Chapter 14 Summary

The first letter from Samuel arrives and despite waiting for it constantly, Esther misses it and finds it on their front stoop. Throughout the letter, he tries to be optimistic and happy. Both her mother and grandmother spend much of their time now trying to get scraps of news about the war, and neither tries to hide their worry about the state of the rest of the family from Esther.

There is only one week's supply of potatoes left and a thirty-ruble note. The monthly five rubles for Esther's lunch are required and Esther is given the 30-ruble note with strict instructions not to lose it. Of course, she misplaces it. When she arrives home, she is in hysterics, but her mother calmly tells her that they will sell something on the black market for money. It is highly illegal to do this...