Bored. The teacher’s voice drones on as I stare out of the window, captured in a mesmerising daydream on whether simultaneous events really do occur simultaneously, accounting for light’s speed. Which is something I would say if it was a normal school day. It’s funny how fast things change. It used to be intelligence and determination that mattered in school, but now it’s hair & eye colour. I guess that comes later. I might as well start from the beginning.

I guess it started with the politics. When that man on the posters with the tidy hair and neatly cut moustache got elected as chancellor and appointed himself as Führer of the country. Fervent rallies quickly turned to doctrine as the people’s fear was turned against them. My country was used to flawed policies so I saw this as something that would pass in time, but the banners that adorned my city did not.

Mrs Gottschalk did not arrive. Another teacher strolled in, confidence in his stride. “Welcome” he said, an icy coldness in his voice, “Starting from today, every person in this class will have a new timetable”. He read out a list of everyone in the class. Almost everyone. All except David. I tried to catch his eye. The teacher continued, “The ones called out are to report to me to collect their new timetables.” David put his hand up. The teacher shot him a mere glance of disgust before disregarding David. He lowered his hand and called out, “But what about me, sir?”  A bird flied past the window. The teacher turned his full attention onto David and repeated “Starting from today, every person in this class will have a new lesson plan.” David looked puzzled, “I don’t understand sir…” A quick hand movement  beckoned David to the front.

The teacher inspected David. “Boys and girls, let’s have a quick Biology lesson before second period” announced the teacher. “The Jew doesn’t understand, allow me to explain” David shuffles his feet. “This disgusting specimen is an example of the sub-human species trashing and corrupting our perfect society. Who else would be responsible for the unfair terms that the treaty was agreed upon? It was all of the lower life scum polluting our culture.” I felt a flare in my chest. Anger.

David looked down, ashamed. “And those things come by many different names, Jewish, Gypsies, Pacifists, the list is endle-” My legs moved before my mind commanded them. My knees wre trembling, I couldn’t look him in the eye. The teacher took three steps towards me, grabs my collar, hissing like a Kreuzotter “It seems some must be disciplined”. David looked shrunken, smaller. The air whistled through the classroom and the cane struck my flesh. I jerked, the instrument brings about a new wave of pain. I felt reality slipping into darkness. It wasn’t the pain that haunted my dreams.

It was his smirk.