Free Hiding Edith by Kathy Kacer Page B

with at least a few of her friends. The thought of being alone was even more terrifying.
    “Well, I’m not going to be sent anywhere,” said Eric.
    “What do you mean?” asked Edith. “Everyone is going to a safe home.”
    “Not me,” replied Eric. “I’m leaving. I’m joining the Resistance in the east of France. These papers will get me across the country to fight the Nazis. What do you say to that?”
    Edith stared at Eric in disbelief. She knew about the Resistance. She knew that all across Europe, groups of men and women wererisking their lives to slow down Hitler and his armies — stealing weapons, blowing up railroad tracks and ammunition supplies, passing information to the Allies. Most of the fighters were Christians, but Jewish men and women were also in the Resistance. And Eric was about to join them.
    “Jews are fighting back wherever possible,” Eric continued. “Just a couple of months ago, there was a revolt in the Warsaw ghetto. The Jews there refused to be imprisoned any longer. I want to fight back too.”
    Edith knew about the Warsaw ghetto. Bouli had told them about the revolt there. But thousands of Jewish men, women, and children had been killed in the uprising. Eric seemed to have forgotten that part. But nothing would stop Eric from something he was determined to do. Edith could only wish him good luck.
    “When are you leaving, Eric?” she asked softly.
    “Soon,” he replied. “When these identity papers are done. Don’t look so sad. No one has caught me yet. And no one will. Besides, I’m still official photographer, so while you’re here, let me take your pictures for the new documents.”
    Edith and Sarah lined up to pose for their photos. When it was her turn, Edith stared somberly at the camera. She didn’t smile but made a silent promise.
No matter what those papers say, I won’t forget who I am, Mutti
.

CHAPTER 16
Remember Who You Are
    Over the next few days, Shatta and Bouli met with groups of children to show them their identity papers and rehearse their new names. Edith stared at her photo on her new document. That was her face staring back at her, unsmiling and serious. But it was the name underneath the picture that held Edith’s attention. She was no longer Edith Schwalb. The name beneath her photo was Edith Servant. Edith Servant. She whispered the name several times, rolling the strange sound around her mouth. Edith Servant. Edith Servant. Well, at least she kept her first name. That was some relief. But still, after she’d spent eleven years being one person with one identity, this new name was too strange to grasp fully.
    Edith looked over at Sarah. Her face was pale, and she was moving her lips as if she was studying for a test. “Well? What’s your name?” asked Edith.
    Closing her eyes, Sarah whispered, “Simone. Simone Carpentier.”

    Identification papers issued to a girl named Irene Marie Jerome. Her real name was Inge Joseph. Edith had false identification papers similar to this one.
    Edith nodded. There was nothing to say. She stared at the cross on her baptismal certificate. Even that looked so out of place beside her name on the paper. Edith Servant was Catholic. Did that mean Edith Schwalb had to give up her Judaism?
    “Practice saying your new names,” Shatta was saying to the group. “From now on you must stop using your old names and refer to one another only by your new ones.” Shatta picked up Sarah’s papers. “If I say the name Sarah, you must not answer,” she said, looking into Sarah’s eyes. “There must be no response in any way — not a turn of the head, not even a nod.” Shatta returned the papers and moved on. “Repeat your new names over and over until they seem completely natural. Your safety depends on this. There can be no mistakes, as you will have no second chances.

    “On your documents, there is a new place of birth,” continued Shatta, as she moved around the room. “Learn the name of the city or town