Papa enters the kitchen just as Mama is trying to find the words to explain her statement. “Have you told him yet?” he says, straightening the knot on his tie.
“Told me what?” I ask, staring between the two of them. My stomach growls from hunger and nerves. I’m not even sure I’ll be able to eat the toast I’m holding in my hand after they say what they need to say.
“I was trying to find the words,” Mama says, folding her arms around her waist.
Dad rests his arm around Mama’s back and leans down to stare me in the eyes like Mama was. “Son, the Führer made a statement yesterday that there were too many Jewish children in the public schools and that there’s to be less than five percent of the student population going forward,” Papa says. “We aren’t sure how they plan to handle this new policy, but we want you to be prepared in case they ask you and your brother to leave. If they do, we will figure things out. It’s not something you need to worry about.”
“Too many Jewish children in school?” I repeat. “What difference does the number of Jewish children make?”
“It doesn’t,” Mama groans.
“Sarah,” Papa utters. “We all feel the same way, but we don’t have control over this.”
“Can’t I refuse to leave?” The question is rhetorical because I would never argue with a teacher.
“I’m afraid not, son. If you’re told to leave, do so without a word.”
I drop my chin already feeling the defeat. “Yes, Father.”
He scruffs up my hair and kisses the top of my head. Mama then pulls me into a tight embrace. “I love you. It will be okay. Keep your chin up.”
I don’t think she believes those words. Her chin isn’t up. She’s staring down at the floor.
My shoulders feel heavier than when Papa’s hands were resting on them, but I walk out the door, finding David running in circles around Emilie, Gerty, Otto, and Felix, who have waited for me.I must be brave.
Gerty wrangles her arms around David and captures him so he can’t continue spinning around them. “Got you,” she says with laughter.
I would prefer that no one knows what Mama and Papa just told me, but they might have already heard from their parents. “Gerty, Felix, Otto, and I were thinking of going to the theater tomorrow night. Can you go too?” Emilie asks.
“I should be able to,” I say.
“Me too. I’m going with you too,” David adds.
“We’ll see about that,” I mutter. Whenever David joins us, I end up having to watch him all night rather than having fun with my friends.
“You sound tired,” Emilie says. “Did the math homework keep you up late?”
“No, no, I’m fine.” She knows when I’m lying, but never forces the truth out, which I appreciate. I offer her the same courtesy.
“I see,” she says.
“I heard the radio last night,” Felix injects. “It’s not right. It’s stupid is what it is.”
Emilie stares over at Felix, giving him a look that I would take as a hint to stop talking.
“He’s right. It is stupid, and if I could say the things I want say out loud—” Gerty adds with a grunt.
“Maybe it’s best to assume you’ll be part of the five percent, right?” Emilie asks.
I clear my throat, hoping she’ll drop the subject. I don’t want David asking questions. He’ll walk right into his classroom and ask if they’re going to send him home because he’s Jewish. As young as he is, he would hope they would say yes just so he wouldn’t have to go to school anymore. I don’t think that’s the way this will work.
My apprehension keeps me quiet throughout our walk, leaving Felix and Emilie to carry on a conversation about the film playing at the theater. I catch Emilie’s lingering glance sweep over me once every few minutes. If she knows what I do, she understands the stress I’m feeling—the dread of walking in through the school doors, being told to stop and go home because I’m no longer wanted in the building.
David shouts his goodbyes as he runs ahead of us to make it inside the school hall first. If I walk slow enough, I might have more hope if he isn’t sent back out the door, but I should be in there before he is in case anyone gives him grief.
I speed up to make it into the school, but Emilie catches my arm.
“I’ll see you inside,” Felix says, continuing on ahead.
