Author's Note: Many people have been confused.
I came to the grocery store parking lot. Mandelina kept staring at me the whole way there. When we pulled into my personal parking space I took out the shopping list that was tucked in the pocket of my slip. With a big smile I handed the list to Mandelina. She smiled, but not with her eyes. "Would you like to come in with me?" she asked.
"Juden! Juden!" the children on the street cried as I ran home from the lyceum. They all stared and laughed at me. Their mothers shooed them inside. I could feel their glares follow me home. It was as if the yellow star had burned its way through my blouse and engraved itself on to my skin.
"Aunt Patty?" Mandelina said, pulling me back into reality. "No, that's quite alright," I said, patting her arm. "I'll stay here."
Mandelina got out and walked to the front of the store but turned around, as if to make sure I wasn't going to take off. I waved and with an uncertain look on her face she entered the store.
Mandelina was my great-niece. My niece and nephew-in-law died when she was 8 and she was left in my possession. It was a difficult decision. I had already been having my flashbacks. She was a great joy in my life, but after a while it was as if she was taking care of me. She was only 14 and she could do the things I learned to do when I was 20.
Mandelina returned from the store carrying an armload of paper bags. I got out of my old 1970's convertible to open the trunk. As Mandelina lowered the groceries, 2 oranges fell on to the street. "Oh well, I'll go buy new ones." "No, no, they're fine . . . see?" I said. I bent over and brushed the dirt off of one of them. She smiled.
-msof57
