Hiding Edith by Kathy Kacer Read Free Book Online Page A

skills.”
    “To do your best at all times.”
    “To be strong.”
    Bouli nodded. “Those are all important ideas. What else?”
    “To help people,” Eric called out.
    “Exactly!” said Bouli.
“Service to others
— that is the true purpose of the Scouting movement. Helping the people around you. Now, where do we see examples of this in our lives?”
    “You and Shatta are helping all of us by keeping us here,” said Sarah.

    “The people in town help us,” another child responded, “by keeping the secret that we are Jews.”
    “Very good!” said Bouli. “The people of Moissac, by staying silent, by keeping the secret of our Judaism, protect us. Even though it is dangerous. Even though they must risk their lives to keep us safe. They are the perfect example of service and the courage to do what is right, even in the face of danger.”
    Doing what was right. Edith let this message sink in. That’s why the people of Moissac were helping the Jewish children. Not because they were being paid, like the farmer who had taken Mutti’s pearl necklace, or like the Belgian prison guards whom Mutti had bribed to release Papa; but simply because it was right.
    “Come here,” Sarah called, breaking into Edith’s thoughts. “I’m going to teach you a double half-hitch. It’s the knot that’s used to tie down a tent.” Edith took a deep breath, moved over to sit next to Sarah, and stared down at a pile of ropes. “Pretend this branch is a tent stake,” said Sarah. “Hold the end of the rope in your right hand. Now loop it around the branch twice, cross it over to make an X. Then push the end of the rope through that hole at the end of the X, and pull tight.” Edith followed Sarah’s movements closely.
    “That’s it!” exclaimed Sarah. “You’re a natural.”
    Edith practiced again and again. By the end of the afternoon, she could quickly and efficiently lash pieces of wood together and join ropes of different thickness. She had also learned how to roll a sleeping bag into a compact bundle. To her amazement, Edithwas good at these skills, and enjoyed learning. Every now and then, her mind wandered to thoughts of roundups and raids by the Nazi soldiers. She could not quite believe she would ever really need to put these new skills to use. But she didn’t want to think about that.
    By the time the camping session ended, Edith was tired but satisfied. She followed Bouli down the hill and back into the house. She flopped down on her bed, thinking she had only a few minutes to clean up before supper.
    Just then, Eve entered the room, silently pulled her suitcase from under her bed, and began packing.
    “Going on vacation?” asked Sarah playfully. “That’s why you weren’t on the hike?”
    Eve looked up. “I’m leaving.” Her voice was low and somber. The smile instantly left Sarah’s face.
    “Leaving?” asked Sarah. “Where are you going?”
    “My parents have come to get me. They’ve decided I’ll be safer with them. We’re going to Switzerland. We’ve got relatives there. We’re going to go across France and over the mountains.”
    Leaving? No one had ever left the house. Edith had never thought it possible. All her pleasure in the hike disappeared. If only Mutti would come for her! That would be the greatest gift of all — to be reunited with her parents.
    No one spoke, but all the girls gazed enviously at Eve.
    Eve closed her suitcase. “I’ll miss all of you,” she said, hugging the girls one by one.

    Edith followed her downstairs, where Shatta stood with a man and woman. The man took the small suitcase from Eve and shook hands with Shatta.
    “Merci, Madame Simon. Thank you for taking care of our daughter.”
    “Please, monsieur,” begged Shatta. “Don’t take the child. This is the safest place for her.”
    “She’s safest with us,” the woman replied. “What could be safer than being with your family?”
    Edith crouched on the stairs as Shatta’s voice became more urgent.