Grey Men

-Description Unneeded-

“Where are we going Mama?” Judith looked from the backseat window to the front, her mother not turning to acknowledge her. But little Judith took no heed, a wide grin spread across her rosy face as she turned back to the car window. It was a beautiful day, as green pastures and rural farmlands waved like a vast ocean in the afternoon breeze and bumped against the blue sky above. Livestock grazed in the open fields, as farmers tended to their crops. Judith waved to them, receiving no response, but giggled anyways. She had never been outside the city before, and had never seen such fields, such colors of the Earth that were hardly present in the city she lived in. There, only the tough bricks and solid stones of industry resided, smoke stacks releasing heavy grey and black clouds that reminded her of the sky when it cries in spring. She saw her reflection in the window, her brown curls bounced as she made face after face at herself.      

            “Eliora, we’re going to be fine. We-we will make it.” Her father moved his hand to her mother’s lap, rubbing her left leg. Judith always saw him do this when mama was not feeling well, and she would usually reply with a smile. But today, she did not. Today she only nodded slightly, quivering a little as her husband took away his hand. Judith was still making faces in the window, but noticed her mother’s silence. She moved toward the front seat.

            “Mama?”

            “Judith, stay in the back seat. Mama is okay, she is just…tired.” Her father patted her head, gently pushing her back into the leather interior. Judith sat quietly in the back seat, her eyes darting around the car as her father drove. Her small, brown suitcase sat beside her, filled with some of her clothes and a few mementos. She did not know why her parents packed her things and made her leave their small house so quickly. She left many toys, photos, and even her favorite doll she made with her mother behind. Her parents frantically ran around the house, grabbing food, clothes, and whatever else they could fit in their arms and suitcases before rushing to the car, and speeding away.

            “Papa, where are we going?”

            “We-we are taking a trip! Yes, yes, we have a long way to go! Must keep driving.” Her father replied.

            “Oh. But to where?”

            “Somewhere far away.”

            “But where papa? Where?”

            “I’m not sure Judith.”

            “Are we lost papa?”

            “No, we are not lost Judith.”

            “Then where are going?”

            “As I said, I am not sure.”

            “But Papa how-” 

            “Judith, be quiet!”

            Her mother had turned around, tears streamed down her face. Judith looked wide eyed at her mother, as something approached in the road ahead. The car rounded the corner to a line of jeeps and tanks that blocked the road, grey men armed with rifles aimed at the approaching vehicle.

            The black, 1935 Mercedes-Benz slowly skidded to a halt as the grey men swiftly surrounded the car. Judith’s mother began to weep as her father clutched his necklace of the Star of David, muttering a prayer. Judith whimpered as the grey men opened the car doors and threw her parents into the road.   

Author's Note

A very short read and possible idea to expand on later. One of my favorites from my old stache. Probably the only one I'll post from my old works.

Reviews

[matrixmark]

A really, really good little short read. I kept reading to find out where they we're going and why they left in such haste. The emotions of the little girl going from happiness of seeing the greenery to swing to the other end of the pendulum we're quite moving. The anxiety coming from the parents was brilliantly written.

Good solid piece of writing.

Mark.