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Sophie and even sharing her knowledge of simple Mathematics, Geography and History with the child from time to time.
    At first Sophie’s papa, David, offered to pay for the food, but Greta refused; the family needed to hold on to whatever financial resources they had. Then he stopped offering and surrendered to an all-consuming depression. He stopped shaving. Soon he had a dark beard lined with gray. It suited him, but made him look even more miserable and more like the stereotypical Jew. Matilde did her best to remain cheerful, but her efforts were akin to those of Sisyphus and his boulder.
    Their only contact with the outside world was through listening to a DKE Kleinempfänger cheap radio that could pick up nothing but music, anodyne family entertainment programs, and Nazi propaganda. The library books were some help, but the newspapers were full of sabre rattling and anti-Semitic ranting. Even the family entertainment was tinged with slurs against the Jews, the Communists and other ‘undesirable’ groups. Without Greta’s underground leaflets they would have had no idea what was going on in the world outside.
    Sophie was not happy with her papa. He seemed to have lost the will to live.   She couldn’t understand why they had to stay indoors all the time and why she wasn’t allowed to play with other children. Baby Ule’s visits became ever more important to her, and Greta let her do more and more with the baby.
    Little Ule adored Sophie. He smiled at her a lot. She crawled about with him on the floor. She tickled him to make him laugh. And her lifelike doll, Aschenputtel, was included in all their games together.
    Greta often stayed with the family for a couple of hours. On one occasion, when Ule and Sophie had fallen asleep together on the sofa, Greta asked Sophie’s parents if they had considered leaving Germany.
    David Rosen scowled at her. “We are Germans. Why should we have to leave?”
    Before Greta could respond, Matilde said, “Be realistic, husband. There is no future for us in this country, husband. The Nuremberg Laws…” Her voice drifted away.
    Greta said, “Those laws are just the beginning. Things will get a lot worse for families like yours.”
    David snorted. “You’re probably right, but we don’t want to leave. Where would we go?”
    “Anywhere. It doesn’t matter. France or Belgium, maybe, or England. Anywhere there are lots of Jews, but not Austria. The Nazis are strong there. ”
    Matilde said, “We could go to Poland. I have an uncle and a distant cousin living there.”
    David’s face contorted as if he’d tasted a lemon. “Not Poland. Hitler hates Poland and the Poles.”
     

 
    Chapter 13
     
    August 1938
     
     
    Greta skirted around a shiny Daimler-Benz car in the driveway and presented herself at the door of the Schulze-Boysen residence in Pankow. She rang the bell.
    It was the third week of August. All along the road the plane trees were in flower and the chestnuts were bristling with small green spiked balls.
    Pauletta the maid opened the door and showed Greta in to the study. She whispered, “Have you seen my sister and her family recently?”
    “Yes, I visited them two days ago. They are all well.”
    “Thank you, Frau Kuckhoff. I feel so guilty for not visiting them, but Herr Schulze-Boysen is not happy when I do.”
    Greta had heard this story before. She gave Pauletta a reassuring smile. “Matilde is well. She sends her best wishes.”
    Libertas appeared dressed in a black gown patterned with large pink and blue flowers. “Greta, my darling, so glad you could come.” They embraced. “I hear you’ve been looking after Matilde and her daughter. How are they?”
    “They are well, but their future looks uncertain.”
    “I told Pauletta not to let her sister marry a Jew. I warned Matilde. But no one ever listens to me.” She rolled her eyes.
    Libertas Schulze-Boysen was Greta’s best friend, but there were times when Greta could have strangled her. An