The Secret of Gabi's Dresser by Kathy Kacer

Author:Kathy Kacer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV016060, JUV000000
Publisher: Second Story Press
Published: 1999-04-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

MARISHKA AND I burst through the front door, our faces white with fear. Mamma was startled to see us home from school so early and guessed instantly that something was wrong.

“What happened?” she cried. “You both look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

It was several moments before Marishka and I could talk. Then the story came tumbling out of our mouths. We told Mamma how we had walked to school and found the school closed, we described the sign that said Jews could no longer attend, we told her about nearly bumping into the soldier. Mamma’s face was tense with anger and fear as we described how we had thought we were going to be beaten or arrested even though the soldier was someone we knew. Finally we told her how Nina had saved us by luring the soldier away. By the time we finished recounting the whole story, we were exhausted.

“The first thing I’m going to do is go and tell Marishka’s mother that Marishka is safe with us.” Mamma spoke calmly and with authority. “I want you girls to stay in the sitting room while I’m gone, and open the door to no one. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

We did as we were told, huddling together on the sitting-room couch. We didn’t say a word to each other, but sat in silence, arms clasped, reliving the terror in our minds.

By the time Mamma returned home, we had calmed down. She fed us a big meal that we gobbled up in minutes. We hadn’t realized how hungry we were until we sat down at the table. Then Mamma said Marishka could stay for the night. I think she realized how important it was for Marishka and me to be together, after everything we had shared that day.

Marishka’s mother came over later in the day to see Marishka. The two of them stood in the hallway hugging each other for a long time. Once again Marishka and I described what had happened. They hugged again and cried with relief that everything had turned out well. I know Marishka’s mother would have preferred to have her daughter home with her that evening, but seeing the looks on our faces, she agreed that Marishka could stay. Mamma helped us make up the extra bed in my room.

That night, Marishka and I lay in bed a long time, talking about the close call.

“Why do you think she did it?” Marishka asked at one point.

“Who did what?” I replied, puzzled.

“Nina. Why do you think she saved us? If she hadn’t been there, I don’t know what might have happened!”

The same question had been running through my head all day. Why, all of sudden, had Nina helped us? For months she had been avoiding me, obeying her parents by turning her back on our friendship. What had suddenly made her stand up for me? Why had she put herself at risk? It was hard to figure out.

“You know,” I began, “I had finally convinced myself to stop thinking about Nina, to stop wanting her still to be my friend.

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