Rita

CRACK! THUMP! BANG! Clarissa Cohen shot up in bed to the sound of shattered glass. Heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. Someone’s in the house! Or was it just a bad nightmare? Thump. Thump. THUMP! No, someone really was in the house! Clarissa’s heart pumped so loudly that she could hear it. What will I do? She pulled the soft, wool blanket around her, and shivered in fear. CRASH! A door nearby slammed open. A blood-curdling scream filled the air, ringing Clarissa’s ears. Her little sister, Alana. She was only six years old. The sound of something smashing erupted, with a horrifying booming sound. Clarissa ran for the ghostly white door to see what was happening, but before she reached it, it broke open with a great BANG! A man the size of a bear stormed in.

“Mama! Papa!” Clarissa cried. She scrambled toward the bed and clawed at the sheets, but the arms were too strong. They pulled Clarissa furiously across the bed and threw her on the ground. Then, he picked the mattress up with one hand, and flung it on the wall. He stomped toward the wooden desk, and slammed the emerald colored lamp on the ground- Crishhhh…

“Help!” Someone cried from the hallway followed by high-pitched screaming.

“Moomy, Poopy!” Clarissa heard her baby sister, Jolina cry. Clarissa dashed for the door, but the man yanked her by her nightgown and dragged her along the dusty uneven floor toward the front door.

“No, NO!” Clarissa screamed, thumping at the mans dirt covered shoes. The man tossed Clarissa into the tiny, paint scented living room. Her hands searched around the room, like a lighthouse searching for a missing boat. She found a pair of tiny, sweat covered hands. “A-Alana?” Clarissa stuttered. The faint yellow lights flickered on. In front of her, Clarissa saw her sister's face drowned with tears and snot, and her mother, father, and her baby sister, Jolina huddled together.

“Clarissa!” Her mother cried, “Alana!” She stretched out for them, but a man banged his nightstick on the ground and her mother retreated back. Looking up, Clarissa saw Adolf Hitler’s ‘storm troopers’ standing in a cluster of dust, sweat, and garbage. Disgusting, she thought. A ‘storm trooper’ cleared his throat.

“Under the Nazi law, Hitler has ordered the Cohen family to leave Germany within 8 months.” He said, “If you choose to not leave, the Nazis will be forced to put your family in the concentration camp of Berlin, Germany.” Clarissa’s father gasped, while her mother cried tears of fear and sorrow. The ‘storm troopers’ nodded, and made way for the door. After the ‘storm troopers’ were well out of sight, Clarissa’s mother grasped for her and Alana, and huddled them tight until morning.

Six months later…

“Elisa! Elisa!” Clarissa’s Father cried, crashing into the house, “Did you see the

message?”

Clarissa’s mother looked up from washing dishes, hands unmovable.

“What- what message, Adam?” Clarissa’s mother asked, “What happened? did something bad happen?”

“Sumtung bad hapi?” Baby Jolina echoed. Clarissa looked up from her book and nudged Alana beside her to wake up.

“No, no, nothing bad happened!” Clarissa’s father said, “The Nazi’s have said that all Jews could escape on the MS St. Louis ship! It will take us to Cuba! Tickets are selling at the hat store!” He cried. He grabbed his wallet and dashed for the door.

As if lit up by a lamp, Clarissa’s mother cried, “Clarissa, Alana! Get your dresses ready and shoes on! Hurry!” Clarissa and Alana jumped up and cantered for their rooms. They yanked their prettiest dresses on and stuffed their feet in their black leather shoes. Is this real? Clarissa thought as she pulled her dress over herself. Are they really letting us out of Germany? What if we can’t afford the tick- “Clarissa! Hurry up! Alana’s already ready!” Clarissa’s mother yelled from the front door, interrupting her thoughts. Clarissa ran for the door, and Clarissa, Alana, her mother, and Jolina in her mother’s arms dashed out of the house.

A week later...

“Clarissa! Alana! Get your dresses on and meet us at the front door!” Clarissa’s mother called, “You don’t want to miss the ship!” From her room, Clarissa looked out the crystal clear window and sighed. She would really miss her home. But, she cleared all her thoughts and focused on her new life in Cuba.

“Last one at the door’s a rotten egg!” Alana called from her room.

“Get ready to rot!” Clarissa teased. She pulled on her black shoes and dress, and scrambled to the door. To her surprise, she found Alana twirling at the front door like she was a princess.

“Do you mean you’re ready to rot?” Alana teased. Hearing the chaos from her room, Clarissa’s mother called angrily,

“Girls, stop playing! Did you get your luggage ready?”

“Wuggage weady,” Jolina repeated in her tiny cute voice.

“Yes mama,” Clarissa and Alana said, clumsily. Clarissa’s mother and father walked over with Jolina in her tiny cute ruffled dress, sucking her thumb.

“We don’t want to be late! Come on!” Clarissa’s father said. He rushed out without a word. Clarissa took one last glance the tiny, brown house that had been hers for all her life, and followed.

At the underground subway, Clarissa and her family quickly paced across the gray, scratchy floor.

“Mama, I’m tired,” Alana whined, clumsily. Clarissa sighed, Alana was always whining.

“We’re almost there.” Mama responded quickly. SCREEEEEEECH!!! A subway screeched to a stop.

“Hurry!” Papa cried, running to the stop. They ran to the subway and stormed in.

“Jewish rats,” Clarissa heard from behind her as she barely tripped on the stairs. She looked behind her and saw a Nazi police staring at her Star of David armband. She glanced at her sister, and sure enough, she had heard it too.

“Clarissa! Is that you?” A familiar voice called from the right side of the subway car. Clarissa glanced beside her. Her eyes widened as wide as ever, and she gasped.

“Rita! Is it really you?” Clarissa cried. Tears of joy flooded from her eyes, as she struggled through the crowd to her best friend.

“Are you leaving Germany too?” Rita said, a bit too loudly across the subway car. When Clarissa and Rita reached each other, they instantly wrapped each other in a big, joyful hug. Clarissa smelt the scent of sweet, soft roses. Even though they looked so different, Clarissa being tall, with big blue eyes and long brown hair, and Rita was brown eyed, blonde haired and short, they were the bestest friends ever.

“Yes, I’m leaving Germany!” Clarissa answered. “This ride isn’t going to be as boring as I thought!”

As the subway arrived at the ship 5 hours later, Clarissa’s father flew out of the exit, banging into the metal door of the subway with a loud CLANG!

“We’re here!” Clarissa’s father exclaimed. Rita’s family, and Clarissa’s family scurried out of the doors, and gasped. In front of them was an enormous ship- The MS St. Louis ship.

“Is that what we’re riding on?” Clarissa said, shocked.

“I think I’m going to faint.” Rita joked.

“I think I’m going to die!” Rita’s older brother, Jacob insisted, excitingly. He had just turned 14, while Rita and Clarissa were only 10. After a minute of staring and admiring the ship, the families continued on their way to the entrance.

“Tickets please! Tickets please!” A gray haired policeman said to the hundreds of Jews getting ready to board the ship. As the two families neared the policeman, Clarissa recognized him immediately. He was the one who called her a Jewish rat! Clarissa ducked behind her mother as Rita’s father, Mr. Wagner gave the man the tickets.

“Room 187, Deck 1, the hallway leading to the dance room.” A nearby policeman said to Mr. Wagner. “Room 186, Deck 1, the hallway leading to the dance room.” The policeman said to Clarissa’s father. Clarissa and Rita gasped.

“We’re next door neighbors!” Clarissa cried, as the two families wandered to their rooms.

It had been a month since the Wagner’s and Cohen’s had boarded the ship.

“Attention everyone! A news meeting is in the dance room! Please send one passenger per family unit to listen to the news!” An overhead speaker announced.

“Adam, can you go?” Clarissa’s mother asked. Without saying a word, Clarissa’s father rushed out of the door. Somehow, Clarissa felt as if this was bad, bad news.

A little while later…

“This is a disaster!” Rita cried, “We got turned back by both Cuba and America!” The two friends were in the dance room, alone.

“I know! Now we’re heading back to Europe! What will we do!” Clarissa responded.

Suddenly, Mrs. Wagner came crashing into the room, “Clarissa! Rita! It’s bedtime! Hurry up and go!” Rita checked the grandfather clock in the dusty, and old corner.

“But it’s only 3:17! In the afternoon! Why?” Rita asked.

“Just go! Now!” Mrs. Wagner demanded sharply. Sadly, the two girls strutted out of the room. As Clarissa reached her room, she saw that her parents and sisters were already asleep. This is so weird. She thought. Did something happen? Clarissa quietly sat on the bed she shared with Alana, unable to sleep.

“Get up!” Clarissa’s mother whispered, just as Clarissa thought she fell asleep. Alana was softly shaking her head.

“Ugh… why so early?” Clarissa moaned. But she got up like she was told. It was pitch black, and the full moon was shining ever so brightly. The stars twinkled like little jewels in the sky, and there wasn’t a hint of a cloud. Without warning, Clarissa’s father dragged the family out with their luggage.

“Where are we going? And why do we have our luggage?” She whispered, so confused.

“Shhhhhh…” Her mother quieted her. Even her baby sister was quiet. Everything was quiet. The only sounds were the soft waves splashing against the ship- splish, splash! They tiptoed past the rooms of the other Jews, and stopped near a rack with several lifeboats. Clarissa was about to ask why they were there, but she shushed herself.

“5142,” Clarissa’s father whispered into the dark. “Are you guys there?” After a while, four shadows walked out behind a lifeboat and came up to them.

“Are you guys ready?” A familiar voice said.

“Yes, you have your luggage right?” Her father replied. Without answering, the shadow and Clarissa’s father took the biggest lifeboat off the rack and heaved it toward the gate. As the remaining three shadows followed, the bright moon lit up their faces.

“Rita!” Clarissa gasped. She silently jogged over and took her friends’ hand.

“Clarissa!” Rita responded, “What do you think we’re doing?” Before Clarissa could respond, Jacob shushed them. Splash! The lifeboat nearby dropped into the dark sea, spraying water on their shoes.

“We’re ready!” Clarissa’s father called to them. The families strolled over, every one of them going slowly and cautiously.

“Why are they going so slowly?” Clarissa asked Rita.

“We’re going to jump in the lifeboat now! Who would want to go first?” Jacob responded instantly. Now Clarissa was even more confused. What on Earth were they doing? Clarissa reached the gate, peered over and watched the lifeboat bob up and down. The stars glimmered and spun around on the sea surface, like dancing flames.

“Okay, who’s going first?” Mr. Wagner asked. No one responded. No one wanted to go first. It was just too scary. BWEEP! BWEEP! BWEEP! An overhead speaker erupted.

“Attention! There is a family out on the the rear of Deck 1! Policemen, please go check what is happening on the rear of Deck 1! Again, there is a family out on the rear of Deck 1! Policemen, please go check what is happening on the rear of Deck 1!”

“Hurry!” Mr. Wagner cried. As if struck by lightning, everyone rushed to the gate and one by one, eagerly crawled over and jumped into the lifeboat. The sound of pounding feet echoed across the deck.

“The police are coming!” Clarissa shouted as she held on tightly to Rita’s hand.

“Jump!” Rita cried, “One, two, three!” The best friends soared through the air, the air whistling against their ears. For what seemed like forever, they finally landed on the lifeboat.

“Rita! Clarissa!” Mr. Wagner said, “Get here to the front of the boat! You don’t want to get smushed by people flying off the deck!” Clarissa and Rita quickly pulled themselves over the benches and plopped down on the third bench. There were a total of six benches.

“Alana? Mama? Papa? Jolina? Are you here?” Clarissa called into the darkness.

“Clarissa!” A pair of tiny arms surrounded Clarissa into a tight hug.

“Alana! Where are Papa and Mama? And Jolina?” Clarissa muffled into her ear. She felt the soft rocking of the boat, as if she was a baby in a crib, and someone was trying to comfort her.

“Papa’s here! But Mama and Jolina…” Alana said nervously. Instantly, Clarissa looked back at the ship. Relieved, she saw her mother and Jolina flying through the air, huddled in a ball. Thump! Her mother and Jolina landed at the end of the boat, dangerously shaking the boat.

“Clarissa,” Her mother cried as she crawled to the fourth bench, “are you alright?” Before she could answer Clarissa heard a scream from the deck.

“Get back here! Now!” A policeman yelled.

“Is that a police? What about Jacob!” Rita yelled anxiously, “Jacob!” Clarissa saw a ball of black and red tumbling through the air. Jacob landed at the rear of the lifeboat, groaning.

“Jacob!” Mrs. Wagner cried, “What happened?” But Jacob just lay there, groaning. Mrs. Wagner rushed over the benches, barely stepping on Clarissa’s pinkie. Mrs. Wagner quickly sat down and checked for what happened to Jacob. Suddenly, there was a cry.

“The police shot at me, and they got my arm!” Jacob whimpered. Mrs. Wagner quickly wrapped his arm in a bandage and sat beside him, nervously.

“Drop the boat! Get them!” A police shouted from the ship.

“Row! Row the oars!” Clarissa’s father cried. Clarissa grabbed an oar and rowed with all her might, keeping a steady beat with the rest of the group. Ping! Ping! Ping! Gunshots exploded around them.

“Get them! We can’t let them get away!” A police officer shouted from the boat behind them. But the two families were too fast. The shouts of the police slowly drifted away, and the families relaxed. Everyone was safe. Everyone was here. Everyone survived- the night.

After sleeping for a few hours, Clarissa woke up to Rita violently shaking her up. She anxiously sat up and looked around. Her mother was shushing her baby sister from screaming, and everyone else was using buckets to scoop seawater out of the boat. The wind howled ever so loudly.

“Clarissa! Help scoop!” Rita yelled. Clarissa instantly grabbed a nearby bucket and started scooping. Her muscles ached from rowing the boat last night, but she urged her muscles on. But even though both families were scooping furiously, the seawater seemed to be winning.

“We’re drowning!” Clarissa cried, as she threw a bucketful of water into the aqua blue sea. Already half of the boat was under the water. With a sudden force, the boat pulled under, but didn’t sink- it flipped. Everyone went tumbling into the sea, including Clarissa’s mother and baby sister.

“Help!” Rita cried. Chaos was everywhere, the wind was blowing wildly, no one could be heard, and ‘everyone’ was frantically swimming toward the flipped boat- except for Rita. She didn’t know how to swim. “Clarissa! Jacob! Help!” Rita cried, gulping up a mouthful of seawater, but the wind blew her cries away.

After everyone heaved the lifeboat up, calmed down, and finding out that they lost all the luggage, they started to row again.

“Start rowing everyone!” Mr. Wagner said. Obediently, Clarissa started rowing.

“That was a disaster!” Clarissa said to ‘Rita’. No answer came. Clarissa glanced beside her, and noticed Rita wasn’t there.

“Rita! Where’s Rita!” Clarissa cried. Everyone looked around, but she was nowhere in sight. “Oh no,” Clarissa wailed, “Rita doesn’t know how to swim!” She peered into the distance, but only saw blue, blue, and more blue. No Rita in sight.

“Oh, my Rita!” Mrs. Wagner sobbed.

“Rita! Rita! RITA!” Jacob called into the distance. The only answer was the waves splashing around. Suddenly a figure bobbed up from the distance. The families rowed toward the figure, slowly and sadly. As they lifted the figure up, they noticed that she had short blonde hair, slim arms, and a tiny body. It was Rita.

“She didn’t… she didn’t… drown did she?” Clarissa whispered. She felt sick. She felt lonely. She felt like she wasn’t a friend at all. She sobbed quietly into her hands, and thought of all her adventures with Rita. Now she’s gone. She thought. My best friend forever.

After a quiet and sad praying for Rita, everyone rowed silently. No one talked for hours of rowing. a bright, blinding light glimmered in the distance.

“What’s that?” Alana asked, gloomily. As they neared the land, they saw a sign, reading ‘Miami.’

“Miami!” Clarissa’s father exclaimed. “We’re here!” But Clarissa was in no mood at all. If only Rita was here. She thought. She was so close to seeing Miami! The family rowed up to the shore and set their feet on the soft, thin sand. Land, at last.

The two families were welcomed into the country, with a lot of paperwork and Clarissa got entered into the fifth grade.

“Write a story about yourself.” The teacher told Clarissa. So Clarissa wrote the story, Rita, for her family, the Wagner family, and her bestest friend ever- Rita.