Page 138 - Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

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the winter. In . . in February." The word sat strangely
on her mouth.
"What nonsense is this?" asked Gitl, her hands on
her hips. "And what kind of word is February? They
taught you to count the days by the Christian calendar
in Lublin?" She turned to look at the women who were
circled around them. "You think I do not know my own
niece's birthday? And did I send a present every year?"
"Of course you know," a gray-haired woman called
out.
"I remember the day she was born," said another.
"You told me in the synagogue, all happy with the idea.
You were only thirteen, you said, and already an aunt."
"So," Gitl said, turning to face Hannah.
Her certainty overrode Hannah's own. Besides, she
asked herself,"who knew what day it was, what year,
in this place?
"Thank you, Gitl," she whispered. "It's the best pres-
ent I've ever had, I think. The only one I remember,
aayway."
"Oh, my dear child," Gitl said, pulling her close,,
"thank God that your father and mother are not alive
to see you now."
Caught in Gitl's embrace, Hannah suddenly remem-
bered the little house in the shtetl and the big, em-
bracing arms of Shmuel. "What otShmuel?" she said.
"And Yitzchak? Are they . . . well?"
Gitl sat on a low shelf bed and pulled Hannah down
next to her. The circle of women closed in, eager for
news.
Gitl nodded. "Now listen. Shmuel is working with

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