Restitution Read Online Free PDF Page B

on leaving Rakovník, whereas I believe we are safest staying right here.”
    Also seated at the table was Rita Popper, George’s sister and Hana’s best friend. Rita was a pretty girl with straight brown hair. Her serious disposition was an interesting match for Hana’s usual sense of fun. But both girls were silent that night, seemingly glued to the conversation.
    â€œI saw one of our neighbors the other day, and she told me that her children have left for Palestine,” said Mrs. Popper. “That poor woman. She seemed so bereft without them. Can you imagine separating your family like that?” Irena Popper was quieter than her husband in these social situations, but in her work, she was a force to be reckoned with. She ran the clothing business that she owned with her husband virtually single-handedly.
    â€œNever!” declared Marie. “If we must go, we’ll go together.”
    â€œLet me remind you that those children left for religious reasons,” Victor replied. “They are the most observant family in town and their children wanted to pursue a more Jewish life in Palestine. That’s not the case for any of us.”
    â€œI agree,” added Mr. Popper. “We’re Czechs first and Czechs we will always be. There will be no restrictions on us here in our homeland.”
    By now Karl had tired of this conversation. He excused himself from the table, motioned George to follow him, and the two boys made their way up onto the roof of the house where they could have their own discussion away from the adults.
    â€œThey say that we might be barred from attending school here,” Karl said, pulling his jacket tighter around his body and flipping the collar up to protect his neck. The night air was brisk, though the sky was clear and overflowing with stars. “Can you imagine if they close our school to Jews?”
    George pushed his glasses up on his nose and nodded. He was a tall, stout young man, with a bookwormish look that matched his exceptional intellect. “I’ll be leaving at the end of this term to go to university in Prague. I think that, with everything happening in Austria, it’ll be a relief to get out of Rakovník and into the big city. It’s killing my mother to see me go,” he added. “But at least it’s close by. I’m sure I’ll be back frequently.”
    â€œWhat about the rest of your family?” Karl asked.
    â€œThey’ll stay here,” replied George.
    Karl nodded and said nothing. He knew he would miss his good friend – and he feared that when George left and Karl became the only Jewish student at the school, he would become even more of a target.
    The ensuing days were uneventful. Everyone returned to their work or business, putting the events in Austria into the background, lulled into a false sense of confidence that no news was a sign of stability. And then one day Hana returned home from school anxious and distracted. Without pausing to say hello to her mother, she stormed up the staircase and pounded on Karl’s bedroom door.
    â€œWhat is it?” he asked as soon as he saw her face.
    â€œListen,” she replied, dead serious. “I have to tell you what happened on the way home today.”
    She had been riding her bicycle home from school as she often did. The streets were quiet. “I was passing the photography shop and I saw that there were lots of pictures displayed in the store window. So I stopped to look at them.”
    The previous year, Hana, Karl, and their parents had gone to this studio for a family portrait. It had taken forever for the photographer to compose the family and snap his picture, long tedious hours during which Karl and Hana had wished they were outdoors with their friends, or reading a book, anything rather than being forced to primp and pose for a camera lens. But everyone had to admit that the final result was well worth the effort. The