"School Begins (1931)" Summary

Friedrich and the narrator sit together on the first day of school, after which it is traditional in Germany for families to celebrate. Their parents give them colorful paper bags. Friedrich opens his immediately and shares candy with everyone. The narrator is ready to do the same, but his mother motions him to wait. When the boys push to spend the day at the amusement park, the narrator's parents make excuses, but the Schneiders will not take no for an answer. The narrator sees his parents fretting over money and their discomfort having the Schneiders buy ride tickets, cotton candy, and sausages. The narrator's father is proud to buy licorice for everyone and, as they are leaving, exhausted, demands to pay for a group photograph of them seated on an expanding wooden horse. Everyone looks happy in the "remembrance...