One Eye Laughing, the Other Weeping by Barry Denenberg Read Free Book Online Page B

you took the word “I” out of their vocabulary, they wouldn’t be able to communicate at all. They talk about the most insignificant things and no one really listens to what anyone’s saying.
Hugo-von-something-or-other is the worst. He’s a poet. He wears a top hat and checkered trousers, has no chin whatsoever, reeks of tobacco, and talks in this really, really high voice while waving his hands around like he’s pretending to be a schoolgirl.
According to Uncle Daniel he paints his toenails.
     
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1938
At one o’clock today, Radio Vienna broadcast Hitler’s speech from Berlin. It was the first time they’ve ever broadcast one of his speeches. He has an Austrian accent, which shouldn’t surprise me since he was born here.
There must have been a lot of people because you could hear them all shouting SIEG HEIL SIEG HEIL , when he arrived.
His voice was hoarse — probably from all that ranting and raving he usually does. Although he sounded crude, there is something about the way he speaks that makes you listen. It was like when I’m on the Ferris wheel at the Prater and I look down even though I know I shouldn’t because I’ll be scared.
He went on and on: The speech lasted for three hours.
Daddy was disappointed that Hitler didn’t say anything about his meeting with Chancellor Schuschnigg, but relieved he didn’t say anything awful about the Jews, the way he usually does.
Max said it was obvious the meeting didn’t go well.
     
(There have been reports that Hitler shouted at the Chancellor and humiliated him.)
Uncle Daniel listened with us and he assured everyone that it would all blow over. That what is happening in Germany is not our concern.
Daddy said Uncle Daniel talks like Hitler is on the other side of the world, rather than just three hours away.
     
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1938
Ernst Resch said hello to me this morning, which was odd, because he has never said hello to me before. All day long it bothered me. There was something not quite right but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Then, tonight, while I was brushing my teeth, it came to me. He didn’t say, “Hello, Julie.” He said, “Hello, Jew Lee,” just like that, Jew Lee, separating each syllable
and grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
I’m not going to tell anyone about it, though. It would just make things worse.
     

     
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1938‌
We listened to Ella Fitzgerald today. I have never, ever heard anything like that. She is the best and my favorite song is “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
Next week we’re going to listen to Helen Ward, but I just want to keep listening to Ella Fitzgerald.
Miss Sachs said there are more people each day who want to learn English in case they have to emigrate.
I never thought about that. We could never leave Vi-enna. Daddy’s office is here and we have always lived in Vienna and, besides, where would we go? But then, why is Daddy having me take English lessons?
     
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1938
Mother is very upset. Mrs. von Schaukel, “The Beauty Queen of Vienna,” canceled her facial for the second week in a row.
Everyone is looking forward to Chancellor Schuschnigg’s speech tomorrow.
     

     
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1938‌‌
Daddy said he thought the Chancellor’s speech sounded hopeful, but Daddy sounded more hopeless than hopeful.
Too little, too late, Max said.
     
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1938
Daddy gets upset every time he reads the newspaper now. I asked why he just doesn’t stop and he said he wants to know what is going on.
     
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1938
Daddy asked me how my lessons with Miss Sachs are going and I told him fine. He asked if anyone has seen me coming or going. I’ve never seen Daddy so concerned.
I asked Miss Sachs if she gets tired of teaching English all day — I just assumed that’s what she did — but in the mornings she teaches retarded children.
She gave me a good-bye kiss. She doesn’t wear
     
any makeup or lipstick so I don’t have to