Summer of Fire by Karen Bass

Author:Karen Bass
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: parents, Key words: Teen, delinquent, runaway, World War II, rape, firestorm, Hamburg, firebombing, Hitler Youth
ISBN: 9781550504321
Publisher: Coteau Books

18 Feb 43

Herr Wechsler called me into the salon today, handed me a letter and said it was from my father. Ilsa was visiting and got a prudish look on her face. She wanted to know why he was writing to me from his university office.

Without answering I retreated to the hall. All I cared was that Papa had written back! While I was opening the envelope I heard Ilsa telling the Wechslers, “My cousin is beside herself over that husband of hers. She told me he watches his daughter like a husband does a new bride. I think she was relieved to get the child out of the house.”

What an awful thing to say, Hilde. I remembered what Mother said to Papa on New Year’s Eve, that she’d tell people the baby was Papa’s if she didn’t get her way. Why would she keep telling such falsehoods after Papa gave in to her wishes? It made me angry. I tried to pretend I hadn’t heard anything and went to the kitchen to read the letter.

Papa started, “My sweet Liebchen, I was beginning to fear that you would never write to me. I hope this means you have forgiven your sad old father.”

Then he talked about what the defeat at Stalingrad could mean, and I realized that he was answering my most recent letter, the one I sent to his office. I think he must not have gotten the other letters. How can that be? If he got the last one, that means that Frau Wechsler is mailing them. Did Mother hide my letters from Papa? Ilsa’s cruel words returned. Surely Mother isn’t jealous of me? It makes me so upset I cannot even think about it.

Papa says hello from Erwin, who has complained that the house is too quiet without me. Now I wonder if Erwin got the letter I sent to him. I want to write back to Papa tonight, but the pen is getting too heavy and I am starting to misspell the simplest words.

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