Chapters 9 and 10 Summary and Analysis

9: By September 1941, Piri started fifth grade. Children were still practicing military drills, and Lilli figured pessimistically that they were training to eventually join the army. Mother got word from Father that his battalion would be coming through Beregszasz in early October, and so the family prepared a great feast.

However, after days of waiting at the train station, Mother and Mrs. Gerber returned discouraged and disappointed. That night, a rap on the door startled everyone. It was Father, who had sneaked away from his barracks in order to see his family. Father met Joli for the first time and hugged the rest of his family. He said that his battalion would likely be going to the Russian front, but that he and Lajos were well and they hoped to be home soon. The family had a final teary goodbye...