Free Yossi's Goal by Ellen Schwartz Page A

French boys under the maple tree, and now they all rushed forward.
    â€œWhere were you?”
    â€œ
Qu’est-ce qui a pris si longtemps
?”
    â€œWhat’s going on?”
    Yossi grinned. “We’re fine! It was a close call, but everything’s going to be all right.”
    â€œEverything
what?”
Benny asked in an agonized voice.
    Yossi and Abie laughed. “You’ll see— soon. Come around here and watch.”
    They led the others to the foot of the broad steps at the front of the factory—and they didn’t have long to wait. After several minutes, a piercing whistle shrieked over the din of the sewing machines. Yossi caught Abie’s eye. “The signal!” he said.
    Another whistle. Another. A minute passed. Nothing happened. Then, gradually, the factory’s noise began to change. It grew a little quieter, such a small change that Yossi wasn’t sure if he really heard it. Then quieter still. Slowly the roar changed to a drone, the drone to a hum.
    Men began to appear at the sides of the sweatshop. At first one or two, then half a dozen, then a steady trickle. In pairs and groups, they came down the stairs at either side of the building and marchedaround to the front, where they gathered at the base of the staircase, in front of the boys.
    â€œThey’re…walking out!” Benny said in amazement.
    â€œ
Mon dieu!
” Jean-Paul said.
    Yossi and Abie just grinned at the others.
    The din of the machines grew even softer and quieter. Still, the men poured out the side doors and others began to come around from the back. The noise of the factory faded, faded. The massive double front doors swung open, and men began to pour down the front steps. Supervisors appeared at the top of the stairs, pointing back toward the factory and yelling, but the workers ignored them, continuing to file outside in an unbroken stream.
    With a final whir, the machines fell silent. A cheer arose from the men gathered outside. They slapped one another on the back.
    Craning for a better view, Yossi spotted a familiar tweed cap at the top of thestairs. “Daniel!” he shouted, waving his cap. Daniel turned, flashed Yossi a grin and waved his cap. Then Yossi saw Papa waving. “We did it, Papa!” he yelled, and even though he couldn’t hear Papa’s reply, he laughed as Papa waved his cap back.
    â€œThere’s
my
papa!” Abie said. “Papa!” he hollered, and Herman turned and pumped his fist in the air.
    â€œPapa!” Jean-Paul shouted, and a short man waved back, grinning.
    â€œLook!” Milton cried, and Yossi turned. Women and girls of all ages were coming down the side streets leading to the factory. When the men saw them, a shout went up, a deep rumble that was answered by a high female cheer. Yossi saw Miriam, Mama and Sadie, and he waved madly. Miriam waved back, and then Yossi lost sight of her as she pushed into the crowd. A few moments later, her blue-kerchiefed head appeared beside Daniel’s shoulder.
    There was a commotion at the top of the stairs, and a heavyset man in a long black topcoat and fur hat emerged. Mr.Steiner! Even from this distance, Yossi could see that his face was red. He waved his arms, gesturing toward the factory, but the workers ignored him. He lifted a bullhorn to his mouth and bellowed, “You men, get back to work!”
    No one paid attention.
    â€œYou think you can just walk out on the job? Well, you can’t.”
    â€œWe just did, boss,” someone yelled, and there was a chorus of laughter.
    â€œI’m warning you, get back to your machines right away!”
    â€œWe’re not going, Steiner,” Daniel shouted, stepping forward.
    Mr. Steiner pointed at him. “You! Bernstein! I should have known you’d be the ringleader.”
    Yossi swelled with pride. His almost-brother-in-law, the ringleader! But then a thought struck him. If Mr. Steiner knew that Daniel was