White Bird: White Bird

My papa, Max, was a renowned surgeon.

France surrendered to Germany in June 1940. As a result, the country was split into two zones: the Occupied Zone and the Free Zone.

The Vichy government passed a series of anti-Jewish laws.
*Statut des Juifs
*Statute of Jews

There began a very systemized campaign of anti-Jewish propaganda, blaming Jews for all the troubles in France.

Some were sent to internment camps in France.

My school, luckily, was a haven for me.

I admit—and forgive me for being immodest—I was an excellent student. Top of the class.

The disease ravaged his body and left his legs twisted and shriveled.

This may sound strange, given the times we lived in...but that was the first time I had ever personally experienced anti-Semitism.

That afternoon, as I rode my scooter home, the world seemed more ominous than it had before.

Mademoiselle Petitjean was explaining the Pythagorean theorem when suddenly...Pastor Luc, the directeur of the school, burst into the room.

Why had I not gone into the woods with the others? I wish I could say it was an act of bravery, or defiance. But it was not.

Perhaps they lost their way in the woods. Or perhaps the Nazis did not want stragglers. Either way, those little children never arrived in Pithiviers.

To this day, that remains the kindest, most noble thing anyone has ever done for me.

The water was so frigid! And yet he gave me his threadbare coat.

The water was so frigid! And yet he gave me his threadbare coat.

We walked to the outskirts of the village, avoiding the main roads.

We have crazy old neighbors who are very nosy. We think they're Nazi collaborators.

Oh, those are just the bats nesting in the rafters.

But then the laughter subsided, as the day's events caught up to us.

You must be famished, chérie. Have some soup while we clean the place up for you.

But after the Occupation began, the Lafleurs changed. They became reclusive. Secretive. They stopped speaking to the Beaumiers.

We would play inside an old car in the barn. It was completely rusted, decrepit.

He had become my best friend, my confidant, my co-conspirator.

We never bickered.

And because I know that day is coming, I know he'll be very cross with me if I let you fall behind on your math...so back to work, young lady!

The threat of expulsion will keep Vincent in check.

The truth is...he should not have taken the sketchbook. It was too risky—for all of us. And he knows that. But...he wanted to surprise you. I don't begrudge him that.

When Julien finally did come back to the barn, things were very awkward between us at first. He was distant. Aloof.

Our friendship could survive anything—even my self-absorbed ways, and his smug little smile every time he beat me at cards.

Time passes. That is the only thing one can be sure of in life: time does not stop. Not for anyone. Not for anything. Time marches on, oblivious to all.

Welcome to the Resistance, Pastor Luc.

Hey, I whittled something for you.

Vivienne has been saving ration cards for months.

The bright morning light caught his eye. It was coming from my direction. It was like a beacon announcing where I was!

If I was going to die, I would not die cowering in a corner!

Bernstein and I served in the infantry together in the Great War.

WALK TO THE THICKET UP AHEAD!

We found out later the roads had been cleared to make way for a German battalion heading north from Mende.

They were memorialized with a plaque after the war.