Free The Jewish Dog by Asher Kravitz

me waiting,” Kalman said as he removed his coat . “Fifty minutes , and in the end I was barely in his office for five . You should have seen the pictures he has hanging on the wall across from the waiting area . Faces and profiles of various races , with a list of characteristics . We’re not portrayed in the best way , no surprise there. . . .”
    â€œWhat did he say about me?” Joshua wanted to know.
    Shoshana also asked , “What did he say about Joshua?”
    â€œHe didn’t call me in to discuss his literary talent . He called me in to relay a message . I’m afraid that it’s not good news . He learned that Joshua had been passing a flirtatious note to his classmate . ‘Astrid Lingenmaier is the daughter of an SS officer , therefore the disgrace is doubly inexcusable . For the benefit of all the parties  . .  .’ so he said , ‘it has been decided that Joshua , Reizel , and Herschel will not attend school anymore.’”
    â€œWhat does that mean? We’ll never ever go back to school?” Herschel asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” his father replied , unable to meet his eyes.
    â€œAnd if I go back next year , will I be in second grade again , or can I continue with my friends in third grade?” Reizel asked.
    Kalman and Shoshana exchanged glances and didn’t answer.
    â€œI don’t like school anyway,” Herschel declared . “I don’t even mind staying home.”
    Kalman gave him a look and Herschel fell silent.
    â€œIn other news,” Kalman said , “I ran into Baruch . He said there are rumors that prisoners in the labor camps have been instructed to sew yellow Stars of David onto prison uniforms.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?” Joshua asked.
    â€œIt’s possible,” Kalman said , “that the evil Hitlerites have plans to imprison Jews and have them do manual labor.”
    â€œPharaoh had us do manual labor too,” Reizel recalled . “Why does everyone make us do manual labor?”
    â€œI don’t know why,” Shoshana admitted . “But I do know what the end of all the evil people will be . Do you remember what happened to Pharaoh and the Egyptians?”
    â€œGod punished them – He smote them with ten plagues and then cast them into the sea.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Joshua said . “God punished Pharaoh and the Egyptians , and He’ll punish Hitler , may his name be blotted out , and all his Nazi cronies.”
    â€œLook,” Herschel said , pointing at me . “Every time we’re sad , Caleb is sad too.”
    â€œLook how he’s lying there,” Shoshana said , “with those droopy ears . He’s really empathizing with us.”
    â€œAnd if we’re happy , will he be happy with us?”
    â€œOf course!” Herschel cried , and stood , clapping and rejoicing . I rose with him , wagging my tail and barking joyously . Herschel smirked , his point proven.
    After these things had come to pass , Kalman hooked the leash to my collar , apparently hoping that an evening walk would calm his spirits . We walked at the same pace , leaving my leash limp . Kalman was lost in his thoughts . I tried to guess what was going on in his head , but I was soon distracted by the urine messages left by my friends on the lampposts , walls , and trees we passed : Spitz was claiming the title of dominant male of south-west Stuttgart , Heidi was spreading the news that she had begun to discover her sexuality , and a new dog , old and sick , had joined the neighborhood.
    I could hear barks and cheers coming from the direction of the Rosenpark , drawing my attention . I glanced at Kalman , who looked curious as well . I shot forward , stretching my leash . I said to myself , I shall go down and see what is the matter. Kalman was dragged in my footsteps to see what was going on . In the center of a circle of spectators and