Grandma
Joe Amster
The warm plush blanket nudged her awake,
And she was greeted by the crisp Berlin air
Her father already out the door to run his textile business,
Her three sisters scrambled to get ready for school
Their mother rolled up a newspaper to shoo them
From the shelves they had turned into a gym
Dresses on and hair done, they finally appeared
Presentable for the prestigious German day
Everyone gathered around Hanni,
The center of gravity,
While they spoke in excited but hushed tones
About the boys they’d met in their youth group that weekend
When Hanni walked into the classroom
The teacher stomped up and down, waited expectantly
Instinctively, Hanni grabbed her pencil with her left hand
Only to be stung by the new ruler
The class moved on yet the teacher did not
She stared at Hanni’s unwavering gaze,
Her stained heritage and determined look
Teacher and student locked in a battle of wills
Will could win the battle but not the war
The gaggle of girls skipped home victoriously
When Hanni walked into her house
Her packed bags and these memories were all she would see
Joe Amster writes, “I am currently a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences with an undeclared major but am hoping to major in Psychology and plan to graduate in the spring of 2023. I’m from West Orange, New Jersey where I grew up in the orthodox Jewish community. Fall 2021 was my first semester at Rutgers after having transferred from a Jewish university in the city. I am very thankful to be here.”