13Chapter 18- School Assignments
A/N: Short I know, but I have a idea that will be in the next chapter of this as this chapter has a cliffhanger and I am having slight writer's block on how to proceed. I want Stryker to show up in future chapters, but how to do it is a difficult question as I don't know where yet.
The next few months passed swiftly. Amanda got used to the school and being a Xavier as time passed. Granted, she still wasn't sure if she loved Charles and Moira, but it was getting easier with each day to remember them and that she had loved them at one time. Her father was a strict person, but under all that stern demeanor Amanda could see a man who truly loved her, David, and their mother very much. It was the eyes that gave him away, to be followed by a gentle smile.
One day in November, Amanda was sitting in her father's study, her homework in front of her. Her father sat at his desk, going over what amounted to mountains of paperwork. She had just finished some algebra equations when she looked up to see her father looking at her with a warm look in his blue eyes. "What, Dad?" Amanda asked.
"Nothing, love. Just watching you do homework. Do you need me to explain the math problems to you?" Charles asked.
"No, not really. Uncle Hank explained them and with my memory as it is, do you think I forgot? And I just finished them," Amanda said as Amanda picked up her history book and prepared to write an essay on rationing during the second World War..
"I see, but if you do need me to explain a problem I am here," Charles said as he wheeled his chair to her. He reached over and gently pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.
"This one I may need Uncle Erik for as it's an essay on rationing during World War II. Everything was rationed if "The Diary of Anne Frank" and "Back Home" by Michelle Magorian was anything to go by, but those books are set in the Netherlands and England, not America," Amanda said.
"I do believe he is here today, love. He comes to visit Peter," Charles said. Amanda stood up and followed her father to the parlor where Erik was with Peter.
"Charles. Hello, Amanda," Erik said by way of greeting.
"Hello, old friend. Amanda needs your help with a history project she is working on. Can you help her?" Charles asked.
"Of course I can. What do you need?" Erik asked after Amanda gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Uncle Erik, we are studying World War II in my history class and we have been assigned essays on an aspect of that time and I have rationing. I was kinda wondering if you can tell me what rationing was like in the Nazi-occupied countries. I only have "The Diary of Anne Frank" to go on and "Back Home" by Michelle Magorian and that's a fictional book about how rationing affected a girl in England after the war," Amanda said.
"Interesting topic, but it was worse in Europe as everything we could have used went to the Nazis. Everything from rubber to sugar was rationed. My father complained because he couldn't have his cigarettes," Erik said.
"That may not be so terrible as Abba says no one should smoke cigarettes anyway. Sooner or later people will find out those things will kill you," Amanda said dryly.
"You sound like my mother. She said the same thing," Erik said just as dryly.
"Your Ima sounded like a wise woman. So let's get started," Amanda said as they sat down and she opened her notebook to a blank page, her pen poised to write.
"First question. what part of Europe did you come from before the war?" Amanda asked.
"I was born in Germany and was deported to Poland with my family," Erik said.
"Okay. When did rationing start in Germany?" Amanda asked.
"1939 after the war started," Erik said.
"Was rationing worse on people like you and me who are Jewish?" Amanda asked.
"Technically, you aren't Jewish, Amanda, but yes. We weren't fit to live. Aryans had the priority over all the best foods," Erik said.
"Well explain that to my head and the fact that I sometimes think in Hebrew," Amanda said, rolling her eyes before a sharp pain stabbed her in the head.
