Summary

April 20, 1945 – Rose’s mother called her room at the Paris Ritz. Rose lied to her mother to make her feel better and then talked about her room and the fact that Germany did not bomb Paris, because the German commander in charge of doing so refused to do it. Rose’s mother began talking about how the family does not believe the stories coming out of the concentration camps. Rose took the phone away from her ear so she would not have to hear it. When Rose finally returned to the call, Rose’s mother said in relief, “I thought I’d lost you” (118).

Rose reminisces about how each spring her mother made the family wash down the whole house. Rose wonders, “How can I ever tell Mother about the filth?” (119). She then describes the cramped quarters, having to go to the...