Gretel's Diary Entry

this is my diary entry for Gretel, Bruno's sister. I hope you enjoy.

12 August 1942

Dear diary,

I hate it here! I haven't anyone to play with apart from my idiot brother,sorry I mean my dimwitted brother. His name is Bruno and hes 9,he acts like he knows everything but I’m 2 years older than him. Today he told me he had an imaginary friend called Shmuel. I was sceptical at first because he's 9 and I don't know how or when but I think he made friends with another child here. When we first got here Bruno mentioned how there were so many children and others on the side of the fence and he wished he could go over to play with them! I mean hasn’t he any brains? I mean, they're Jews! Worlds away from us.

Anyhow,here at “out-with” as Bruno calls it we have a very small house,much smaller than the one back in Berlin. We moved here when father got appointed his job to watch over the camp next door. I wish we could’ve stopped in Berlin,don't get me wrong I love father but i miss Berlin so! As I said my 3 best friends are back in Berlin and so are Bruno's. That's all Bruno goes on about these days “I miss Berlin,lets all go back,I miss Daniel,Carl and Martin” I mean we all have things we miss but we suck it up!

Shmuels diary entry

For the class novel we are reading The Boy In Striped Pyjamas. one of the tasks were to write a diary entry from Shmuels point of view. In case you didn't know Shmuel is Bruno friend from the camp.

10 August 1942

Today I was woken up by screaming. I saw a man being dragged out. I felt sorry for him. Lieutenant Kotler called for me today,I was dead scared thinking that something terrible was going to happen but surprisingly he pulled me up to a path towards a large house,I was so surprised. I walked into the kitchen and was given a cloth. “I need all these glasses polished” Lieutenant Kotler said gesturing towards a large set of glasses “and you have small enough fingers” he continued “And woe betide you if you smudge or break them”. I nodded and got to work. Halfway through the glasses Bruno walks in, ”Shmuel?? What are you doing here?” he asked, sounding astonished. “I have to polish these glasses,” I replied, not looking up. He walked over to the fridge and grabbed some chicken. I was shocked. It seems so long ago that I could just walk freely over to food. He offers me some, I ponder over it but shake my head “if he comes back he’ll be furious” I told him “who? Lieutenant Kotler? Oh don't worry about him,this is my house not his” Bruno says through his mouthful. He hands me some chicken and I was stupid enough to eat it. “You! Boy! What are you doing? You stole that food,didn't you! Don't lie to me!” Lieutenant Kotler shouts at me “You,little man. Bruno. Did he steal any food?”.he asked Bruno “He gave me some,he's my friend” I told lieutenant Kotler. He looks at Bruno "Is he your friend?” he says multiple times. “I- umm'' Bruno stammered “No,I’ve never seen him in my life” Bruno finally answers. I was shocked,Bruno lied,and now I was in big trouble with lieutenant Kotler. “Just as I thought,Shmuel you will follow me please”. I walked out shaking knowing what was coming next….

I’m not sure I'll be able to forgive Bruno,he may have been my friend but..