My Canary Yellow Star Read Online Free PDF

passed the window of Rozsi’s Parfumerie, with its impressive display of crystal perfume bottles. On one side of a gigantic bottle of 4711 cologne was a sign stating: “If You Want to Smell Like Roses, Shop at Rozsi’s.” On the opposite side of the huge bottle stood a poster bearing a caricature of a swarthy, hook-nosed Jewish man with long, curly forelocks. Below the drawing was the word “Beware!” Next to the parfumerie was Olga’s Patisserie, a welcoming café with cheery white tables that spilled onto the sidewalk. A sign affixed to the shop’s doors warned: “No Jews or Dogs!” Lampposts bore signs warning customers to feel ashamed of themselves if they continued to shop in stores owned by Jewish people. Broken glass littered the street everywhere.
    Most of the men wore uniforms, either of the Hungarian army or of the German SS. Some were accompanied by their well-fed wives. They were in sharp contrast to the few gaunt and shabby civilian shoppers, most of whom were women and old men. I was the only person wearing a yellow star.
    I noticed three boys at the end of the street, laughing and shoving each other. The three were dressed in the uniform of the Arrow Cross Party – green shirt and red armband with a black insignia in a white circle. As I turned away from them, I walked straight into a boy behind me.
    “Whoa!” he said, grabbing my arm. “You should watch where you’re going!” He steadied me. My heart leaped at the sight of him.
    “Peter, is it you?”
    He laughed. “Who else?”
    And then, suddenly, something strange happened. It was as if I had never seen him before, as if I was seeing him for the first time. I couldn’t help noticing that scrawny little Peter had become a handsome boy – tall, with sandy hair, sparkling green eyes, and a friendly smile. He was wearing the familiar khaki uniform and peaked cap of the Levente. Jewish boys were discouraged from joining this paramilitary organization for youths.
    “You look like a soldier in that uniform, Peter. Ervin should see you. He’d give anything to be wearing it!” Ervin was bitter that he wasn’t allowed to learn how to shoot guns and march like a soldier beside his Christian classmates when the troop met after school.
    “How are you, Shorty?” Peter asked. “I haven’t seen you for the past few weeks … too much homework. You look nice.” He blushed fiery red. “How is Ervin? And your mother, grandmother?” he stammered. Suddenly, his eyes fastened on the canary yellow star on my dress. “What an idiot I am to ask such stupid questions,” he said. “I should think twice before opening my mouth. Mother always says that I lack tact.”
    “No, no, that’s fine,” I reassured him. “You don’t have to be careful with me. Just talk to me.”
    Peter smiled. “Have you got time for something to drink? There’s a nice little place around the corner where we can talk.”
    I didn’t know how to answer him. I wanted to go with him, but I knew I’d be in deep trouble if Mama found out that I went to a café by myself with a boy, especially a Christian boy, even if he was just a friend. I stood in indecision. Peter solved the problem by drawing my arm through his and starting off in the opposite direction to our apartment house.
    We caused quite a sensation among the passersby. People glared at us as we walked down the street, and two young men in Arrow Cross uniforms blocked our path.
    “Hey, you! You’re a disgrace to your uniform, Jew lover,” one of the men hissed, pointing his finger at Peter.
    My heart was in my throat. I felt helpless and terrified and furious, just as I had felt back in Madam’s salon. I wanted to scream, “Shut up! Shut up!” but by force of will, I kept silent.
    “Scum!” Peter said angrily, pushing past them. “Ignore them, Marta!”
    We hurried along, breathless with excitement. An old woman walking her dog stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes fixed on the yellow star over my heart.