A Son's Story (standard:drama, 1848 words)
Author: TJC	Added: Jun 30 2006	Views/Reads: 3466/2308	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A fictional piece based on actual events and people. It involves a son, a young soldier, incarcerated in a German POW camp during World War II, who is desperately trying to win his father's favor back home.

A SON'S STORY 

Colonel Brenner might seem to someone on the street be an affable,
likable man.  He smiled often and made jokes with the men under him, 
the prisoners in his camp and anyone else who might be nearby. Yakov, a 
prisoner in the camp since being captured a few weeks earlier, knew 
well that Colonel Brenner was actually a man who loved power and 
inflicting pain. During several of Yakov's more severe beatings, he'd 
seen the Colonel watching with a satisfied grin on his face.  The only 
pursuit that gave Brenner more pleasure was advancement.  As he so 
often told everyone, be they German or Russian, he was determined to 
become a General before the end of the war. 

“Yakov Dzhugashvili,  I've learned your father is a most powerful man,”
he said in perfect Russian as he took the cigarette from his mouth.  
“Is this true?” 

“Yes, Sir.......but.....we are not close.” 

Brenner's cigarette smelled wonderful to Yakov.  The office was filled
with the aroma of fine tobacco.  On the desk there were cut meats and 
sliced fruit and he did his best to keep his eyes straight ahead, 
paying no attention to things he'd not enjoyed in two years of war. It 
was impossible to keep the tantalizing fragrance from his senses, 
though, as the only smell he was used to now was the rancid odor of 
human waste in the barracks. 

“Want some food, Lieutenant?  I will give you a couple bites,” the
Colonel said.  “I know you've endured hardship here after what must 
have been a pretty nice life.” 

“No thank you, Sir.” 

“You must be hungry.  The food we provide you here is, well......not
exactly gourmet.” 

“Just wouldn't be right, Sir.” 

“My officers tell me you are incredibly strong.”  The Colonel rose from
his desk and came around and stood next to him.  Yakov felt the thick 
wool of Brenner's gray overcoat against his hand which was rigidly 
plastered against his leg as he stood at attention.  Brenner was a 
tall, thin man with a pointed nose and cruel, steely gray eyes which 
gazed with strength and intelligence.  He wore his service cap 
constantly, even inside, to hide his thinning hair.  All of the 
prisoners had heard the guards joking about it.  “They tell me they've 
given you several beatings and yet you endure and say nothing.” 

“Sir, I'm only a Lieutenant, I don't have a lot of information.” 

The Colonel laughed.  “Of course you're right, but the men need practice
for when we get someone who does have some knowledge.” 

“Sir, may I ask why I'm here?” 

The Colonel nodded and returned to his desk and sat down, taking another
long drag of the cigarette and blowing the smoke up at Yakov. 

“For the next couple days you will be kept in the barracks and will not
have to work.  We will give you a medical slip.  You will also not be 
beaten for a while.  I want you to appear fairly healthy.” 

Yakov wondered what Colonel Brenner was up to. 

“We hope to exchange you for a German commander that was recently
captured.  So you may be leaving us soon and I trust you'll remember 
the very fair treatment you received.” 

“Exchanged Sir?” 

“Yes, I've submitted my idea up the chain of command and I think they
will see the fruits of it, I'm sure.” Brenner took a strip of meat and 
wrapped it around an apple wedge and ate it slowly.  “You are to say 
nothing of this to anyone.  Clear?” 



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