They Went Left

Zofia wakes up, embarrassed at having overslept. She helps Hannelore with washing dishes and clothes, and then they play with dolls together and Hannelore shows Zofia pictures she drew. Zofia is surprised that Hannelore refers to both of the Wolfins as her stepparents—“Stiefmuttter and Stiefvater” (182). She explains that her real mother, who Zofia infers was Jewish, was taken. Hannelore shows Zofia a photo of the woman, Inge. Zofia is suddenly upset and leaves, waiting for Josef in the wagon. She was reminded of a woman called Inge, who died by suicide at the hospital shortly after liberation; she used to talk about her daughter, whom she left with a kind German couple.

Josef bids farewell to the family, and they leave. Zofia explains that she became overwhelmed with the possibility that she may have met Hannelore’s mother, who was bald, missing teeth, and crazy, and eventually died by falling out of the hospital window. She concedes that it may not have been the same Inge but that Hannelore’s mother may have met a similar fate. Zofia reflects that sometimes not knowing what happened to a loved one is better. They discuss whether Zofia could live with the knowledge that Abek is dead.