We Are Wolves chapter sampler

Papa drops his rucksack. ‘Otto!’ he snaps. ‘You must not curse Hitler. Ever!’ ‘It’s dangerous!’ hisses Mama.

‘Terribly dangerous,’ whispers Oma. ‘And wrong,’ I add. ‘We love Hitler.’ Papa frowns. Mama’s hand slips from her mouth to her chest.

Opa snorts. Opa seems to be snorting more and more these days. Perhaps he has a cold that just won’t go away. Mia giggles and says, ‘Boo! Boo!’ She’s only one and a half and it’s her favourite thing to say. She’s trying to say ‘Boom! Boom!’ which is Otto’s favourite thing to say. Otto is always playing war games and blowing things up. All the boys are. Otto loves war and battles and tanks and planes and soldiers. But not at this moment. Not when it’s our own papa who is becoming a soldier and being sent away from home. Otto puts his hands on his hips and glares at us all. ‘If Hitler is so great, why is his photo turned toward the wall?’ I look over to where Herr Hitler hangs above the dining table. Otto is right! Our beloved leader is facing the wallpaper. He should be looking into our parlour, shining his goodness and love upon us all, just as he does in every other family’s parlour. But he’s not. He’s facing the wall. Who would do such a thing? Otto and I both look to Papa. Papa looks to Opa.

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