A Place to Hide

Riley Shenkelburg had lived in Poland all her life, and she had always had her dreams. Riley’s dreams told her the future and warned her when lives could be at risk.

It was January of 1939 in Krakow, Poland, nearly bedtime at the Shenkelburg household, and her mother, grandparents, and Riley’s two sisters were snuggled around the fire.

“Now, children,” Mother said. “Get to bed. It’s nearly 9:30.”

“Yes, Mommy,” Riley grumbled as she led her sisters upstairs. . . .

Soon Riley was walking through an open field. She saw a man with a firm brow and a look of severe determination on his lips. Voices cried and screamed. “Go!” they shouted. “Leave while you still can!”

Suddenly the frightening soldier aimed his weapon at a girl with a Jewish star on her chest. Desperate voices continued to shout, “Leave! Flee before this happens to you!”

Riley awakened frantically and cried for her mother just as she heard a scream from across the street. Then it hit her. The neighbors, her family, nearly everyone there was a Jew! And the girl in my dream who the man was aiming at was a Jew! It all made sense. Hitler had gained power in Poland, and he hated the Jews. Jewish death was about to happen. Now.

Her mom entered the room. “A dream?” she asked.

“Yes,” Riley replied. “We must get out of here! NOW!” Riley explained their dilemma.

She and her mother quickly came up with a solution. Riley’s uncle piloted a boat to New York every week or so. Frantically, they made contact with Uncle Frank, gathered the family’s belongings. The boat would leave the next night.

The wait the following day was never ending. They heard that Nazi raids had nearly reached Krakow.

That night, the family trekked along the streets in their Aryan disguises. They sneaked onto the boat and were finally on their way to safety. Riley knew that because they had her dreams, the Shenkelburg family would never need a place to hide, even from the Holocaust.