These guys must be stopped said Ben insistently They’re dangerous Dangerous said Mr Cohen They’re in Germany for one thing and they’re a bunch of nuts for another They’ll never get anywhere The Germans are angry but they’re not stupid What are they angry about asked Jaap They lost the big war twelve years ago and their money’s still worthless said Mr Cohen but that doesn’t mean they’ll turn their country over to a crazy man Ben tapped his finger on the newspaper spread on the table There was a picture of a man in uniform raising his right arm straight out over a crowd raising their right arms toward him They need someone to blame for their own problems said Ben in disgust They need to hurt somebody to feel better about themselves Sort of an anti-mitzvah said Jaap The Cohens suddenly stopped talking and turned to look at him and then laughed I guess that’s a good word for it Jaapy said Mr Cohen But this is grown-up talk You wouldn’t understand what we
He knows what a bully is Don’t you Jaap said Ben Enough Ben snapped Mr Cohen glaring at his brother He turned back to Jaap You don’t have to worry about any of this Jaapy It doesn’t concern you And probably never will muttered Ben Mr Cohen glared at him again Uh Jaapy could you light the dining room first please said Mrs Cohen There’s some candied fruit on the buffet so just help yourself Jaap was bothered by the conversation He brought it up a few days later to his friend Brammy Dorland on their way home from school Bullies I guess you never get away from them not even as a grown up he said I just don’t get it Do you Well take Herman for example said Brammy Actually just TAKE HERMAN The boys laughed Herman was the school bully He had gotten left back the previous year and used his size to terrorize the other kids especially Brammy But Jaap and Bram always stood up against the bully together When Jaap came to school with his new glasses Herman tried to grab them Jaap pushed him away but Herman tripped over his own feet The
crowd on the playground roared with laughter All right Penraat he said taking off his jacket say your prayers They tumbled to the ground punching and swinging at each other Suddenly Herman fell backward Brammy yelled Jaap Bram had managed to grab Herman by the collar and yank him off Jaap Herman seemed glad to have an excuse to quit fighting Don’t think I’m finished with you Penraat said Herman You’re gonna get what’s coming to you You and your little Jewboy friend Dorland So long Four Eyes Herman and his gang sauntered away laughing and trading punches Jaap was a bit dazed He had never heard the word Jew spoken in that tone of voice before Slowly he rose to his feet and headed home as darkness fell 10
FIRESTORM 1933 hese are my treasures I want you boys to share them said Mr Mandelbaum somberly Now that you’re thirteen you are old enough Jaap and Brammy had been playing chess in the kitchen when the old man entered with two towering stacks of books and set them down on the table They contain ideas he continued They will make you think That’s why they’re so afraid of them They don’t want you to think for yourselves But don’t give in to them boys No matter who else does Never give in to them There were books on art music astronomy and politics Einstein Mark Twain and Shakespeare were among the names on the worn leather spines The old man nodded to Jaap’s mother and left Who was he talking about Mom asked Jaap Who are they The Nazis said his mother Mr Mandelbaum is upset about what they did in Berlin last night She turned away quickly hoping that peeling potatoes would mask her own fear The boys stared at her until she continued The Nazis burned books last night It was on the radio They made bonfires out of books written by foreigners and liberals and Jewish people Jaap glanced at Brammy His head was down They could have my math books said Jaap trying to shift the mood It didn’t work 11
