Ester Pokorná

“One of the guards liked me, when I had my hands in my pockets because it was cold, when we were always walking, he gave me his hand, what a schmuck, yeah, humiliating. They probably made fun of later in the pub.” – “Can you remember any other adventures?” – “Yeah, some, like when they did the amnesty test: Get dressed fast, pack your stuff, and get out. And then immediately you had to get undressed again. Some of the Gypsies didn’t even bother with it and I did it all earnestly.” – “So, they teased you, that it was amnesty?” – “Yeah, they did, and not only us Witnesses, there weren’t any others there, I was I was alone, but everyone. I can’t remember. Thank God. They wouldn’t give me my medicine there. My teeth were fine, my back didn’t hurt – I managed. I was wet all day long, I worked in the fields in autumn, everything was wet. Even my work clothes were soaked through. But I didn’t get sick often. I know that Jirka sent me patches for back pain and they didn’t let me keep them. They were happy when Mr. Pokorný would send something. Most of all, even though I had a family, they were writing me, they wouldn’t let me have the letters, so I had no idea. I only read them, but then I cried because I didn’t get anything from the packages, just the letters, but some people there didn’t have anybody at all. Whenever I’d get a package, they eat it all up, but it was supposed to be mine.”

“I only remember that they wanted to sign some card for Stalin. And I didn’t do it. And they, the whole class, screamed at me: ‘Let them tremble in fear, the agitators!’ That’s how it was, the kids went with the crowd.” – “And why didn’t you sign it?” – “It was for his birthday, we don’t celebrate birthdays, nor Christmas, I can’t even remember anymore what actually happened.” – “It was something that your faith didn’t observe?” – “Yes. They called my mom. She came and they explained what had happened."