ZOFIAKUBAR
107
as a hardship. I always had an ability
~o
adjust myself to new cir–
cumstances . I am sure that I blotted out the memory of my room in
my parents' house in Lodz. Now I remember it from time to time,
seeing it full of light. There was the flowered wallpaper, the white
furniture fashionable in my childhood; my desk could be adjusted to
my height. There were many books on the shelves - most of them I
remember to this day-and a cabinet where I kept my toys. I re–
member the pictures on the walls: a big photograph of myself, a
five-year-old with curly hair and a look of surprise on her face and a
wooden wheel in her hands. There were prints of smiling children in
a garden, at the lake , on a beach. The decor showed no great artistic
taste on the part of my parents, but everything was arranged with
loving care. I never thought of the room in the days when I moved
from shelter to shelter.
Although I liked my good Aunt Aniela there were moments
when playing the role of a naive, cheerful girl became unbearable .
The news from the ghetto was bad, and I had some frightening ex–
periences when I went out in the city . To come home to her twitter–
ing was more than I could bear . I was about ready to murder this
sweet, innocent fool.
•
•
•
It was around noon when I came home to rest a bit. I
noticed immediately that the usually serene Aunt Aniela was very
nervous. Before I could take off my coat she blurted out "About an
hour ago a policeman was here asking for you. He said that there
were two persons by the name of Zofia Sielczak, both born on the
same day with the same parents. One or both must be Jewish."
I tried to laugh. "That's funny," I said . "Just imagine: Another
girl with my name!"
Now I was the one who prattled . Aunt Aniela wasn't amused.
"I assured him that you are not Jewish, that you are a good
Catholic girl. Of course you are."
1 saw that the poor thing badly wanted to convince herself as
well as the policeman.
"He said that it was his duty to come back and talk to you. He
will be back in a little while."
1 did my best to persuade Aunt Aniela that there must be some
misunderstanding and that 1 would explain it to the policeman.
"Dear child, if you are Polish and Catholic stay with me. I love
you like my own daughter. But if you areJewish-run away! He will
