Small Acts of Defiance : A Novel (2021) by Wright Michelle
Author:Wright, Michelle [Wright, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00
***
When she was sure Aline would be all right on her own, Lucie went to Margotâs store to tell her what had happened, then headed home. Gérard was seated at the dining table with a cup of coffee, listening to the radio. Lucie asked Yvonne to help her in the kitchen.
âOne of my friends was arrested,â she whispered when they were alone.
âWho?â asked Yvonne. âNot Aline?â
âNo, it was her grandfather, Samuel. Heâs a professor at the National School of Fine Arts. At least he was, until they made it illegal for Jews to work there. Simone and Aline have no idea where heâs been taken or why heâs been arrested.â
âI can tell you why,â said Gérard appearing in the doorway, holding his cup of coffee. âHeâs probably a Jewish agitator. Yvonne, doesnât it worry you at all that your daughter claims heâs a friend of hers?â
âHeâs not an agitator,â said Lucie. âHeâs someone whoâs lived here for decades and can no longer work because of his religion.â
Gérard scoffed. âThe Jewish race has been slowly building up their influence for years now. You have no idea what theyâre capable of. What would you know about the international Jewry and their plans? Youâre so naive. You know nothing about whatâs really going on in France.â
âI know that innocent people shouldnât be arrested and sent away to God knows where. I know that itâs wrong to hate people for their religion. I know that itâs wrong to be an anti-Semite.â
Before Gérard could respond, Yvonne grasped Lucieâs upper arm and turned to face her brother. âI wonât allow you to attack my daughter. Sheâs not a child. She knows what sheâs talking about.â She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and took a deep breath in before she spoke again. âI see the letters your dear compatriots write. They come through the post office every day, addressed to the police and even to the Gestapo, denouncing their neighbours, innocent people just trying to live their lives.â
Gérard walked to the sink, poured his half-drunk cup of coffee down the drain and left the kitchen without responding.
Once he had closed his bedroom door Yvonne pulled Lucie closer and spoke in a whisper. âHow well do you know Samuel? Why have you never mentioned him before?â
âI didnât want to involve you in things you might not approve of.â
âWhat things? What have you been doing?â
âI was doing drawings for proâde Gaulle tracts that we printed at Margotâs store. Aline gave them out at university.â
Yvonne took hold of Lucieâs wrists. âYou canât be serious, Lucie. People are being arrested just for speaking out against the occupation. Theyâre being tortured, sent away to prison.â
âThatâs because the Germans know itâs making a difference. Aline says every little thing we do to defy them is important, even small things like this.â
âEven small acts can have serious consequences, Lucie. Itâs too big a risk to take for something so insignificant.â
âNo act of defiance is insignificant,â said Lucie.
Yvonne clasped Lucieâs hands in hers.
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