We Are Wolves chapter sampler

‘Unique!’ cries Opa. ‘And they have no holes and will keep your feet warm and dry when the snow comes!’ I blush. Of course, he is right. I should be grateful. Warm, watertight boots are a treat and more than many folk have nowadays. All of the new boots in East Prussia – and the rest of Germany – go to our soldiers. Which is proper because they are fighting to make Germany great. And when the war is over, we will all have shiny new boots whenever we like, I am sure. ‘Thank you, Opa,’ I say. ‘They’re lovely.’ ‘And unique, don’t forget,’ says Opa, his eyes twinkling. I laugh. ‘Yes, they are!’ Oma has set the table with our best china and fine linen serviettes. We have soup made with potatoes and carrots. I hate carrots. But then we have cake. A real cake with cherries in the middle and cream on top. Mama walked from farm to farm until she managed to buy enough eggs, butter and cream to bake something truly special. ‘To cheer us all up,’ she says. And for a while it does. Mia grins with the first mouthful of buttery sweetness and soon she has cream rubbed into her hair alongside the pieces of squashed potato. Opa pretends to be horrified. ‘Disgusting! Disgusting!’ he roars, throwing his hands in the air.

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