Free The Underground Reporters by Kathy Kacer

playing in their own park close to the synagogue. The sun shone brightly, casting deep shadows on the path. The branches swayed in the cold air, almost beckoning her to enter. She took a deep breath and walked through the gates.
    Immediately, Frances felt a sense of freedom and independence. She could smell the scent of pine cones, and imagined what the park would look like once winter had ended, and the flowers were in bloom. She stopped and bent to admire a small stream, with its glassy layer of thin ice, then straightened quickly and continued to walk. She couldn’tdawdle, much as she wanted to savor this time.
    As she rounded a turn deep inside the park, she suddenly froze in her tracks. Two soldiers in Nazi uniforms were walking toward her. Had they seen her? Yes – they had!
    Frances’ mind began to race, and her stomach lurched. What should she do? If she ran, it would make her look suspicious. There was only one thing to do – keep walking, and hope they would not notice anything wrong. As long as I act calm, they will never guess that I’m Jewish, she thought, struggling to compose herself. She bent her head and walked forward, trying to control the pounding in her chest. Ten more steps, and she would be past the soldiers. Five more steps, and she would be safe. But she couldn’t help glancing up at the faces of the approaching soldiers. They were boys, not much older than she was. How is it possible, she wondered, for these young men to have turned against us just because of a difference in religion? They looked no different from Reina or Otto.
    Now she was just steps away. I’m safe, she thought. I’ve made it, and I promise I will never, ever do this again. And then, just as she was about to pass the soldiers, one of them stepped in front of her, blocking her passage.
    “What are you doing in the park?” he demanded fiercely.
    Frances opened her mouth but nothing came out.
    “Typical Jew,” the other soldier scoffed. “She’s too stupid to talk.”
    Frances felt hot and cold at once. How could they tell she was Jewish? She had no sign on her forehead. She had no banner announcing her religion.

    “Get out of here!” the first soldier bellowed. “And don’t come back.”
    Frances turned and she ran. She ran along the path, past the pond, around the tall trees and bushes, and out of the park gates. She ran and ran, and did not stop even when she reached her aunt’s apartment building. She ran up the stairs, through the door, and collapsed in a heap on the floor.
    “You were so lucky,” Aunt Elsa cried, when Frances finally explained. “You might have been beaten or arrested. You mustn’t walk in the street alone again. And never in the park.”
    Frances nodded. She did not need to be told. She knew she would never go near the park again. Before, all those rules and regulations had been official matters. Now – as she remembered the sneers on the soldiers’ faces – it was personal. They hated her. They hated her family. But why?

CHAPTER 16
T HE U NDERGROUND R EPORTERS
M ARCH 1941
    In Budejovice, as elsewhere in Europe, the radios blasted speeches from Adolf Hitler on a regular basis. Hitler proclaimed that the Jews were evil and had to be eliminated. Many German people were easily persuaded to follow this mesmerizing leader, who promised wealth and better working opportunities during a difficult time – as long as the Jews were kept in their place. Besides, those who did not support Nazi policies were in danger of being arrested. Newspapers were also full of articles that blamed Jews for the war, for poverty, even for poor farming conditions. Citizens all over Europe were encouraged to turn against their Jewish neighbors and friends, or risk punishment themselves.
    On the streets of Budejovice, Nazi soldiers were always on patrol, and they would arrest Jews for no reason if they were found in public. German enforcers were brought into town to keep the Jews in their place. These were big,