Blue as a Fedora

Chapter 3: The Ticket to the War

The days stretched on and, gradually, Malvina began to forget about the worry and confusion she'd been going through. In fact, it wasn't long until she stopped worrying about the new information she'd received entirely, and for the next few nights, the nightly questions returned to their normal innocence. A month later, Ella moved into their bedroom and started to join in with the nightly questions. She asked questions that Malvina and Malia wouldn't have ever thought about asking at her age. It was becoming clear that Ella was some sort of child prodigy.

Malvina had also visited Peter's house for the first time, on a fine weekend. His parents were very young (they couldn't be older than thirty) and were very kind. Peter's father had a gentle face with blonde hair and bright brown eyes, and Peter's mother was a short woman with short brown hair, a thin face and bright blue eyes behind her long lashes. Malvina was slightly surprised to learn that Peter's mum had Spanish heritage. They sat and chatted for a long time, laughing at jokes and talking about school, and each time Malvina would visit Peter and his family, she would rarely come back home before supper.

Malvina had returned back to her normal, positive state, not worrying much about what was happening outside of Albas. It wasn't until months later when Malvina had mentioned anything about what she'd heard at all. She was sitting with Peter by the water fountain at school, chatting and discussing their subjects, when a sudden thought struck her.

"Peter," she said suddenly, cutting into the conversation mid-sentence, "how come you're still here?"

"What?" he asked in surprise.

"Didn't your parents want to move from France?" Malvina pressed on. She was surprised she hadn't asked this earlier. "Because it wasn't safe, or something?"

Malvina was secretly hoping that Peter would say that they hadn't moved because they realised Albas was safe, or maybe because they weren't in any real danger. Unfortunately, Malvina could tell from Peter's expression that this wasn't the case.

"Oh, yeah... I remember that," he said, looking slightly uncomfortable. He looked down at his shoes, almost as if he were ashamed. "Well – my parents told me the other day that – that we can't move, because we don't have the money."

"Oh," Malvina said, feeling awfully uncomfortable. Peter's house was rather small and, now that Malvina thought of it, his parents' clothing was always a bit shabby. Now looking at Peter's clothing, she could see that his shirt and pants looked a size too small.

But Malvina was the complete opposite. She lived in a wealthy family, as her father worked for the French government, in a very important role. They lived in a fancy house and wore fancy clothes and could afford practically anything, as far as Malvina could tell. This did come at a price, however. As of late, Malvina noticed that her father was gradually starting to become busier. There would be some days when she'd come home from school to see him in the kitchen, pages upon pages of who knows what on the table and him scrawling with a pen on all kinds of letters and sheets. Mama had even said that the reason for why Papa was doing nightly questions less was because he had so much work to do.

"Yeah," Peter said, looking up with what seemed to be all his energy. "Dad didn't look happy when he told me. He said that things are getting worse, but he won't say what's going on..."

"Peter," Malvina said carefully. Although she rarely thought of Hitler anymore, she still remembered, almost word for word, what Papa had told her and Malia all those nights ago. She didn't think it was a good idea to mention everything (some of it gave Malvina the shivers, and she wasn't even in danger), so she picked her words with caution.

"You remember Hitler, right?" said Malvina.

"Yeah, what about him?"

"Well... he – he doesn't like Jews, Peter, and you're a Jew. So is your family."

Peter kept watching Malvina, clearly thinking she had more to say. Malvina, although not knowing what she'd say next, continued.

"And... Hitler is a man that – well he likes violence. I think that if he gets into power, something bad will happen to the Jews and everyone else he doesn't like."

"What do you mean?" Peter said in surprise. His arms, which were folded before, were now hanging limply at his sides, and he was giving Malvina a rather ugly look. "How do you know this? What are you saying?"

"Peter," Malvina said cautiously, not liking how Peter was looking at her with a mixture of anger and confusion. "I just – I've been listening to the radio Peter. And Hitler – well he..."

Malvina didn't know how to say 'he hates you and your people, and will probably want to make your life a living hell,' and make it sound casual. So, she decided to change what she was saying a little.

"I'm not sure what he'll do if he becomes leader of Germany," Malvina restarted, trying to sound calm, as if what she was saying wasn't of huge concern, "but let's just say that he could pass laws that stop Jews and gypsies and stuff from succeeding, or getting money. It sounds like something he'll do."

"Yeah, but that's in Germany," exclaimed Peter. Malvina was confused as to why he sounded almost angry at her, and looked it too. "How does that affect me?"

"Well, I don't know, okay!" Malvina snapped, getting sick of Peter's tone. "Why don't you ask your parents? They're the ones that want to move! And stop looking at me as if this is all my fault!"

"You had to bring this up," he growled, his blue eyes gleaming with a menace Malvina hadn't seen before.

"Look, I don't hate you! I don't hate Jews!" Malvina shouted angrily. "You're pointing fingers at the wrong person. I'm your friend Peter! Why do you have this attitude?"

"Why do I get the feeling you're hiding something from me?" snarled Peter, looking like a wolf about to devour its victim.

"I don't know!" Malvina hissed, and, not able to stand it another second, she stormed off in fury to the other side of the courtyard, where she wouldn't have to see Peter's face glaring at her as if she were a murderer. That day after school, she had to spend the entire afternoon in the backyard to shake off her emotions of confusion and anger, which she didn't know were directed at Peter, or at Hitler himself. Either way, she couldn't stand how unjust everything seemed.

Just as the sun was starting to set, and Malvina was playing with a stick in her usual hiding place, she heard the sliding door open and saw from her position as Malia stepped down the stone steps into the backyard. Evidently, she had been sent to find Malvina for dinner. She scanned the backyard, then, catching sight of Malvina by the tree, weaved her way through the little flowers until she was lying down by the tree beside her.

"Hi."

"Hey."

Malvina felt a little uncomfortable. Usually when she felt angry, Ella was the first and best person to come and comfort her, despite her limited vocabulary. Malia, who was always bad with words and advice, wasn't great by comparison. Malvina waited for Malia's next words with mild interest.

"So," Malia sighed, dropping her arm to look at Malvina, "how was school today?"

"Well," Malvina said, drawing a little picture in the dirt with her stick, "not very good, now that you mention it."

"I'm surprised," Malia said. Malvina looked up in slight confusion, and Malia rolled her eyes. "That was sarcasm Malvina. You've been outside all day. Are you going to tell me what's wrong or should we go to dinner?"

"I..." Malvina didn't really know how to respond. With a little sigh, she looked back down at the floor and continued drawing her little picture. "Well, I fought with Peter today, and now I feel bad. You already know about Hitler and everything. Well, Peter's a Jew, and his parents want to leave France. We fought about it today."

"Right," Malia groaned. "Well apparently this Hitler has been ruining everything. Whenever Papa's on the phone it's usually about that man. Ella told me that it sounded like he's affecting French government or something. Papa doesn't like it at all."

For a moment, they both sat in silence, each listening to the sounds of the chaotic kitchen inside and the peaceful twittering of the birds above.

"So... do you want to tell me what happened?"

Malvina told Malia about the conversation she had with Peter, and how it had quickly turned into an argument.

"Malvina," Malia sighed, once Malvina was finished, and was feeling angry all over again. "Malvina, Malvina. You have got no social skills."

"What?" Malvina exclaimed, half-laughing but also quite angered. "That's not true! He's the one that got angry for no reason! I didn't do anything!"

"Okay, well look at it this way," Malia said patiently, adjusting herself slightly. "Peter and his family are under a lot of stress because of this new anti-Jew world. He doesn't like talking about it, you bring it up, as if you don't already know what's happening all over Europe –"

"– What's happening all over Europe?" Malvina asked in surprise. Malia stared at her in mild confusion. Her expression then changed from perplexed to pitying.

"Jews are being shunted from society Malvina. Everywhere," she said. "It's not really happening so much here, in Albas. Well, this place is pretty remote, but everywhere else..."

"I don't understand..." Malvina said anxiously. Malia gave her a little smile, as though Malvina had said something silly.

"What I'm trying to say," Malia started again, now looking directly into Malvina's eyes, "is that Peter is already beginning to suffer for who he and his family are, and you saying what you did – no, listen to me Malvina! – you saying what you did, out of no-where like that, would've made him feel uncomfortable. When I'm uncomfortable I usually turn angry. Maybe that's what happened to him too."

Malvina was about to retaliate, feeling she had a right to defend herself, when she stopped and thought about what Malia was saying. Was it really true that Peter didn't know how to respond, so responded with anger?

"It's dinner-time Malvina," Malia said softly, pushing herself up from the ground and helping Malvina up. "Come on, we're having Mama's bouillabaisse tonight."

Malvina followed Malia back up the stone steps and through the back door. She was feeling empty inside, but she knew it didn't have anything to do with hunger.

It was only a few days later when Peter apologised for lashing out at Malvina, and Malvina apologised as well.

"I know you don't hate me," Peter said, clearly looking guilt-stricken, "and I know I shouldn't be pushing away my friends..."

"Peter, I understand," Malvina said. "Well, I obviously don't understand everything, but we both made mistakes, and we're both sorry. I'm sure that's more than enough."

Peter still looked unconvinced.

"I'll come to your house tonight," Malvina suggested happily. "I haven't been since the argument. How about that?"

Peter looked considerably happier after this and, when they made their way to their classroom, he appeared to be completely normal again.

After having supper with Peter's family, Malvina walked back home in the dark, and when she opened the door, it was to see the family surrounding the radio.

"Shh!" said Mama, beckoning Malvina to join the crowded living room. Malia had a look of half anger, half fear on her face, while Ella's face was uncharacteristically blank. Papa looked simply worried and, when Malvina joined the group, she was able to catch onto the words the radio was spouting out.

"...and more and more tension between the allies and Germany begins to rise, as Hitler continues to defy the Treaty of Versailles..."

Malvina remembered vividly what the Treaty of Versailles was, and her heart gave a jolt when she heard that Hitler was defying it. The Treaty was made so that Germany wouldn't cause another war. What would breaking the rules of the Treaty do?

"The allies have already begun having a discussion about what they should do," the reporter continued, "as Italy has now formed the 'Rome-Berlin axis' with Germany. Many experts around Europe are beginning to believe that these are the warning signs of total outbreak..."

The family huddled around the radio, Malvina hardly daring to believe what she was hearing. She didn't realise that for the upcoming months – for the upcoming years – that this kind of news on the radio would become commonplace for daily listeners.