Kanada by Eva Wiseman Read Free Book Online

taught Agi and me piano every morning. We took turns practicing. I spent the rest of the morning buried in my school books. I missed school, and especially Klari. Christians were not allowed into the ghetto without special visitors' passes.
    The late June sun streaming into the room through the open windows and the chirping of the birds in the garden distracted me. I put away my school work and carried myCanada book outside. I sat down on a wooden bench under a tall oak tree and leafed through the pictures of cowboys and Indian chiefs until I came upon the photo-graphs of the busy modern streets full of people. I looked at the pictures carefully, studying each face and pretending I was among them. I was so absorbed that when Agi spoke to me I jumped.
    “What are you reading?” she asked.
    I held out the book to her. She sat down beside me.
    “Canada,”
she said, reading the title.
    “My papa's cousin lives in Canada. She sent us this book.”
    She began turning the pages, exclaiming over the photo-graphs. “Look at all that space!”
    “Turn to the last few pages.”
    She gazed at the wide streets lined with tall buildings. “The people in the pictures look so happy,” she said. “Nobody is wearing a star.”
    “When the war is over, I'm going to Canada.”
    She grinned at me. “I'll come with you.”
    “Promise?”
    “Promise.”
    The back door opened, and Mama came into the garden. Grandmama was right behind her, her arm through Mrs. Grazer's arm. Mama was carrying Grandmama's wooden stool.
    “It's such a lovely day,” Mama said, “much too nice to stay indoors. We convinced Kati to come outside with us.”
    “I didn't want to disappoint you, my dear,” said Mrs. Grazer, “although I don't feel up to it.”
    “You are reading your Canada book again,” said Mama. “Aren't you getting bored with it?”
    Before I could reply, Mrs. Grazer reached for the book. “Let me see it.” She turned the pages slowly. “How I wish that we lived there! I've heard that nobody ever goes hungry in Canada.”
    “Jutka and I are going to visit Canada after the war,” Agi said. “Will you come with us, Mother? And Father too?”
    “I promised Jutka that her papa and I will go with her,” said Mama. “Dezso will want to come along too. Canada is such a beautiful country. It'll be nice to see Armin's cousin.”
    “I'm too old,” said Grandmama. “I'll have to hear about Canada secondhand.”
    “I'm not well enough to travel,” said Mrs. Grazer. “As for your father, Agi … he'd never leave me.”
    Agi's face fell.
    “I am still going to go, Mother.” Agi was determined.
    “You might change your mind, Kati,” said Mama.
    Mrs. Grazer shook her head. She broke a leafy branch off a bush and fanned herself.
    “Let's talk about this another time,” said Mama. She looked around the sun-dappled garden. “What a lovely day!” she repeated. “If only Armin and Dezso were with us!”
    “And my Fritzi too,” added Mrs. Grazer. “It worries me that we haven't heard from them for so long.”
    “And Jonah,” Agi added. She jumped up. “I'll get my camera and take our picture. We can send our photographs to our fathers. Just because they haven't been able to write to us doesn't mean they won't receive our photos!”
    “Have you lost your mind, my daughter?” said Mrs. Grazer. “If the authorities discover that you didn't hand in your camera when you were supposed to, you'll be deported!”
    “How would they ever find out, Mother?” Agi asked. “Nobody can see over the fence, and I'll develop the photo-graphs myself. Father's darkroom is still set up in the cellar.”
    I could tell that Mrs. Grazer was frightened, but she said, “I guess it should be all right, but I don't want my picture taken.” She patted the back of her head. “My hair isn't tidy.”
    Agi ignored her. I took my Canada book out of Mrs. Grazer's hand and gave it to Agi, who went back into the house.
    I moved over on the bench to make