Page 133 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

hands. Not a country girl like Shifre. We outlast you
every time."
When Hannah tried to thank Rivka, the girl only
smiled and shrugged away the thanks. "My mother,
may she rest in peace, always said a nemer iz nishtkeyn
geber, a taker is not a giver. And a giver is not a taker
either. Keep your thanks. And hand it on." She said it
gently, as if embarrassed.
Hannah understood her embarrassment and didn't
mention it again, but she did try to pass it on. She began
saving the softer insides of the bread, slipping it to
Reuven when she could. Yitzchak's little boy was so
thin and sad-looking, still wondering where his sister
had gone, that she could not resist him. She even tried
giving him her whole bread, meal after meal, until Gitl
found out.
"You cannot help the child by starving yourself," Gitl
said. "Besides, with those big blue eyes, he will have
.
many to help him. And that smile . . "
Hannah bit her lip. Those big blue eyeS and the lu-
minous, infrequent smiles reminded her of someone she
couldn't name.
"But you—you are still a growing girl, Chaya. You
must take care of you." She folded Hannah's hands
around the bread and pushed her away from Reuven.
"Go, finish your kitchen duties. J will take Reuven with
me.
Hannah turned away reluctantly, as if she had some-
how failed Rivka. As she did so, she saw that Gitl had
given the child her own bread—and, half her soup be-
sides.

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