Letters from Rifka

Rifka finally sees Saul, who visits while the rest of the family is working. She hugs him, and he notes, “You look different” (105). Saul gives Rifka a banana, expecting to impress her with something new, and then wonders how she already knew how to peel it. She explains that she learned about bananas while in Antwerp. A doctor comes in during his rounds, and Rifka speaks to him in English, while Saul is silent. Saul is impressed by her ability to learn English so quickly, stating, “My sister Rifka speaks like an American in one week?” (107). He asks Rifka what to tell their mother about Rifka’s lack of hair, and she advises him to tell the truth.

Ilya comes in, and he and Saul fight over the Pushkin book. Rifka’s Star of David falls out and breaks apart, and Saul calls Ilya a “nasty little peasant” (109). He also is angry at Rifka for reading a Russian book, when they have fled Russia’s persecution. Angry at Rifka’s favor for Pushkin, Saul accuses Rifka of being different than she used to be, but she counters that she has simply survived as life has gone on.