filfiil $R*TI

PRI$0t'lER

B-1997

PRIIO}IIERUL

fi-,,087Roman bazatpe povestea adevlrati

a Iui Ruth qi a lui Jack Gruener

Traducere din limba englezl qi note

de Diana Morlraqu

i:rt Booklet)|fiction 2018

t

tg

KRAKOV, POLAND

1939-r942

Chopler One

IF I HAD KNOWN WHAT THE NEXT SIX YEARS OF MYlife were going to be like, I would have eaten more.

I wouldn't have complained about brushing my teeth, ortaking a bath, or going to bed at eight o'clock every night. I wouldhave played more.'Laughed more. I would have hugged myparents and told them I loved them.

But I was ten years old, and I had no idea of the nightmarethat was to come. None of us did. It was the beginning ofSeptember, and we all sat around the big table in the dining roomof my family's flat on Krakusa Street, eating and drinking andtalking: my parents, my aunts and uncles, my cousins, and me,

Jakob - although everybody called me by my Polish name,Yanek.

"'The Jews must disappear from Europe.'That's what Hitlersaid," Uncle Moshe said, reaching for another pastry. "I don'tknow how much more clear he could be."

I shivered. I'dheard Hitler, the German Filhrer,give speeches

on the radio. Filhrer meant "leader" in German. It was what theGermans called their president now. Hitler was always talkingabout the "Jewish menace" and how Germany and the rest ofEurope should be "Jew free." I was a Jew, and I lived in Europe,and I didn't want to disappear. I loved my house and my city.

CRACC}

DACAA$ FI $TIUT CIJMIdin via{a mea, ag fi mAncat cs

Nu m-aq mai fi plAns cetrci ora de culcare era la ora qmult, aE fi ris mai mult, mi-4spus c[ ii iubesc.

Dar aveam numai zece ani

vin[ peste noi. Niciunul dintrr

brie qi qedeam toli in jurul mmentul familiei mele din sna&plrinlii mei, unchii qi mltusiltoat[ lumea imi spunea Yand

- Eweii trebuie sI dispar

unchiul Moshe, intinzAndu-sr

nici nu cred c[ se poate.

M-am cutremurat. L-am tr

flnand discrrrsuri la radio. Frill

A"gaii spuneau acum germanii

despre,,ameninlarea eweialEuropei ar trebui s[ fie ,,fhr{rqi nu voiam s[ dispar. lmi iub

tX }EARS OF MYmore.

hing my teeth, orvery night. I wouldrhave hugged my

r of the nightmaretle beginning ofinthe diningroomand drinking and

;r cousins, and me,

my'Polish name,

That's what Hitlercr pastry. "I don't

hrer, give speeches

rn- It was what theras always talkingrn1'and the rest ofI I lived in Europe,

ree and my city.

CRACOVIA, POLONIA

r939-t942

Ccpilolul unu

DACAA$ FI $TIUT CUM AVEAU SA FIE URMATORII $ASE ANI

din viala mea, ag fi mAncat ceva mai mult.

Nu m-aq mai fi plAns c[ trebuie sd m[ sp[l pe dinti, s[ fac baie sau

c[ ora de culcare era la ora opt fix in fiecare sear[. M-ag fi jucat mai

mult, aq fi rAs mai mult, mi-aq fi imbrl1iqat mai des plrinlii Ei le-aq fispus c[ ii iubesc.

Dar aveam numai zece ani qi habar nu aveam ce cosmar avea slvini peste noi. Niciunul dintre noi nu qtia. Era inceputul lui septem-

brie qi qedeam toli in jurul mesei celei mari din sufragerie, in aparta-

mentul familiei mele din strada Krakusa, mAncAnd, bAnd qi sporovlind:

plrinlii mei, unchii Ei mltuqile, veriqorii mei Ei cu mine, Jakob - deEi

toat[ lumea imi spunea Yanek, dupl numele meu polonez.

- Eweii trebuie s[ disparl din Europa. Aqa a spus Hitler, zise

unchiul Moshe, intinzindu-se dup[ incl o chiflI. Mai limpede de atAt

nici nu cred c[ se poate.

M-am cutremurat. L-am auzit Ei eu pe Hitler, Filhrer-d german,

trnAnd discrrrsuri la radio. Fiihrer inseamnl ,,conducltor" in german[.

Aqa ii spuneau acum germanii preqedintelui lor. Hifler vorbea intruna

despre ,,ameninlarea eweiasc[" qi despre cum Germania qi restul

Europei ar trebui s[ fie ,,fbr[ evrei". Eu eram evreu, trfliam in Europa

-<i nu voiam si dispar. tmi iubeam casa qi oraqul.

,{m/'

"The British and the French have already declared war on

him," my father said. "Soon the Americans will join them. They

won't let Germany roll over all of Europe.""He's already annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia," said

Uncle Abraham. "And now he invades Poland!"

My fatirer sipped his coffee. "Mark my words: This war won'tlast more than six months."

My uncles argued with him, but he was my father, so Ibelieved him.

"Enough politics," my mother said. She got up to clear the

table, and my aunts helped her. "Yanek, why don't you put on a

show for us? He built his own projector."

I ran to my room to get it. It wasn't a film projector like the

one at the movie theater. It was a slide projector I'd made bymounting a lightbulb on a piece of wood and positioning wooden

plates with lenses from magnifyrng glasses in front of it. I could

show pictures on the wall, or do shadow-puppet shows. Mycousins helped me hang a white sheet in the doorway of the

sitting room, and when everyone was seated I plugged in the

projector and clicked on the radio. I liked to have musical

accompaniment, like a movie sound track. When the radio

warmed up, I found a Count Basie song that was perfeet and

started my show.

Using cardboard cutouts of cowboys, Indians, stagecoaches,

and horses I'd glued to sticks, I projected a shadow show about

a sheriffin the American Wild West who had to protect his town

from bandits. John Wayne Westerns were my favorite films, and

I took all the best parts from his movies and made them one big

story. My family laughed and cheered and called out to the

characters like they were real. They loved my shows, and I loved

putting them on for them. I was never prouder than when I got

my father to laugh!

- Englezii Ei francezii i-au d

curind o sl li se alIture Ei amerilde cap in toat[ EuroPa.

- A anexat deja Austria gi I

unchiul Abraham. Iar acum intt- Jineli minte ce v[ spuq d

Ista nu o s[ dureze mai mult &1Unchii meil-au contrazis, da

- Gata cu politica, spuse rnflMltuqile au s5.rit si-i dea o n- Yanek, nu wei s[ ne Pt

construit singur un Proiector, $iAm datfugain camera meaC

din acelea de la cinematograf- Fr

l-am f[cut montAnd un bec Pelpl[cule din lemn cu lentile de hrpe perete sau puteamincroPiun

ajutat s[ agil un cearqaf alb in 1s-a aqezat toat[ lumea, am @radioul. tmi pl[cea si am acmloand sonor[ a unui film. Cindnde-a lui Count Basie, Perfectlinceput spectacolul.

Folosind figurine din cartoni

diligenle Ei cai pe care le li$spectacol de umbre desPre un IsI-qi apere oraqul de bandili-

filmele mele preferate, aEa ci ilui qi am flcut din ele o singuaplauda qi striga la Personaje, dpllceau spectacolele mele, iar IPentru mine, cea mai mare mit

!re already declared war onmicans will join them. Theyhope.-I and Czechoslovakia," saidrdes Poland!"ert m1'n'ords: This war won't,

bct he was my father, so I

seid. She got up to clear theImeh *try don't you put on a

idor.'m't a film projector like ther slide projector I'd made by;ood and positioning woodengglasses in front of it. I could

F shadow-puppet shows. Mytheet in the doorway of the,ras seated I plugged in theffo. I liked to have musicalmd track. When the radioiie song that was perfect and

fto1s. Indians, stagecoaches,

*ctea a shadow show abouttrwho had to protect his townEtrteFe myfavorite films, andbvies and made them onebigIcered and called out to theyloved my shows, and I lovedrer prouder than when I got

- Englezii Ei francezii i-au declarat deja r[zboi, spuse tata. lncurfind o s[ li se allture qi americanii. Nu vor ldsa Germania s[-gi fac[

de cap in toatl EuroPa.

- A anexat deja Austria qi Cehoslovacia, interveni in disculie

unchiulAbraham. Iar acum invadeazl Polonia!

- fineli minte ce v[ spun, zise tata, sorbind din cafea. Rlzboiul

Ssta nu o s[ dureze mai mult de qase luni-

unchii mei l-au contrazis, dar era tat5l meu, aqa cd eu l-am crezut.

- Gata cu politica, spuse mama, ridicandu-se s[ strAngl masa'

Mltuqile au slrit s5-i dea o minl de ajutor.

- Yanek, nu wei s[ ne prezin]i un spectacol de-al tlu? $i-a

construit singur un proiector, qtiti?

Am dat fuga in camera mea s5.-l aduc. Nu era un proiector de fiIm,

din acelea de la cinematograf. Era un proiector de diapozitive pe care

l-am fbcut montAnd un bec pe o bucat[ de lemn qi fixind in fala lui

pllcu{e din lemn cu lentile de la cAteva lupe. Puteam proiecta imagini

pe perete sau puteam incropi un micteatru de umbre. Verii mei m-au

ajutat s[ ag[! un cearqaf alb in pragul uqii de la sufragerie Ei, dupl ce

s-a aqezat toatd lumea, am blgat proiectorul in prizl Ei am deschis

radioul. imi placea s[ am acompaniament muzical, ca un fel de co-

loanl sonor[ a unui film. CAnd radioul s-a incllzit, am gisit o melodie

de-a lui count Basie, perfect[ pentru ce-mi trebuia mie, Ei mi-am

inceput spectacolul.

Folosind figurine din carton decupate in form[ de cowboy, indieni,

diligenle qi cai pe care le lipisem de niqte be!e, am proiectat un

spectacol de umbre despre un qerif din Vestul S[Ibatic, care trebuia

sa-qi apere oraqul de bandili. Westernurile cu John Wayne erau

filmele mele preferate, aqa c[ am luat cele mai bune plrti din filmele

lui gi am flcut din ele o singur[ mare poveste. Familia mea rAdea,

aplauda qi striga }a personaje, de parcl ar fi fost oameni adevflrali. Le

pldceau spectacolele mele, iar mie imi plflcea sd le prezint in fata lor.

Pentru mine, cea mai mare mflndrie era s[-l fac pe tata s[ rad[.

Maybe one day I would go to America and work in the movies.Aunt Gizela would often ruffle my wavy hair and say, *you looklike a movie star, Yanek - with your dark-blond hair and bigeyes."

I was just getting to the part where the bandit leader robbedthe town bank and was squaring offfor a shoot-out with the herowhen the music on the radio stopped midsong. At first I thoughtthe radio's vacuum tube had blown, but then a man,s voice cameon the radio.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt this broadcast with thenews that the German army has reached Krak6w.',

"No!" myfather said."So soon?" Uncle Moshe said. "It's been only six days! Where

is the Polish army?"I came out from bdhind the sheet in the doorway to listen.

while the radio announcer talked about polish forceswithdrawingto L6dL and Warsaw, there was a big BOOM, andmy mother's teacups rattled in their saucers. My cousins and Iran to the window to look outside. Dark smoke curled into thesky over the rooftops ofpodg6rze, our neighborhood. someonecried out on the next street, and the church bells of wawelCathedral rang out in alarm.

It was too late. The Germans were here. If I had only knownthen what I know now, I would have run. I wouldn,t havestopped to pack a bag, or say goodbye to my friends, or to evenunplug myprojector. None of us would have. We would have runfor the woods outside of town and never looked back.

But we didn't, We just sat there in my family,s flat, listeningto the radio and watching the sky over Krak6wturn black as theGermans came to kill us.

Cine Etie, poate intr-o bunltfilme. Mltuqa Gizela imi ciufol

- Chiar cI ar51i ca o veddinchis qi cu ochii SEtia mari!

Tocmai ajunsesem la parforaqului qi se preg[tea pentnmuzica de la radio s-a oprit tcrezut cd a cedat tubul electrorauzit o voce de blrbat.

- Doamnelor gi domnilr;qtire de maxim[ importan{i: r

- Nu! a exclamat tata.

- A"ga de repede? spuse undzile! Unde e armata polonezil?

Am ieqit de dupl cearEafullce crainicul de la radio voriretrlgeau spre L6dZ qi Varryo

ceEcutele de ceai ale mamei an

Ei cu mine ne-am repezit Ia fude fum negru se ridica spre cercartierul nostru. De pe o strad

clopotele catedralei Wawel auiDar era prea tArziu. Nemliir

Etiu acum, aE fi fugit. Nu aq rnai

iau la revedere de la prieteni,priz5.. Niciunul dintre noi nu ade la marginea oraEului qi nu I

Dar nu am fhcut-o. Am rXmr

nostru, ascultind radioul gi

Cracoviei se innegreqte, in vrct

[workin the movies.

irand say, "You lookL-blond hair and big

rbrndit leader robbedffi-out with the heronrg. At first I thoughtlnaman'svoice came

is broadcast with the[tak6w."t

toly six days! Wheret-

|e doorway to listen.tout Polish forcesrc a big BOOM, andlr My cousins and Imke curled into the

;[borhood. Someone

nrch bells of Wawel

:. If I had only knownnL I wouldn't haveryfriends, or to evenp.Wewouldhaverun

*edback.fuily's flat,listeningbri,turn black as the

Cine qtie, poate intr-o bun[ zi o s[ mI duc in America qi o s[ joc infilme. Mdtuqa Gizela imi ciufulea adesea pirul cret qimi spunea:

- Chiar cI ar[1i ca o vedetl de film, Yanek, cu pirul tlu blond

inchis Ei cu ochii [qtia mari!

Tocmai ajunsesem la partea in care capul bandililor jefuise banca

oraqului Ei se pregltea pentru un schimb de focuri cu eroul, cAnd

muzica de la radio s-a oprit in mijlocul cAntecului. La inceput am

crezut c5. a cedat tubul electronic al aparatului, dar apoi din aparat s-a

auzit o voce de b[rbat.

- Doamnelor qi dornnilor, intrerupem programul obiqnuit cu o

qtire de maximl importan![: armata german[ a ajuns in Cracovia.

- Nu! a exclamat tata.

- Aqa de repede? spuse unchiul Moshe. Nu le-au trebuit decAt Ease

zile! Unde e armata polonez[?

Am ieEit de dupl cearEaful ag[1at in prag ca sI ascult Ei eu. tn weme

ce crainicul de la radio vorbea despre forlele poloneze, care se

retrlgeau spre L6dZ qi Varqovia, s-a auzit un bubuit puternic, iar

ceEculele de ceai ale mamei au zlnglnitin farfurioarele lor. Verii mei

gi cu mine ne*am repezit la fereastrS, ca si ne uitlm afard. Un quvoi

de fum negru se ridica spre cer deasupra acoperiEurilor din Podg6rze,

cartierul nostru. De pe o strad[ din apropiere s-a auzit un ]ipit, iar

clopotele catedralei Wawelau inceput s[ bat[ a primejdie.

Dar era preatarziu. Nemlii erau aici. Dac[ aq fi qtiut atunci ceea ce

gtiu acum, aq fi fugit. Nu aq mai fi zlbovit s[ imi fac bagajele sau s[-mi

iau la revedere de la prieteni, nici mlcar sI-mi scot proiectorul din

priz[. Niciunul dintre noi nu ar mai fi zlbovit. Am fi fugit in pldurea

de la marginea oraEului Ei nu ne-am mai fi uitat inapoi.

Dar nu am fHcut-o. Am rdmas pur Ei simplu pe loc, in apartamentul

nostru, ascultAnd radioul qi uitindu-ne cum cerul de deasupra

Cracoviei se innegreqte, in weme ce germanii veneau sd ne omoare.

Chopler Two

cERMAN soLDrERs FTLLED THE STREETS oF rner6w.They marched in their smart grayuniforms with their legs lockedstraight and thrown out in frontof them the way ducks walk. Itwas silly, but eerie at the same time. There were so many ofthem, all marching in time together, their shiny green helmetsand polished black jackboots glinting in the sun. Each of thesoldiers wore a greatcoat and a pack on his back, and they carriedrifles over their shoulders and bayonets at their sides.

I felt small in my little blue woolen jacket and pants and mysimple brown cap. There were tanks too'- panzers, they calledthem - great rumbling things with treads that clanked andcannons that swiveled on top.

We came out to watch. All of us: men, \/omen, and children,Poles and Jews. We stood on the street corners and watched theGermans march through our city. Not all of Poland had fallen,the radio told us - Warsaw still held out, as did Brze66, Siedlce,and L6di. But the Germans were our masters now, until ourallies the British and the French arrived to drive them out.

"The Nazis won't be so bad," an old Polish woman on thesidewalk next to me said as I watched them. "I remember theGermans from the World War. Theywere very nice people."

But of course she could say that. She wasn't a Jew.For weeks we tried to live our lives as though nothing had

changed, as though an invading army hadn't conquered us"

12

ftr

SOLDATII GERMANI AU

irnbr[ca1i in uniformele Ior oer

picioarele lipite, drepte, an'irlralele. Era caraghios Ei inspiilmul1i qi to{i mlrglluiau instrdlucitoare, Ei cizmele mfitasoare. Fiecare soldat purta rnalpusca pe umlr gi baioneta la qr

M[ sim{eam aqa de neinses

ldn[, cu pantalonii qi Eapca rne

panzere le ziceau: nigte maqit

![c5neau, iar deasupra tunuri I

Am iegit toti afarl s[ ne uitewei laolaltd. Stlteam la colqui

germanii prin oraqul nostru.

clzuse in mAna lor. VarEoviain

Dar acum germanii ne erau stgi englezi aveau sI vinX s[-i ah

- N-o s[ ne fie aqa de rlu cl

care st[tea allturi de mine pe

amintesc de germanii din Prin

foarte cumsecade.

Sigur, ei ii era simplu s[ sp

Slptlm6ni la rAnd am incerc

fi schimbat nimic, ca qi cum nt

ETS OF KRAK6W.th their legs lockedrz1, ducks walk. It) tYere so many offiny green helmetst sun. Each of the

L and they carrieddr sides.

and pants and myinzers, they calledthat clanked and

men, and children,rs and watched thePoland had fallen,lid Brze56, Siedlce,

lrs norv, until ourire them out.bh rvoman on the.'I remember theynice people."

rta Jew.

ough nothing hadn't conquered us"

Copilolul doi

SOLDATII GERMANI AU UMPLUT STRAZILE CRACOVIEI.

imbr5cali in uniformele lor cenu;ii, elegante, mlrq6luiau {in6ndu-qipicioarele lipite, drepte, azvirlindu-le mereu in fat[, a$a cum merg

ralele. Era caraghios Ei insplimantitor in acelaqi timp. Erau foarte

mulli qi to{i m[rEflluiau in acelaqi ritm, iar c5qtile lor verzi,

strilucitoare, gi cizmele militare negre gi bine lustruite sc6nteiau in

soare. Fiecare soldat purta manta gi cira un rucsac in spate; toli aveau

puEca pe umir qi baioneta la qold.

Mi simleam aqa de neinsemnat in micula mea jachetl albastr[ de

lAn[, cu pantalonii Ei qapca mea maronie qi simpl[. Erau qi tancuri -panzere le ziceau: niqte maEinlrii mari, zuruitoare, cu genile care

![c[neau, iar deasupra tunuri care se roteau.

Am ieEit toli afar[ s[ ne uitlm: blrbali, femei qi copii, polonezi qi

ewei laolalt[. St[team la co[urile strlzilor qi ne uitam cum mdrqlluiau

germanii prin oraEul nostru. La radio se zicea c[ nu toat[ Po]onia

clzuse in mdna 1or. Varqovia incd rezista, la fel Brze36, Siedlce qi Lodi.

Dar acum germanii ne erau stlpani, pan5 cand alia{ii noEtri francezi

gi englezi aveau sI vin[ s[-i alunge.

- N-o s[ ne fie aq;a de rlu cu naziqtii, mi-a spus o polonezlb[tr6nl

care st[tea aldturi de mine pe trotuar in weme ce m[ uitam la ei. lmiamintesc de germanii din Primul Rlzboi Mondial. Erau nigte oameni

foarte cumsecade.

Sigur, ei ii era simplu sI spunl asta. Nu era eweic['

sept5manih rand amincercat s[ ne continulmviala ca Ei cum nu s-ar

fi schimbat nimic, ca qi cum nu ne-ar fi cotropit o armatd invadatoare.

13

rmil'

I went to school every day, my father and uncles and cousins stillwent to work, and my mother still went to the store. But thingswere changing. At school, the Polish boys wouldn't play soccerwith me anyrnore, and no Poles or Germans bought shoes frommy father's store. Food became scarce too, and more expensive.

Then one morning I walked to school and it was canceled. Forgood, I was told. No school for Jews. The other childrencelebrated, but I was disappointed. I loved to read - any and allbooks. But especially books about America, and books aboutdoctors and medicine.

I wandered the streets, watching the German soldiers andtheir tanks, the breadlines that stretched around the block.Winter was coming, and the men and women in line held theircoats tight around them and stamped their feet to stay warm.When I went home at lunch-time, my father was there, whichsurprised me. He usually ate lunch at work. Uncle Moshe waswith him at the table. My mother came out of the kitchen andworried over me.

"Are you sick, Yanek?" She put a hand to my forehead. "Whyare you home early from school?"

"It's closed," I told her, feeling depressed. "Closed for Jews.""You see? You see?" Uncle Moshe said. He turned to my

father, looking worked up. "First they close the schools. Next itwill be your shoe store. My fur shop! And why not? No one willbuy from us with Nazi soldiers telling people, 'Don't buy fromJews."'

"But, if they close the shoe store, how will you make money?"I asked my father.

"Jews are not to make money!" Moshe said. "We have rationcards now for food. With Js all over them. Jfor Jew."

"This will pass," my father said. "They'll crack down for atime, and then things will get easier again. It's always the same.

hr mI duceam la qcoal5 in fiecare zilla munci, iar mama inc[ se ducea tuIa Ecoali, b[iep polonezi nu maiilpolonezi, nici nemli - nu mai CIxqimAncarea s-aimpulinat qi eratotm

intr-o diminea!5, m-am dus la1

tot, mi s-a spus. FIr[ qeoal[ penurdar eu am fost dezamlgit. lmi pliode orice fel, dar mai ales cele delmedicinS.

Am rltlcit haihui pe strizi, ultancurile lor,la cozile Ia pAine care

apropia iarna, iar femeile qi berb4ihainele mai bine in jurul trupuluilincilzeasc5. Cand m-am dus acasllsurprins. De obicei lua prAnzul Ia ula masd. Mama a ieqit din bucntlrie S

- Eqti bolnav, Yanek? a zis a,De ce ai venit aqa deweme de la go

- S-ainchis, i-am spus Ei m-aolpentru ewei.

-Yezi? Vezi? zise unchiul MGIintfli inchid qcolile, urmltorul vaprivllia mea de bllnuri! $i de ce r

mai cumpere de la noi acum, cAndr

cumplrali de la ewei".

- Dar dac[ inchid magazinul d

l-am intrebat pe tata.

- Eweii nu trebuie s[ faci bani

cartele pentru mAncare, pline de Ii

- O sI treacl, a rXspuns tata. Odar dupi aia lucrurile vor reveni I

ldes and cousins stilltre store. But thingswouldn't play soccer

ubought shoes fromad more expensive.

ilitwas canceled. Forlte other childrenbread - any and allce, and books about

Ierman soldiers andil around the block.El in line held theirhfeet to stay warm.br was there, whichiL Uncle Moshe was

It of the kitchen and

om1'forehead. "Why

d-'Closed for Jews."iiL He turned to my:the schools. Next itftry not? No one will;tle, 'Don't buy from

[you make money?"

lil. "We have rationfforJew.";lll crack down for aIt's always the same.

j

i

Eu mlduceamla qmal5in fiecare zi, tata, unchii qiverii meiincl mergeau

la munc5, iar mama incl se ducea la magazin. Lucrurile ins[ se schimbau.

La qcoal5, blietii polonezi nu mai jucau fotbal cu mine qi nimeni - nicipolonezi, nici nemli - nu mai cumplra incIllIri din magazinul tatei. $imAncarea s-a impu{inat qi era tot mai scump[.

tntr-o diminea![, m-am dus la qcoali qi am aflat cI s-a inchis. De

tot, mi s-a spus. FlrI Ecoald pentru ewei. Ceilalli copii s-au bucurat,

dar eu am fost dezamlgit. imi pllcea sI citesc, aE fi citit toate c[r!ile,de orice fel, dar mai ales cele despre America qi despre doctori qi

medicinl.Am rlt[cit haihui pe strlzi, uitAndu-mI la solda]ii germani Ei la

tancurile lor,la cozile la pAine care se intindeau in jurul blocurilor. Se

apropia iarna, iar femeile Ei bdrbalii care stlteau la rind iEi strAngeau

hainele mai bine in jurul trupului qi trop5iau incetiqor pe loc ca s[ se

incllzeascS. Cand m-am dus acas[ la prAnz, tata era acolo, ceea ce m-a

surprins. De obicei lua prAnzul la muncI. Unchiul Moshe stltea lAng[ el

la mas[. Mama a ieqit din bucitirie Ei s-a nipustit ingrijoratX asupra mea.

- Eqti bolnav, Yanek? a zis ea, lipindu-gi palm4 de fruntea mea.

De ce ai venit aEa deweme de la EcoalI?

- S-a inchis, i-am spus qi m-a copleEit deodat[ tristetea. S-a inchispentru ewei.

-Yezi? Yezi? zise unchiul Moshe. S-a intors spre tata, pornit. Maiintdi inchid gcolile, urmltorul va fi magazinul tiu de pantofi, apoiprlvllia mea de bl5nuri! $i de ce nu, md rog? Oricum nimeni n-o sImai cumpere de la noi acum, cind naziqtii le spun oamenilor ,,Nu mai

cumplrati de la ewei".

- Dar daci inchid magazinul de pantofi, cum o s[ mai faci bani?

i-am intrebat pe tata.

- Eweii nu trebuie s[ facl bani! a zis unchiul Moshe. Acum avem

cartele pentru mAncare, pline de litera ,,8". ,,8" de la ewei.

- O sI treac5, a rlspuns tata. O s[ impun[ niqte restric]ii o weme,

dar dup[ aia lucrurile vor reveni la normal. A.ga se intAmpl[ mereu.