Oceanside – A Story of the Mexican Jewish Community <Fiction> (442 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 1 on 2 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Drop It Like It's Disgusting<likeafallingbomb.at.gmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-11-17 02:21:42 EST
Oceanside - A Story of the Mexican Jewish Community.
"Ladino, let me see a picture of your wife man!" Kusho blurted this out while digging through his fellow cellmates many letters and pictures.
"Hey essay - you touch them and die!" Ladino was counting the many cracks on the wall, for the hundredth time. He was an 18 year old criminal, the youngest in his family. Oh, how impressed they were. But it wasn't his fault - how could he have known that breaking bottles behind buildings could get you 1 year in Oceanside Valley Prison? He knew the real reason though. "The Pigs, man." That's how Kusho would've said it. Ladino still remembered that day like it was birthday. The German Police beat him and Kusho, who was 19, and took them to this place. That's when everybody began to disappear.
"If they win this war, son... we will all be dead." That's the last thing Ladinos father ever said to him. Later that day the war was declared over, America gave in to an unconditional surrender. The next morning Ladinos father was gone. Yet his father is in this prison somewhere - the whole Mexican Jewish community was here. It was like a big orange-suited party. Ladino's classmates, neighborhood friends, and teachers - they were all here. The damn Germans put them here. Kusho finally found the picture he was looking for, and turned over on his bed, his backside was the only visible thing to Ladino. Today was purim - but do you think anybody remembered? Do you think anybody cared?
There was supposed to be a transfer today, from block C to block D. The jail guards had been going at it day through night. They transferred block A to block D, then block B to block D - that place under the tunnel must be huge. Ladino remembered Monday seeing the whole of block A going into that small tunnel, which was visible from all cells. The tunnel was only wide enough for two men to squeeze through, but the Germans were putting 3 each through. Then as soon as everybody was in - a metal door would close behind them. Three hours later it would be opened, and the jail guards would be ready for more people to come through. They had selected the strongest and smarted men to help them work. Ladino was hoping his father was one of those they choose.
German was being spoken over the loudspeaker. Ladino guessed that it was block C's transfer time. He was right. Soon he was hearing inmates cells being opened up. Soon it was Ladino and Kusho's turn. They stepped out of the cell and into the mud colored hallway. "Strip down." The German guard was the largest man he'd ever seen. They stripped, just like all the other members of their fellow community. The guard spoke in a rush of German, and now him and 3 of his workers were prodding Kusho with their big batons. One of them mumbled "Gut", and Kusho was gone. Where are they taking him?!?
Ladino turned to chase after the guards who took the only friend he had left, but was hit. Repeatedly the baton slammed on his ear. Ladino could feel the blood dripping down his neck, slowly soaking his orange jumpsuit. They picked him up and dragged him towards the front of the line. He was now in front of the tunnel entrance. He could see people moving their mouths, but he could not hear him. Nothing made any sound, Ladino was deaf. He stood in line as well as he could, occasionally swinging from side to side. The guards began to escort the first few people of block C. They walked about 50 paces, then the door towards the end of the tunnel began to close. Ladino could now see that it was a foot in width, impenetrable.
The ceiling had only two dimly lit lights, but Ladino could see perfectly. His shoes were covered in some liquid, like a smooth milkshake. Like blood...it was blood. What is this all over the floor, the walls? Red mess sparkling off the walls; it was everywhere. The ceiling, the walls, even the lights had red mess splattered. What was going on here? Why is there blood... the people in the front of the line began crowding to the back. Ladino was knocked over and was unable to get back up. He looked up, but the light shone in his eyes. No, not light. He couldn't tell what this was. It was like a strobe so rapid. All around him people were falling down, splashing blood all over the place. Sound started coming back to his ears. Piercing sounds... the strobe flashed his eyes now. Brighter, and brighter, and brighter. Then he understood. Was this the light of the tunnel? It enveloped him within seconds as he fell to his knees. Is this the end? The bright lights...they wiped everything away this time.
The End.
User Reviews
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-11-17 19:33:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
This could have been a lot better had you put a little more thought into it...try again.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-17 05:31:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
It's a lot like Allahtown and I don't believe in Jewish Mexicans.