a
few neighbors get together bought a
truck no the truck and we all evacuate
in a duck truck and we the talk was
packed and it went like two of three
people of the group who know how to
drive the total dead rose we were about
seven or eight children and between all
the neighbor in your family and we
evacuating to France when we passed the
border the truck broke down so we
couldn't find a buddy to repair so we
went on and stayed in a farm everybody
from there we all split up and each one
went their way some went back into
Belgium and some of us kept going ah my
parents and myself we're the one who
kept going and went into deep into
France more to the southern pole in the
Irish and somewhere in the mountain and
we stayed there till my parents where I
rested my father was a shoemaker so with
a bicycle in a basket in front of him
went around to the farm and collect
those shoes to repair them my mother was
a dressmaker so knew herself she went
all around and after the trade you know
to be able if they needed people to sew
a one farmer told another so we did
fairly well I mean we survived and we
had food because the
didn't tell us with money they paid us
with the food then she worked for the
special family it was the battle de la
Roche in the ardèche day that was the
summer home so he was there I think they
had nine of ten children and she made
all the clothes for these children and
if a daughter got married she made of trousseau
trousseau
you know the land they learned in the
embroidery I was doing a lot of the
embroidering my mother had told me just
to keep me around her so she taught me
how to sew by hand and March 1942 or
maybe a little bit before I don't
remember the date maybe it was February
off the end of February and now before
my father had to go for hard labor and
he left for the week came back on the weekend
weekend
I'll said worry a truck came up to the
door I was not at home then and the
girls told me there is a talk with him I
don't remember how they used to called
him and if the friend she worked with
the Nazis you know with the gentleman I
did and they picking up your parents and
so they hold me back they didn't let me
go home some of the a dull to new
double-talk was there but my father was
a comedian an actor played Pesta I mean
he acted up that he passed out and he
couldn't get up you didn't like he was
unconscious so they left him there and
they said to my mother will come back
after the went away was really up
in Hill in the mountains after the truck
went away they said the adults kept me
it was like a restaurant like a hostile
place you know they rented the room
upstairs and food and then after this
when someone came and told him the truck
had left a little town I went back home
and I walked in and my father his laugh
and so I know he was all right he says I
gather they didn't take me but they're
gonna come back
so my father says let's go somewhere
else some of the farmer would have taken
us in and hit us but my mother had
dinner of mine and I'll never forget I
want to go to Paul and I'll be with my
parents my father couldn't fight and I
still remember what happened I mean the
arguments and everything she just want
to go with our parents and all sisters
will be all together never thinking that
some atrocity like this would happen or
you know just that you might be like in
a ghetto all together and we'll survival
together my father had a fierce because
he had a brother that had come from
Germany in 1935 or 36 I don't remember
I'm told them what went on in Germany so
he had that fear that it's going to
happen then - and he wanted to go into
Heidi didn't wanna so decide we all
stick together well in March 1942 I
don't remember the date exactly truck
came there was other Jewish people in
the truck that they must have picked up
all along and we were dicks to bestow
pack this prick necessary and going the
truck we all went together when we went
in the higher coldest like Columbus for
like the Statehouse the capital of the
island - I think it was cleaver oh yeah
I think it was cleaver we were all Jews
with I mean gather dead in the big yard
I didn't realize there were so many Jews
and that small little Department of
friends you know or maybe they came from
another department all of a sudden on
the last picker they called my mother in
me but not my father so my mother went
to the office and I stayed with my daddy
the by gondola hook his wife wanted to
take my mother hop in me to keep because
she needed my mother for you know
helping her with repair and all the
clothes my mother still said no I'm
going to Poland I want to be with my
parents I don't know if she would have
survived but okay you know even if she
would have stayed because we found out
something after the world
then the background Ilana hook was was
working with the maxi all right so we
found this out after the war and after
this we were all taken by truck I think
it was clogs and we were taken to Venice
here it's by Leo and frankly we were in
a camp it looked like it was a camp
within the China people like the
Vietnamese you know I don't know because
friends that you was to be hard labor
you went to in the China for instead you
know instead of life they send you over
there for life and that's what what I
saw oriental people around there but not
too many and they put us in barracks and
the nomads work on the floor made out of
poor things whatever they had and we all
laid there on the floor meanwhile while
my father was working my mother didn't
get wasn't well done she had already had
one a good blog of attack after another
and she was depressed and everything so
they went dead in became she realized a
after this my father walks in the yard
and found a man that used to be my
talking with other Jewish people that
used to be a nave of my uncle his
brother his older Papa and he said where
is my brother
my father was you know one that is my
brother he he says no your brother
didn't take in the beginning when they
start taking them in the other half of
friends you see the first part of
friends was on the Vichy government so
the German didn't come down but first
you know when they came down to us when
they took overall sense you know so
that's when they came down in the covert
the whole product stock picking up the
Jews of the southern part below Vichy so
he says no in the beginning they don't
take women who are playing in my hands
was playing with a first child but my
aunt and my uncle went into hiding so
so we're lucky that wasn't taken because
that's what happens they didn't take
after that we stayed a while there and
all of us from the underground oh the
red cost was involved I really don't
know but they were addressed after that
cause you had to go to the infirmary and
it was going around who wants to leave
their child behind you have to come and
find papers my mother still didn't want
me to go my father for her it took me
away from her and I still remember the
picture okay just take a moment to
contain no talk my mother screaming I'll
take my child away my father took me
anyway to find the paper so that night
all the children had to be brought the
paperwork signed had to be brought to
the dining room was a big home with
table and bench the older girl or the
older children had to take care of the
smaller one two years old one year old
baby I had a child it was about two and
a half years old that was my
responsibility all of a sudden we see
the big buses gone and taken off parents
when I kept watching to see how pain was
gone but I didn't see mine there was one
mother so that little boy that I held in
my army hope the claps on the truck for
the hard part of the blood and that's
the boy screaming mama but the talk went
up the bus went oh it was a bus then
they came with truck in the middle of
the night and took us a brush the South
who was supposed to be rushed out we got
the washed up and they put us in a place
in the evening and must have been
because it looked like boys guides fine
you know like
there must to be a scandal for youth or
Boy Scout or Girl Scouts I don't know
they had a beautiful yard all the
children allowed to play outside before
Holly if we start forgetting about what
happened everybody play but each all the
child had the responsibility of the
little ones at night what we all had to
take off the children the smaller one
the older one watching the children
watch them get him ready for that the
way voluntary work is feeding us but
they didn't have enough to help us with
the little kids for the older took care
of the little ones and then whatever
there was no older children be the
adults who care
they had a nursery they had oh they had
a doctor was a man day I don't know
and the little boy stopped screaming and
crying didn't want to go to sleep
without as well meetings like this I
went hysterical and they took me to the
infirmary I just was controlled myself
and they gave me a shot and after this I
didn't know what happened I don't know
how long I was doing the time that I was asleep
asleep
something must have happened and I was
put in a room upstairs on myself on the
floor I found when I woke up I don't
know how long I was sleeping there I I
woke up one time and I found myself all
along I looked out the window I didn't
see nothing the home was completely
empty and I tried to walk down the steps
to see to find my way out of there and
then I saw a woman coming to the steps
and they say are you one of the children
said no you know I didn't know what she
was I was scared but then I was going to
go back up and I waited standing there
by the steps and that woman knocks out
the door says do you still have some of
these children I'll take a few to hide
them she says no we don't have them
after that woman left I went out the
door and knock at the door I said I just
heard you saying to that woman with what
happened to the other chill it's going
to happen with me I'm here alone she
said well she got scared I guess he said
you go back from where you come and go
back up there they'll you know of
scaling I went back up there and stay
there in the late afternoon the what
young woman who came
but a bunch of I didn't speak I don't
remember how long
bunch of grape in the bag they used to
give this like in yoga when someone was
sick that's what you brought them in and
she says look I'm pretending I come and
visit someone sick and he eat the grape
I know you didn't eat and let's go
I said where my suitcase she said it's
going well I cry not that much for the
clothes but I had a hood of my mother's
and a pair of shoes she had put in that
suitcase and told me there was money
hidden and the shoulder pad in emergency
to use it to be that food was meant more
than anything else I felt like that
could have helped me eventually well she
took me and put me in there and account
no we went and stopped I decide what
cafe and another I guess from the others
run we're there and watching all around
them and I had only the clothes I had on
me and they took me and it put me in a
counter and they asked me what I could
do because I was 12 you know I could
help in the kitchen I said I'll do
anything all right
and I was helping the kitchen peeling
the vegetable and everything and then I
went into sewing home then all of a
sudden I start having like I thought I
was Chokin I guess I couldn't talk I
just you know I guess I don't know I was
in a state of shock and I felt like I
always had a lump in my toes I couldn't
eat I just didn't want to talk guess I
was going to depression and they took me
some other person came and picked me up
and they put me in a hospital I had a
private home and that's when I got my
name another name they changed my name
to Leone Vagner and that's the name that
stay with me till after the war I stayed
there there in some tests they didn't
find nothing wrong they took me out and
then they took me to a Presbyterian
minister there with lovely people they
took care of me do you remember the name
of the monopoly not now I do not have
tried to think about it and I just
cannot remember their name and it was
very nice she was lovely too but she
expected a baby and she was disappointed
was very short and skinny I look so pathetic
pathetic
I mean from my age I didn't look my age
and that was 12 I look 9 of age and she
wanted to know the child should be able
to help him take care of work to other children
children
or she was playing it so I was not
convenient to her
well my asthma got worse I guess because
I was scared here I go again they took
me out of my room and they got another
Jewish girl who was older 1679 says
great now have a pal you know I won't be
we both have the same problem but the
minister's wife was much happier without
all the child to show the people you
know to not to make it obvious I guess
because I could hear talking with a
husband but it should look more like
it's a maid she hired then hiding a
child and in the same time it was a
Jewish child so they had they gave her
my home and they put me in the maid's
room in the Attic
well the asthma got worse when I was up
there so they decided I don't know
they're going to take me to a craven
kirlyam it's a place with children from
this video who have problem with
bronchitis or alcohol and they put him
there to recover a walk to be treated
and I stayed there many months I know I
passed the winner because I remember we
went sledding in the snow all the
children together nobody know maybe the
mom is Chris you know the higher than
higher call the colored money trees over
there their councils
yeah the council knew that I was Jewish
I really don't know all right everything
was pretty good for quite a few months
but after that they had to hide me in there
there
till they could find someone there was a
home that that there was picking up all
the children from homes and things like
this but you know like kind of camp you
know like he did a cold colony you know
children colony that parents used to
send to change the you know there is
this profession if they stayed like not
to be in this city so they stopped
picking up all the Jewish children so
there was a rumor going around that they
have to get rid of me too you know they
cannot keep me would endanger all the
other to not they get rid of the other
Jewish children but okay I know I had to
go so the minister came and talked to me
said goodbye and I remember gave me a
present that I don't even remember what
it is a little token of something oh
yeah there was another thing happened
while I wasn't the home I want to go
back to this when I arrived there the
doctor there his wife wanted to adopt a
child and I wasn't there the impression
it was Jewish - but it wasn't
assimilated you would then you know he
for many many years back you know to
marriage maybe his parents or
grandparents but his background there
was some Jewish in him so he took me
home and I had dinner day and they had a
little boy took me for a ride in the
mountain and he asked me to we like to
adopt you and I saw I went a statical I
said my parents are coming back to
cannot adopt me and I cry so they
decided that I'm not the one they could
adopt because I was fighting him so it
was no good so they put me he took me
back to the home and that's when I stay
so at the end there when it was time for
me to get out someone came and picked me
up and took me to the farmer and the
supposedly she introduced herself as a
member of the Red Cross this I remember
that that's why I don't know what
happened between it was all mental that
had come but I guess that's the way they
passed but I'm sure it was the
underground and I was there at the farm
and for the beginning there was a
feeling you're checked take care of me
you know and things but he eventually
when it got worse I guess
they didn't get nothing so then was a
no harder they made me do more labor the
wife there but it wasn't that there they
all work hard but in those a day I
resented that you know was a child and
now he's ended it I had to get up early
in the morning
no well he told anything and wash the
potatoes or we call it topi Nambu I
don't know Mom I don't even know what I
just hate to feed the pigs that was my job
job
and I used to love it because the little
baby pig sighs that was my path you know
I felt I forgot I have a pattern then
after this at night maybe I had to milk
the cow and I know how to do that too
and during the day in the afternoon I
used to take the sheets to pasture and
really I hadn't suffer from a hunger
they really did not mistreat me I had to
work hard though it came from some day I
had no contact too much with other
children except on Sunday go to church I
had to go to church every Sunday morning
to make sure I had something decent to
go with from those clothes they make
them smaller and put them on me I mean
I'd look this and I didn't look less
than the other children for the other
farmers children and after church I was
allowed to go with one girl with a
neighbor farmer had to walk a little bit
and we could stay together and talk and
were the same age and then come home and
some day I didn't have to do much just
maybe help in the kitchen you know
taking off the table like it's real true
he over there they had the farmer had
given me a home with a back door that in
case someone would come into the front
door if I have any noise during the
front door I could hum in the woods they
lived on the base of the wooden mountain
he owned a big help
they had show me where I should go
I had one little suitcase it was always pack
pack
and I lived out of a suitcase there was
nothing else couldn't show that there
was somebody here there was like him
back home where they used to take care
of the honey and they had be the heart
beehives and they used to like cultivate
the honey you're taking care of it there
was all kind of isn't she in there make
it look like it was just a spare room
and they had like a trap on the defend
and that's when I had to run if anything
they told me to shove my clothes my big
suitcase under there grab the little one
and go that was they had told me well
are in between the minister had find my
suitcase I don't know how my name was
inside outside everything I mean it was
all over so they found it and I found
the suit of my mother so that suitcase
follow me every place you know I wind up
over there and I stayed there till the
liberation but in between they couldn't
understand what I had an advil food and
a pair of adult she would spike here in
my suitcase
they said we could make something for
you with this and I stuck hi I didn't
want them to touch this I was hoping
that I didn't come back and I could give
them something to get started I thought
it was a fortune in there was almost
nothing but in my mind you know I
thought it was this then I called them I
said they took out the money they made
something it for themselves it was
collaborative West you know it was Nona
so they make something for themselves
but from their cold image for me you
know everybody was made they couldn't
afford much clothes needed so they made
something for themselves the shoes they
couldn't waive that they didn't want it
in my home in case one thing you know
what a pair of advil clothes should be
here they took the money out and kept it
okay well I said that's it it's gone but
I never fought them because I felt well
maybe they want to get paid for what
they do it when deliberation came and I
was allowed to go into study
so those Talmud to them did was the city
and the only American soldier coming I was
was
to go with that girl not by myself I
guess perfect you look they didn't want
to make sure it was great it was
wonderful but I still didn't know if I
was going to see my parents you know I
didn't know I didn't know what was going
on willing and the American soldiers
honed the chocolate in the kingdom
because really that's the sweetness we
didn't get during the war you know no
it's all relation you know the stamps
and tickets they had to buy food and I
was great all the kids getting all
excited picking up all these goodies
that the American threw down from this
tank and everything then in the evening
we came home and it was a dance and
people dancing and singing industry but
during that time that I was there it was
an escape from a prison of war they hit
not only me for the last for the first
two years I was about there two and a
half year maybe less it was fine I
didn't have to run in the woods and hide
the last six months was terrible every
time some people must have know they
were hiding the prisoner world but they
didn't know they were hiding in Jewish
child they came to him and says go hide
staying calm so by the way II went and
the wood and I went with for a couple of
time with him we have our little
suitcase he was doing the same thing he
had his little suitcase packed and we
went in the wood this prisoner of war
was living with the other farm and
worked with their mother labour you know
okay at the end it got too bad you went
in work with the other guns and then it
happened one time I had to go by myself
under work and I was petrified with that
suitcase sitting there by a place with
old bushes there and they told me to sit
there and I would hear some kind of a
whistle when the Sun when it's safe you
know the Sun will come and get me they
knew that the prison of war was not
going to come back that he was going to
go with the underground and that's where
he had gone and I saw time when he left
me again I didn't know till I hit that
spot where I was supposed to stay and he
says don't worry
I have to go they'll come and get you
well they did come and get and I that's
the only time I had to go in the woods
by myself and hydraulic all right went
after deliberation the farmer talk to me
they left me alone for a while but I was
depressed I wanted to find my parents I
want to know that whether life I said
what do I do now
I remember all of a sudden that that man
invented here in the camp where my
father farmed called my uncle when in
kaha wasn't taken so I said well let me
write to the mayor of the town and I
remember the town but I couldn't
remember no other address so I heard the
town and their department you know it
was well wha I don't remember that small town
town
I heard the mayor and I was waiting to
the mayor received my letter and on his
own bicycle in the where my own can live
in another town
it's a homer one wha it was in Rio SH
and he took the letter and gave it to my
uncle so my uncle by that time knew
already I was alive he is gone me a
letter a few word he didn't know to hate
too much French she his wife good and
just a few work saying we'll see soon we
working at it take care of yourself
we love you something like this in
French okay to the head course
telegram came that the farmers had to
take me to a certain place in gap I was
like another biggest city and dropped me
off at this place of the Salvation Army
it was like our vision was a small place
you know that during the world people
stayed in it
that woman was there with a little boy
before I left they hugged me say goodbye
to farmers in handy Demong
they even made a pouch you hang it on my chest
chest
it says if you need it actually if you
have conflict they gave me back
everything well when I wind up in the
Salvation Army I don't know what
happened nobody came and picked me up
some misunderstanding maybe or one I
stayed there a few days I was under the
impression that woman was Jewish too in
hiding and finally wind up there with
that little boy and she spoke to another
language but I don't remember what it
was but that little boy and I stayed
there then I love asan she says you know
I cannot afford to support you but I
didn't want to touch that money so I
said well I have a few Frank I says I'll
give it to you that I had in my pocket I
gave it to an accident for what I have I
still had wanted up money for my parents
I could have I could help them to get a
thought she put me on a train she paid
for the ticket I guess I didn't give her
much I didn't have much and send me to a
woman who had another Jewish child an
older person beautiful woman when I was
over there I stayed with her a while she
wanted to adopt a child but child was
given to her by the parents was a little
girl blonde beautiful child that's why I
thought I had that picture I was looking
for a picture and she was with that
woman so if I could find I'm still gonna
look maybe in anything and she kept me
for a while was so nice to be there and
she gave me a beautiful little blouse
she made for my glasses and we're not
even bought blow socks for me and to
care on me as much as she took care of
God little girl and she told me I'm
taking care of you and I spelled him M
but you have to promise me don't tell
nobody I have a Jewish child here him
and I promise when we kept my promise
I'd never told nobody was a Jewish child
she said I'll give it only
the peasant I will never give up to
nobody else so I don't know
what happened to that child when I was
there I must have catched it at the
Salvation Army I wound up being forward
Elijah's body Hey everything I woke up
one morning I conclude the whole night I
didn't know what was happening to me how
woke up I was embarrassed I was
degrading really to me you know I
remember my mother being so spotless in
particular with me being an only child I
went to her and I told her oh my god she
was so afraid
but another little girl was going to
catch it she said I cannot keep you she
doesn't affect the best destructive
affect the whole fumigate the whole room
I had to pack my suitcase she put me on
a train
she gave me an address she told it was
the Jewish Community Center she said go
find this and they could get you to a
Jewish community stand by the time I hit
Grenoble that was envelope she wanted it
was a bigger city or a much larger city
oh I got the address nobody knows of
this place so I'm walking in the street
not knowing where I'm going I left my
suitcase in the on the train where you
could store your luggage I know I
couldn't carry it with me I walk in the
street and I cry day over the bridge and
I kept looking down I'm thinking what do
I do now
you know scares Texas fine I was scared
at that time I was 14 I was close to 15
or my birthday's in July and there's a
young couple they're holding hands
hugging and kissing and they stop
talking Hebrew I saw God I went and
approached them I said are you Jewish
they looked at me there was afraid to
admit it even after deliberation people
were afraid to admit that they will
choose and they looked at me stare at me
then the young man asked if it was over
20 I mean it wasn't the way I love
teenagers what I was doing and I
explained a little bit of my situation
what happened it's okay I'm taking you
home they live so poorly you know
whatever they could survive after the
war everybody tried the best and that
proved mother must have full of a kind I
remember hand like this and she made
lots of all to eat and was not made with
matzah was made with bread cold I don't
know what she made but it looked like
multiple I said what's this she says
well I'm making matzo Boston but that's
not Maksim
it must have been dry bread that she had
grated couldn't even grate it she asked
me to help of the grader and her husband
helped her and I told him I was full
with lies I admitted it because I didn't
one of them he said don't worry
we saw worse than them they'll flip on
the floor they put blankets to blanket
on the floor he says and tomorrow I'll
have a fumigated and he kept me there
they didn't put me out I slept there
even more than one thing any one of this
girlfriend to take me but she when she
then the next day took me to the Jewish
community I mean there was like a Jewish
community sending that they had to leave
those for all the some people were saved
survivors you know and things went into
hi know the hidden people adult children
and I asked him I need I want to take
her bed I did I thought that if I take a
bed everything's going to disappear but
they did they send me to a hospital I
was so bad they put me in the mood
plagued me all over and put me in a room
and something came from the home I don't
know they took my clothes and fumigate
him too and then after this is fun then
that girl wanted me in the house where
they kept me for a while
could find my uncle again to get back in
contact to see how they're gonna do this
I had to take from their home granola I
had to take it trying to go to her won
again that's where the train station was
so my uncle sent a telegram I'll be
waiting for you on this to this day this
is this time they put me on the train
and where we exchange they announce that
the next train is delayed and I was I
didn't know where to turn my uncle had
no telephone and just no discreet and by
that time I knew already the town I
didn't know the street could you send
the telegram and planted a small tire
you just give the name and that's it and
then in the town and those trees nothing
so I really didn't have a full address
of my uncle the man I cried and I didn't
have no change at that time I would have
taken the money but it was all paper
money so the man saw me Connie said you
want a cup of coffee when I was kid it
was like an older man I was a little kid
he says gave me one and got myself a cup
of cocoa and he gave it to me and I said
boy young I don't know that man it was
scared me you know then he says what
happened with you why are you by
yourself in a train station you too
young because I look like I was eight
not look you know we're so short and
skinny and he gave me money to call my
uncle I explained him what happened tell
him the train is the way well my uncle
they had no phone you called the post
office they give him the message
you see they they go and get him they
hold the line give him the message and
then he came he says okay I'll wait for
you it was like a little town build
around the post office in City Hall and
everything but City Hall was closed it
away and I'll wait for you okay that men
didn't leave me alone till I went on
that train dad all the posts
I thanked him in Windows I've another
one at the train station my uncle didn't
recognize me I don't recognize him and
we we didn't get together
he went home without me and I stay at
the transportation I feel like the whole
world has fallen apart I fell asleep but
with my suitcase days I fell asleep and
as I fell asleep I fell asleep on a man
my head it was a younger man closer to
my age I think maybe 1918 you know he
stopped flirting and then he says let's
go have some coffee we went and had
coffee and then I started tracing I said
my uncle was supposed to pick me up so
we went he took me I guess he felt so
sorry for me it took me to the for the
train station der the chief there I
don't know somebody they explained the
condition said look you stay here and
tomorrow morning we'll see what we could
be well they can do nothing hoping that
my uncle might come back early in the
morning never came back because that's
me you know I didn't make it my mother
was fooling green eyes as well I said
can I leave my little suitcase here and
they kept it they gave me a ticket for
it and I walk hoping I would be as lucky
day then I was and granola finding
people may become Jewish or one
well it ain't so hard you didn't see too
many people there so I asked people with
a steady home I mean just the name in
you know day it should be register
because everybody in Belgium has to walk
along with an identification card you
cannot walk around with just like this
you know everybody there so I went there
it was a bunch of young people they had
the office and I was soaking with my
hair hanging everything I mean I look
like a mess they spot whether they
further look funny well I guess I did
and I asked for doctors and I said well
my uncle lived here I said because I
received a telegram he says well we
don't have nobody by that name but they
didn't even bother go looking and
you know so one guy yes did pretend he
was looking and any says no we don't
have nobody by this I don't know if any
lies I was Jewish or what I have no idea
and I just told him I miss my uncle at
the train station and that's it after
that I walk in I went to the post office
I said look you delivered some telegram
to my uncle listen this day and I
received something I said I don't have
his full adders I just know it's in the
ocean but I don't know where it is and I
miss my uncle on the train station he
didn't kept I thought he didn't come and
get me okay that's the point I didn't
realize he didn't recognize me and she
really was pretty sarcastic and it was a
man behind me he said don't you see that
child is suffering enough can you do
something for her finally you know no
the first time I went out don't I she
said get out of the line she says I'm
busy don't you tell these people behind
you but I went back in line I was
determined that somebody's going to have
to give me an answer I didn't know where
to turn at that point and that's when
that man said don't you see that child
is suffering enough
you must have realized what's going on
or what
and she told she went in look to where
the telegram was delivered from this
person in the festival's file and they
took me to my uncle the man walked me
halfway did he say okay that's got all
the way down there and they lived in a
place in anyway
you went back to his phone it was a
custom trailer when I walked in he was
sitting in there there and he looked at
me it turned white like a ghost and he
says I didn't see you
and I passed out I just was in a state
of shock when I came back to my to
myself my aunt was smacking my face and
she couldn't even talk she was almost
three years old I guess for being in
hiding - they had given away that child
she couldn't talk and I just when they
still hugging me kissing me and that
little girl wanted to hug me and I
didn't want to hug her I was afraid she
was going to catch my life I stayed away
from her and I took my uncle sick she I
remember and I cut off all my hair they
couldn't stop me they was afraid because
I went like crazy but I didn't have the
war life it was just you know my mind
after I felt better after I cut mine I
guess all my frustration everything
we're not only crying and crying it
can't stop me didn't they had a customer
daily when out he says I'll be back
tomorrow and then we all sitting there
carrying her and my uncle explained to
me that he didn't see me
so I guess he didn't recognize me and
the next day my aunt took me to the
doctor that she thought was well
everything was all right with me because
I went to war at the time I was
liberated then I only you know during
that space little time I had to find my
uncle being lost and shipped from one
place to another I was like the only
thing they had to give me is like
something to calm me down because my
nerves was shocked and I was always
shaking and I had like a nervous tic you
know always trying to clear my toes I
always had that lump in my throat but
after I was dead and left a most relaxed
life and that other Jewish young
children I felt better
but I had to legalize my paper because I
was still under my false name so what I
did I heard to the City Hall of shaloha
and explained you know they knew all
about that I mean I was not the only
Charlie was with a false name they sent
me my birth certificate I sent I heard a
letter visually to have a residence
certificate from where I was living
before the world
needed that to to get my car you know if
not I couldn't walk around and so
Charlevoix Anjali knew I was alive they
all knew the neighbors because the
police it's not a big town they went
home and say the shoemakers léa léa the
I had a nickname Lea banana Lea banana
is alive they didn't know nothing about
there was a Jewish family who lived down
the street for me when he found out I
was a life I harder the system survived
the water he went to my aunt and told
you bother there's a life in France the
older one and the daughter of Balak is
alive two layers of life and so they
took time for me to have all my paper
legalized and I was able to have my card
to be able to get food and things like
that at that point I gave my aunt and
uncle the money and I told them to do
whatever they need for me I had my shoes
with more than that they went out and
board on the black market a pair of
shoes for me my aunt bought me didn't
didn't take just the money for the shoes
because that was expensive if they
didn't have much needed because and my
uncle was a tailor so he making clothes
from pieces of material my aunt bought
and things like this for me till a
decent and one hand took me to the
beauty power to have my hair shaped
because I really messed it up then how
did you find your father and it does
come come and go is now so my hometown
knew I was alive the Jewish community of
how one came to my uncle said what are
you going to do with that child
she missed too much school you have to
teach her something she has to world
something you cannot leave him like this
if you find paper we'll take her we'll
trade her and we'll send up to a kibbutz
in Israel my uncle says I cannot do this
if my brother ever survived and you
found out I gave away his childhood
never forgive me for my uncle didn't
sign a paper so we were there so that
mother you know I have days and I
mustered a78 mother whole year with my
uncle and I remember it was around this
time the Godman was cleaning the house
for Passover the house were placed in
with my aunt and a telegram arrived that
is alive see you soon
when that telegram a - in a - shuttle of wah
wah
at that time we knew my aunt was alive
because she you know City Hall gave her
the address and she wrote to her brother
little island when I got to telling her
my uncle get out the telegram I grabbed
the telegram and we ripped it in - we
were so nervous that telegram came from
the mega came another bicycle again
because my father arrived in Charlevoix
much later than all the other Jews came
back because while he wasn't can't be
found anis he was laying with typhoid fever
fever
that's my cousin will lives in
California so he says I don't know if my
theory knew my mother was not her life anymore
anymore
and he says one of my child is another
life at least I'll have my daughter's
child she's five years older than her
name is Leah - ok so you waited till she
got well and then he came to Belgium and
it was quite a while after the other one
and every day I used to go to the Jewish
community and see of my father's name
they used to have like on the world the
name of people came out of the camp
never saw my father's name and my uncle
says well I guess you didn't make it
the Jewish community came again finally
my uncle signed the paper for me to go
in a kibbutz and that's when the
telegram came okay so it wasn't meant to
be to the Red Cross I'll make sure that
you know that first telegram came when
my father arrived to Belgium we went on
did after train there was always in
every train station there was a station
from the Red Cross for all these refugee
and everybody coming back into prisoners
my father came back more with the
prisoners of war not the Jewish people
and he came with Lola but Leah I mean we
call it Lola not to get confused came at
the train station and he went and asked
that is quite a few and asked where my
father lived lived before the wolf
anytime but I said do you know unless
you're fighting with your fight was a
principle of discover school not the
school when I was another school it was
one of our neighbors and every couple
days he stopped with my father and
talked and politic all kinds of things
that was their gap in there together so
my father got a friend of mine he says
okay I'm going to call him and tell him
you're here any other life he'll come
and get you they call him and let you
fight the Jewish family lives on the
street with his next-door neighbor
enacted through the wall and scream when
outside scream the shoemaker's of the
life and everybody was outside that
Jewish family had out that was Monsieur
cotton with max Cohen with my girlfriend
comes every second year to visit me in
daughter came to the train station and
my father those days and he says oh you
know they hugging and crying and
everything and he said my god village
how come you Farley already and that's
the way my father found out I was alive
he said that's not my lady said it's my
sister Lee Creek all he heard accordingly
accordingly
he said Marley is alive he says he she's
at your brother and friend and my father
broke down it if my brother if I said is
your sister too
so the only truthful say is lost the two
were in Poland with those children
except one of the sisters two children
are here one of each then he said when
he said that first for example it was
the Hong guileless my uncle didn't lived
in them so the mayor came and that's
when we get that since college
well a couple days meanwhile I had
already get in touch with the head curve
how do I go home you know the Red Cross
used to take care of all this because I
was still a minor and I want to go back home
home
and my uncle want to see his brother in
his sister so the red curve send me a ticket
ticket
meanwhile the second telegram comes
Monsieur max took my father to his
sister and they are high if there you
know they still live in the same old
house they used to live before the wall
they took it you know there was a low of
the half from these people who went to
during concentration camp the quarters
their business had to be returned to
them so my uncle got back his place and
they my aunt was happy she got the
another sister's child and then I heard
Lee is alive in Mexico yesterday he says
I send already a telegram he says where
he said no they don't live there for my
uncle hide away took the trolley went to
send another telegram to the real
address for the second telegram came to
we got to Telegraph during that time but
we know that a ticket came from the red
coast and I was able to travel legally
because you know I had no passport
nothing I mean I was still mine my uncle
wine and smuggled to Belgium to be able
to see his brother and I'm sure the
custom quite a penny but didn't we want
to see
well in packets we were split okay
because I went legally and he went
illegal so to Patty's he knew some
people did he found them and they took
care of him to go to I go on the college
I still remember where my uncle lists
everything so I went there my father
goes out of the place
he looked all swollen he didn't even
look skinny like you know you you heard
people saying they the people coming out
from company he was slowing no here you
know just cause to grow and he looks so
pathetic I mean so worn out so old to me
I thought it was another custom of my
uncle you know I didn't realize it was
my father I walked in the house and my
aunt is cream and she thought it was a
custom announcement who is it I say it's
Lee and she says what kind of Aaliyah
you know she told it was the other Liat
she said told the coolest aunt it's Lea
she hand on the step and she knew by the
way who I was shocked I said your father just walked out and I ran out and I
just walked out and I ran out and I realize it was him and I heard after him
realize it was him and I heard after him his papa that's daddy for French in
his papa that's daddy for French in French and I we were quite as good in
French and I we were quite as good in distributing cry my aunt was looking at
distributing cry my aunt was looking at us he's just that's what I asked elated
us he's just that's what I asked elated my mother I said we'll talk about it you
my mother I said we'll talk about it you never wanted to talk about her then we
never wanted to talk about her then we came back into her house they never went
came back into her house they never went with my uncle went by himself and he was
with my uncle went by himself and he was back with me and he told me that my
back with me and he told me that my cousin was alive and I knew I remember
cousin was alive and I knew I remember her from God to Paul in them and then we
her from God to Paul in them and then we found out that the others needs to go
found out that the others needs to go live from the oldest sister one of them
live from the oldest sister one of them but she lived in France and then
after this my father just helped my uncle being a shoemaker tried to make
uncle being a shoemaker tried to make ends meet the orked trained me for
ends meet the orked trained me for typing in shorthand but I never used it
typing in shorthand but I never used it and the clothing came to the Jewish
and the clothing came to the Jewish community centers and we were allowed to
community centers and we were allowed to go and pick out what we could each child
go and pick out what we could each child without to pick up one or two outfit I
without to pick up one or two outfit I don't remember I had no winter coat so
don't remember I had no winter coat so from an American blanket both in the
from an American blanket both in the black market we dyed it in brown and we
black market we dyed it in brown and we had a coat made for me and because when
had a coat made for me and because when it was approaching in Belgium the
it was approaching in Belgium the winners are pretty good and we stayed
winners are pretty good and we stayed with my aunt for a while everything went
with my aunt for a while everything went smooth but it was well everything was
smooth but it was well everything was crowded we were all together and it
crowded we were all together and it didn't work out I had a rough time with
didn't work out I had a rough time with my uncle they can't stay there my father
my uncle they can't stay there my father speaking
he wanted me to I was going to see he wanted me to go pickups on my mother
wanted me to go pickups on my mother consoled you you tell me doesn't feed me
consoled you you tell me doesn't feed me for nothing you want to do black-market
for nothing you want to do black-market with them I guess
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