MAMA SPOKE FIRST. “Come, children. Let’s arrange our space.” Blankets were piled neatly in one corner of the hiding place. Mr. Kos, or perhaps Joseph, had already placed their cases with their few belongings in another corner. Mama quickly took charge, distributing the blankets and handing out their extra clothing from the suitcases. It was difficult to get organized in the tight space.
“Ouch!” yelled Max. Gabi had accidentally swatted him while pulling a sweater over her head. Max rubbed his arm. “Watch what you’re doing.”
“I’m sorry, Max,” said Gabi. “I didn’t mean to punch you. Just move your leg over so I can stretch out.”
“I can’t move any further,” complained Max as he squirmed and shoved Gabi’s arm aside. “Look, I’m already pushed up against this pile of hay.”
Already Gabi felt the straw closing in on her, as she crouched over to avoid banging her head.
“Children, stop it,” interrupted Mama. “Max, move your leg to this side and that way Gabi can stretch out next to you. I know it’s snug, but we have to work together and help each other.”
Gabi shook her head and sighed. There was nothing snug about this place. Snug was her bed at home when she buried herself under her thick feather comforter. Snug was how she felt when Mama used to build a fire in the wood stove of their kitchen and her cheeks burned in its blaze. This hiding place was not snug. It was bleak and unwelcoming.
“Fine,” said Max, shifting his body. He drew an imaginary line in the hay around his legs and shoulders, claiming one corner of the hiding place. “This is my space and that’s yours. Don’t put your legs in my space, Gabi.”
Gabi shifted over, as well, and shivered. The bales of hay surrounding them on three sides provided some warmth. But the temperature outside had dropped to below zero and cold air whistled in through the slits of the fourth barn wall. Mama shoved their empty cases up against the wooden wall, and pushed some hay into the larger cracks, to block the wind from gusting through. But it didn’t help. Max’s teeth chattered loudly as he draped a pair of trousers around his neck and wound a scarf over his head. He looked almost comical. So did Gabi, as she wrapped a sweater around each of her feet and her shoulders.
Gabi, Max, and Mama stared at each other again. Now what do we do, thought Gabi. It was only midday. It would be hours before they could leave the barn.
“I think we should try to get some sleep,” said Mama. “We were up so early this morning and I, for one, am exhausted. Besides,” she continued as if reading Gabi’s mind, “sleeping will help pass the time. Before we know it, Mr. Kos will return to bring us into the house for the evening.”
Gabi burrowed deep into the soft hay floor, careful to avoid Max’s space. She could already see how hard it was going to be not to get on each others nerves. Max and Mama stretched out beside her, each one piling mounds of hay over their legs and arms. Their breaths mingled together in the small space above their heads. The sound of their inhaling and exhaling seemed suddenly so loud in the stillness of the hiding place. Gabi could hear shouts from outside — farmers on the hill or children going about their day. She startled as squeaky sounds came from inside the barn. Was that the barn door or a barn mouse? Was that Mrs. Kos sweeping or Mr. Kos working in the yard?
Max moved restlessly beside her and then jumped as a spider crawled up his arm and disappeared somewhere into his jacket. He punched and pounded his shoulder hoping he’d killed it or that it had gotten lost somewhere in the stacks of hay.
Gabi closed her eyes to sleep, but her mind was still racing. How was this rickety old barn ever going to keep them safe, she wondered, pulling her sweater tighter around her neck. And how long were they going to have to stay here? A month? A year? This war had already lasted so much longer than anyone had predicted.
Gabi pulled her doll close to her. Its porcelain face was ice cold, but that didn’t matter. It was good just to hold the doll, to cradle it in her arms, and to think about home. Gabi longed for the home that she had left behind. She worried about her friends and wondered where they were and if they were in danger. She thought about Mama and how desperate she was to keep her family safe. And finally, she imagined her father. I wish so much that he were here with us, prayed Gabi. And with that thought, Gabi finally surrendered to sleep.