But Malka said nothing either, folding her arms beneath her apron, lips tightly sealed. She was swaying but said nothing.
I was livid.
“Sit down, for goodness’ sake. What a circus. And real clowns too. Sit, I said. The lot of you, sit down!”
I yelled so loudly the echo bounced back off the ceiling.
Iosif began to cry. Polina leapt out, sewing in hand.
They sat where they could around the room but left an empty space around me. As if on purpose. Behind the table, I was on my own.
Evka propped her buttocks on the windowsill behind me. Zusel was right in front of me on a stool by the stove, Dovid next to him on a small bench.
Malka muttered:
“Ooh, I don’t feel very well. I’m going to have a little lie-down.” And she curled up on a couch.
Polina went back to the little boy. She showed
