Free You Are My Sunshine: A Novel Of The Holocaust (All My Love Detrick Companion Novel) by Roberta Kagan

trays of food and tried her best to engage her in light conversation. But today Zofia had her own bundle of emotions to contend with and so she just got out of bed to bring her mother a slice of bread with a little butter and some tea. Then she sat on the chair in the living room gazing out at nothing and wondering where she could go from here. Determined not to face Mr. Taylor, Donald, she decided that she was going to find work, full time work and leave school forever. She would miss her friends and she’d always done well in her studies, but seeing him and reliving her humiliation was far too much to bear. Tomorrow she would ask Mr. Bidowsky to teach her more about the diamond business. Up until now, she’d done little more than keep the store clean, and occasionally help a customer. Perhaps he might hire her to learn the trade.
    Lena came by again the following morning. Zofia ached to get dressed and go off to school. She felt empty inside as if a part of her life had ended, and ended abruptly. But she could not bring herself to face him.  So, she bid Lena farewell, got dressed and walked to Bidowsky’s Jewelry store. 
    “ Zofia, what brings you here so early in the morning?” Mrs. Bidowsky asked.
    “I have a problem. I need to talk to you and Mr. Bidowsky.”
    “Yes, dear of course, come in, you want some tea, maybe a little something to eat?”
    “No thank you. ”
    “Sammie, Zofia, is here. She needs to talk to us. Come take a minute.”
    The Bidowsky’s lived behind the store in a small apartment. Zofia followed Mrs. Bidowsky back to the small kitchen where they both sat down at the table.
    Mrs. Bidowsky took a small glass jug of milk out of the icebox.
    “Here, you’ll have a little milk?”
    “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
    “I insist. You can’t come to my house and not have a little bit something ...” Mrs. Bidowsky said smiling. She poured a glass milk and gave Zofia a thick slice of bread. “You should eat a little bit, you’re so skinny.” She smiled at Zofia then called out again “Sam? Come on, what are you doing?”
    “All right, give me a minute…I’m coming.”
    When they were all seated, Zofia looked at the kind of faces of her boss and his wife. Then she thought, God forgive me for lying.
    “Mr. and Mrs. Bidowsky, my mother and I have fallen on hard times. As you know my mother , Selda is ill, bedridden. It seems that the money my father left us is running out. I must leave school and find full time work. Can you extend my hours? I am willing to learn the business so that I can help you even more efficiently.”
    Mr. Bidowsky ran his hand over his beard. “I don’t know if I can afford to give you any more hours. My son George is finishing school and he will need a job.”
    “What can we do to help her?” Mrs. Bidowsky asked. She was a heavyset woman with a round face, soft blue eyes, and a warm smile.
    “I can give you a little bit of money. Perhaps that will help.”
    “No, I don’t want to take your money. I am looking for a trade. Something for the future” She said.
    “You don’t want to finish school?’ Mrs. Bidowsky said.
    “I can’t. I need to find work for my mother and I.”
    The older woman nodded.
    “You know, I heard that the seamstress, Mrs. Kolowsky is looking for a girl to apprentice. She is only a few blocks from here. Do you sew?” Mrs. Bidowsky asked.
    “I haven’t but I could learn. I am a quick learner.”
    “She is a friend of mine, well, not exactly a friend. But I know her. She has done alterations for me, plenty.” Mrs. Bidowsky laughed and her large tummy shook. “Give me a few minutes, I have some things to do, but then I will go with you and talk to her. How will that be, Zofia?”
    “That’s so kind of you, Mrs. Bidowsky.”
    “Oy, it’s nothing.” She smiled.
    “I am glad we can help.” Mr. Bidowsky said. “I hope the seamstress will be able to give you work.”
    “Yes, so do I.”
    After she bundled up against the cold,