Nice to see you again Jane

The bar was busy. Russell settled in a corner booth and looked at his watch. It was 2.00 pm. Russell mused to himself,

“Will she remember me? I hope so, however in a way I also hope she remembers very little of our childhood”

The bar in down town Paris allowed smoking. Russell opened his ‘Benson and Hedges’ cigarettes and inhaled deeply on the tobacco. Jane wasn’t there yet. This time delay gave Russell a chance to think to himself,

“Its 1981 now its been 36 years since I last saw her. I know she is well. My private detective tracked her down. Will this meeting go ok? God I hope so”

The heavy door to the bar opened. Jane walked in and surveyed the bar. Three young guys were arguing about the latest rugby result between France and New Zealand. The bar was huge for such a run down part of Paris. All Jane had to go on was a hand written piece of paper saying,

“My client wants to meet you in the ‘Orange Tree bar’ at 2.00pm on Saturday”

Normally Jane wouldn’t entertain such a mysterious note but something told her to turn up. Russell stubbed out his cigarette and froze! It was Jane no mistaking it, it was Jane. His stomach almost fell out. It was way too late to back out now. Russell stood up and slowly made his way through the crowded bar. Time ages people but the sense of belonging and love will never ever fade.

Russell stopped two feet behind Jane. He then very gently tapped her shoulder. With a shaky voice Russell said,

“ Hi Jane can I buy you a drink?”

Jane ran her left hand through her dark auburn hair and said,

“ I guess you’re the client?”

Russell replied,

“Yes Jane”

Jane wrinkled her brow and said,

“How do you know my name? something is going on here I don’t know about?”

Russell motioned to the booth and said,

“Lets go over there its more private Jane”

Reluctantly Jane sat opposite Russell in the small booth. There was a silence then Jane said,

“There is something very familiar about you? Have we met before?”

Russell took out his cigarette packet and turned it towards Jane. She said,

“No thank you I don’t smoke”

Jane looked into space and said out loud,

“What’s you’re name?”

Russell told her and that only confused her memory more. Russell said,

“What’s the last thing you remember when you were only 5?”

Jane was starting to get confused and annoyed,

“Umm I don’t know some sort or holiday camp or boot camp. Why all this cloak and dagger crap?”

Russell leaned back in the booth and said,

“There is no easy way of saying this, I’m your brother!”

Jane leaned forward and studied Russell closer. Then she threw herself back on her side of the booth and said,

“Jesus yes you are aren’t you”

Russell replied,

“Yes Jane I am your older brother. That wasn’t a boot camp we were in it was ‘Auschwitz!”

Tears flowed down Jane’s cheeks. She shook uncontrollably. She managed to say through her sobs,

“Mum and Dad, where are they?”

Russell dreaded this question but truth was his only option,

“Their dead Jane they were gassed by the Nazis in 1945. I blocked out the memory too it was only through hypnotism that I recalled the heinous crimes we suffered”

Jane extended her hand and they held hands in silence. Russell said,

“There are two guards from Auschwitz still alive and I am going to find them and blow their brains out!”

Jane nodded and said,

“Fine I’m coming with you, where do they live”