#1

Pray
Exposition

Myfatherjustlooksatmewithwideopeneyesandastrictface,henods.
Inthatmoment,myheartshattersandmyeyesfillupwithsadness.Mynameis
Elsa.Iama13-year-oldGerman.Mybestfriend,Hannah,isJewish.Myfather,
EmmettjustgotpromotedfromtheGermanarmytoamainSSofficer.Idon’texactly
knowwhatthatmeans;itisabigdealforhimthough.InBerlin,peoplearealways
criticizingJews.Idon’tgetit,Imean,whatdidtheydowrong?AsIwalkwith
Hannahtotheschoolweattend,AlbertusMagnusSchule,theGermanarmymarches
downthestreetwewalk.
Hannahlooksatmeandasks,“Whyaretheyhere?”
Herfacelooksscaredandshegoespale.
Ireply,“Don’tworry,it’sprobablynothing.”
Iwaswrong.
Whenwegottoschoolandsatinourseats,theschoolintercomwasturned
onandaboomingvoicesaid,“GutenTag.”
“Goodday,”weallrespondwith.
Thenewscasterspeaksagain.“AdolfHitler,leaderoftheNationalSocialist
Party,hasbeenswornintoofficeasthenewchancelloroftheReich!”
Iamcompletelyshocked.Almosteveryoneintheroom,includingmyteacher,
standsupandcheers.
H
THeHitlerYouthchant,“​eil​Hitler”andtheyclap.ThefourJewsoutof
thirtystudentssitintheirchairs,notmovingamuscle.
IlookoveratHannahandthenaHitlerYouthcomesovertoherandsays,
“Finally!ThisschoolyardwillbeJudenfrei!”
Jew-free.Igivehimalookofhate.IlookbackatHannah.Hercheeksare
redandasingletearstreaksdownherface.
Atthesametime,theGermanarmymarchdownthe
Heil​Hitler”!Witheverystomp
schoolcornershouting,“​
oftheirfeet,myheartpoundsandIpraytoGodthat
nothingbadwillhappentoHannah.
 #2
​
The Notes
Inciting Incident

AweekpassesandIamthinkingthatGOdhasansweredmyprayer;that
nothingbadwillhappentoHannah.Ihavetowalktoandfromschoolalonebecause
ifIwalkwithHannah,theywilltearusapartforgood.Idon’tseeitasabig
dealbecauseIknowIgettoseeheratschool.But,whenIgottoschool,Hannah
wasn’tthere.Ilookedaroundtheclassroomandnoticedthatthreeotherseatsare
empty.ThoseemptyseatsarewherethefourJewishstudentssit.IgopaleandI
walkuptotheteacher's’deskinahurry.
“WhereareHannah,Rachel,Noah,andAbraham?”Iamshaking;mymindis
racing.Myteacher’sfaceisaghastatmyquestion.
“Whatdoyoucare?Jewsarenogood!Theywenttoadifferentschool,a
schoolonlyforJews.Hooray!”
Hersmirkalmostmakesmecower.Iwalkbacktomydeskhopingthatthis
wholesituationdoesnotbecomeevenmorevolatile.
Iwakeupinthemiddleofthenightwithabrilliantidea.Whatifthereis
anotherwayofcommunicationbetweenHannahandme;likenotes.Kidsatmyschool
arealwayspassingnotessecretly.Sometimes,itisabouttheJewishstudentsin
ourclass.Whenthenotescometome,Itearitupandwalktothetrashcan.Ifind
thosenotescarelessandrude.Anyways,asIlayinbed,Ithinkofaplacetopass
noteswithoutanyoneelsefindingthem,exceptforHannahandme.
“Ofcourse!”Isayoutloud.Theplacethatwewillpassnotesisbythe
brickwallwhereIwalktoschoolandHannahwalksfromschoolbackhome.Weend
schoolatdifferenttimes,soIwilldropmynotewhenIwalktoschoolandHannah
willreadmineanddropoffhernoteafterherschoolends.Wecanhidethenotein
aloosebrickthatInoticedacoupleofdaysago.Thisisouronlywayof
communicationnow;Ihopeitwillbefun.IhavetotellHannahrightnow.Itwould
wakeherup,butifItellhernowthenwecansstarttomorrowmorning.Ipickup
thephoneandIrealizethatIcouldgetintobigtroubleforthis.Germansand
Jewsshouldn’tevenmakeeyecontactnow.Ontheotherhand,Hannahismybest
friendandIdon’twanttoloseher.Imadeupmymind.Idialherhomephoneand
shepicksupratherquickly.
“Hello?”
Shesaysthisverycuriously.
“Hi!Okay,Iamgoingtomakethisquick.”
Itellherthewholeplanandshesoundsskittishatfirst,butthenshe
sayssheisreallyexcited.Ouradventureawaits!
WhenIwakeupthenextmorning,Iracedowntothekitchendressedand
readytoeatwhenIhearmyfathershouting,“HeilHitler”!Imeethisgazeandall
Iseeinhisexpressionisseriousness.Idon’tseeanyemotion.Hedoesn’tsay
anythingandforasecond,Ithink,thatthefatherIloveistrulyinthere,
somewhere;theonewhousedtomakejokesandhugme.Iguessthatisgone,for
good.ItrytokeepmytearsinandItakeadeepbreath.Ieatapieceoftoast
andwalkoutofthedoor.AsIwalktoschool,IwritemynotetoHannah.

Hannah,ImissyousomuchandIhopeyouaredoingwell.Iknowthisis
reallytough,butatleastwehavethesenotes.Iamexcitedtoseewhatyouwrite
back!
From,
Elsa
Icarefullypullouttheredbrickandslidemysmallnotein.Igoto
schoolwithasmileonmyfaceandapositiveoutlookonthiswholesituation.
Afterschool,Igotothered-brickwallandIseethatmynoteisgoneand
anewnotehasbeenplacedinside.Ireadit.

Elsa,Imissyoudearly,butwhatagreatwaytokeepintouch.Idoget
treatedniceratmyschoolbytheotherstudents,butnotveryniceinpublicby
everyoneelse.Mypapa’sshoestoregotcloseddown,soweareverypoor,But,
don’tworry,westillhaveourhomeandtheloveforoneanother.Also,Ihaveyour
notes!Iamsoexcited!Tilltomorrow!
From,
Hannah
 IamsadthatHannahandherfamilyarestruggling,butItrytolookon
thepositivesideofthissituation.HannahandIstillhaveeachotherinaway
andHannahhasherfamily.Icanonlyhopetheir
strugglewillnotlastlongandthatthesenotes
willkeepHannah’sheartfullandherfaith
everlasting.

#3
Why, Father, Why
Rising Action

HannahandIarestillpassingnotes.Itisalotoffun!Wewriteaboutour
family,theschoolswegoto,andhowmuchwemisseachother.Iwalktoschooland
pickupHannah’snote.Ireadit.

​
Elsa,Iamveryscaredrightnow.SomeNazisoldierscameintomyhome
yesterdayandtookeverything.Theyleftussomefoodandonemattressformy
familyandme.IhatetheNazis,Elsa,Ijusthatethem.
From,
Hannah
IinstantlypanicandIrunhome.
Igouptomyfather’sroomandIjustyell,“Why,father,why?Whymustyou
hurttheJewsinsuchanawfulway?Mydearfriend,Hannah,isstrugglingfartoo
muchbecauseofyouandtheothers.Ihateyou,father,Ihate…”
 Myfather’sfacegrowsredandquicklyandsharplyhishandmeetsmyface
withahardslap.Myfatherjustslappedme.Myownfatherslappedmebecauseofmy
remark.Myemotionsareeverywhere.Irunoutoftheroomsobbingandincomplete
shockthatthatjusthappened.Iblindlyfindmywaytomyroom;tearsblurringmy
vision.
AsIgotoschoolnumbfromtheslap,ImissmymomandIwishshewashere
withme.However,sinceayearandahalfago,shenevergotoverthesickness.
Schoolisokay,IgotaBgradeonmymathtest.AsIwalkbackfromschool,Iwalk
togetHannah’snoteafterIseemynoteisgone.IrecentlywroteabouthowI’m
sorrythattheseterriblethingsarehappeningtoherandherfamily,andthatshe
isinmyprayers.Hannah’snotereads;

​
Elsa,aftertheNaziscameandclearedoutourhouse,theyleftbehind,
accidentally,apictureofyouandmeinmycloset.Iamholdingontoit.Imiss
youso,somuch.
From,
Hannah
Ican’thelpit,atearrunsdownmycheekandImissmyfriendmorethan
ever.AsIcontinuetowalkbackhome,Isuddenlywalkintoatallandbuiltman.I
lookupandIseethatheisaNaziofficer.
H
HeholdsanoteandIputmyhandtomyforeheadandIsay,“​eil​Hitler,”
notmeaningawordIjustsaid.
H
Theofficerrepeats,“​eil​Hitler,”withhishandonhisforehead.
HelooksfuriousandIlookbackatthenoteinhishand.
Hesays,“Whatisthis?”
ThenoteisanoteIwroteHannahafewdaysearlier;itmusthavefallen
outofthebrick.
Idon’treplyforafewseconds;theboomingvoiceoftheNazirepeats,
“Whatisthis?”
Ireplywith,“It’sanoteIwrotetomyfriendinschool.”
Thatresponsewasveryplausible.ThenotedoesnotgiveawaythatHannahis
aJew,luckily.Theofficerknowsmebecauseofmyfather.Itakeadeepbreath
whentheofficerwalksofflikenothingeverhappened.Ican’twritenotesanymore.
No​
,Ithinktomyself.Ican’tloseHannah.EventhoughIjustliedtoaNazi
officer,hebelievedit.Nothingelsebadwillhappen.Whatjusthappenedisit,
thatwastheworstthingthatcouldhappen.
Well,Iwaswrongagain.

#4
Emptiness and Piles
Climax

Afterschool,IgotogetHannah’snote.Ipulloutthebrick,butIdon’t
seeanything.Iassumethatitisalongnotethatsheiswritingorshejust
forgottowriteanote.Icontinuetowalkhome;myfatherwaitsformeathomeand
tellsmetositdown.Wehaven’ttalkedinthreedays.Idon’twanttotalktohim;
Ithinkthisishisapology,Ihope.
“IjustwantedtotellyouthatIwillbespendingafewdaysatcamp,”he
said.
That’sit?That’sallhehastosay?Heistheonewhoslappedme.Afather
shouldneverhithisdaughter,nomatterwhat.
“Youknowwhat,dad,Iamgladyou’releaving.EversinceyoubecameaNazi,
youhavetotallydisconnectedfromourrelationship.Also,youdon’tseemtosad
aboutiteither.Imisstheoldyou;Idon’tevenrecognizeyouanymore.”
Istarttogetoutofmyseatbutmyfatherstopsme.
“Elsa!Thatisnowaytospeaktoyourfather.IamsorryIslappedyou,but
Iamyourfatherandyouneedtoactlikemybehaveddaughter!”
Youneedtoactlikeagoodfather!Ihatewhatyouhavebecomebecauseof
yourjob.”
 Ateardropsdownmycheekandmyfathercomesandsitsdownnexttome;he
hugsmeandtellsmehelovesme.
“Ilovetheoldyou,father.Idon’tlikeyourjob.Youarehurtinginnocent
people!”
Suddenly,myfatherstandsup.
Heil​
“​ Hitler!”heshouts.
Myfatherlovesme,buthedoesn’tlovemeenoughformetoexpressmy
opinionabouthisjob.Ithinkhehasbeentotallybrainwashed.Thisishisnew
lifenow.Itwillneverbethesameagain.Iwalkawaysadbutnotsurprised.
Thenextday,afterschool,Hannah’snoteisstillnotthere.Now,Iam
worried;Hannahhasnevermissedadaybeforeandnowshehasmissedtwoinarow.
IstillwriteanoteaddressingthefactthatIamwaitingforaresponse.
Threemoredayspassandmynotesbegintopileup.Nonotesarereceivedto
mefromHannah.Icarefullywalkovertotheirhomeanditiscompletelyempty.
“No!”IshriekandIsprinthometoseemyfatherpackingtogotothecamp.
“WhathappenedtoHannahandherfamily?”Icrywhiletryingtospitout
words.
“Youarestillcontactingher?SheisaJew!”myfatherblurtsout.
“Father!WhereisHannahandherfamily?”Iamscreamingatthispoint.
Myfatherjustlooksatmewithwideopeneyesandastrictface,henods.
Inthatmoment,myheartshattersandmyeyesfillupwithsadness.
Hisdeafeningvoiceoverpowersminewith,“Theyweretakenawayaboutaweek
agotoaconcentrationcamp,Elsa!”
Myfatherspeaksveryslowlybutstillveryintenseinthenextsentencehe
says.
“Theyaredead,Elsa.”
Iburstintotearsandscream.Mybestfriendisgoneandisgoneforgood.
Herpreciousandinnocentlifewastakenfromher.
“I’msorry,Elsa.”
Myfatherwalksoutoftheroom.
“Noyouaren’t!Youareneversorryforhurtinginnocentpeople!”
HecontinueswalkingoutofthehouselikeIamanonentityinhisworld.I
stillshouteventhoughnoonecanhearme.
 “Hannahwasjustlikeme!Hannah,oh,Hannah…”
Ifallasleepcompletelyexhaustedbut
utterlybereaved.

#5
Rebellion
Falling Action

TherehastobeareasononwhyHannahandherfamilyweretakenaway.I
knowthatsometimestheNazistakeawayJewsfornoreasononcetheyfindthem,but
Hannahandherfamilywerehidingforquitesometime.Inmyroom,Ithinkofhow
Hannahwaswritingsuspiciouslyinhernotesbeforeshewastaken;hernoteswere
veryshortandshewaswritingabouthowscaredsheisandhowshewantstorebel
againsttheNazis.Shesaidherperspectiveonherwholelifehaschangedbecause
ofbeinglockedupandtryingtohideaway.EventhoughHannahandherfamilyare
gone,Ineedtofindoutwhytheyaregone.TheNazisusuallytrytofindareason
totakeJewsoutoftheirhomeandintoacamp;theythinkitjustifiestheiract…
itdoesn’t.Iwalktotheneighborhoodmailboxtogetthemailandtoclearmy
randomthoughtssoIcanreallyfocusonwhatHannahcouldpossiblyhavedone.
“Areyouokay,sweetie?”awomanasksnearthemailbox.Sheseesmydeeply
curiousandpaleface.
“Yes,thankyou,”Isayinaveryserioustone,notevennoticingmy
tiredandquestioningfacialexpression.
IamtoocaughtupwithHannahrightnow;Ican’tstopthinkingabout
thisuntilIfindoutwhyshewastakenaway.Atthemailbox,Ifind
somethingthatanswersmyquestion.DidHannahrebelagainsttheNazis?
 #6
The Last Note
Resolution

IstareatthenoteonthemailboxandIreadit.

StandupagainsttheNazisandHitler!Theyaretearingthiscountryapart.
IamHannahRosenbergandIamathirteen-year-oldJew.Iamproudtoannouncemy
opinionandwhereIstand.IusedtoloveGermany,ButHitlerandtheNazishave
changedmyviewandmylife.Theyseemsoindifferentaboutthiswholesituation
wheninreality,theyareruininglives.IknowIamgoingtodiesoon.ButIknow
thatIoncehadaprettygoodlife;alifewithagreatfriend,agoodhouse,anda
greatplanforthefuture.Forthat,Iamgrateful.PassthisnotearoundsothatI
knowIamnottheonlyone.Passthisnoteforyourvoicetobeheard.
SignedbyHannahR.
5/28
On5/29,Hannahandherfamilyweretakenaway.TheNaziscaughtthem.I
starttocrybecausemybestfriendstoodupforwhatshebelievedin.
Twowomenstandnearmeandtheytalktoeachother.“Igotthisnewrecipe
todayoncookies!”onewomansaysnearme.
“Oh,howfun!”
IwishtheonlythingthatIwashavingtothinkaboutwasbaking.Hannahis
thebravestpersonIknow;shedidn’tcareifshegotcaught,shejustwanted
everyonetoherfamily’sandherownopinion.Hervoicewasforgottenandignored
before,justlikealloftheotherJews.Now,hervoiceisbeingheardandmyheart
hascomealiveagain.Hannah’svoicewillneverbeforgotten;heramazingspirit
willliveoninmyeyesforeverandever.