Page 23 - LEIBY
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Chapter 3 23
Chapter 3
Leiby peeked out of the narrow window next to the door but in
the duskiness of the stairwell, he couldn’t see anything.
“Who is it?” he asked.
When no reply was forthcoming, he opened the window,
climbed up onto the drainpipe, then slid down stealthily, cat-
like, landing just behind the mysterious guest. Now Leiby could
see him clearly and was surprised to see that he was just a young
boy who appeared to be about ten years old, short and thin,
with dark eyes and a pale face. His clothes looked ragged and at
least two sizes larger than his small frame needed, and his shoes
were full of holes.
Leiby led the boy into the house, lit the kerosene stove and
heated up some milk. Then he sliced a thick piece of bread and
slathered it liberally with jam.
The boy wolfed down the food hungrily and took great gulps of
the milk. He looked totally exhausted, and Leiby offered him
his bed.
The boy slept the entire day, waking up only the next morning.
Leiby sliced him another piece of bread, spread it with oil and
heated up a portion of potato soup. Once again, the boy ate
