Milkweed

Enos tells Misha that the sign on Olek’s body read, “I was a smuggler” (116). The boys mourn for their friend in their own ways. While Ferdi smokes and Kuba remains silent, Big Henryk weeps. Misha tells the boys that he saw Uri but no one pays him any mind. The next day, snow falls in the ghetto and Misha visits the orphanage and Doctor Korczak. Doctor Korczak continues to teach the children how to sing. Misha spies a boy trying to eat newspaper.

Misha sees Uncle Shepsel on the street. Uncle Shepsel appears cheerful and Misha is surprised by his sudden change in outlook. The day appears just as gray as any other to Misha. Misha watches as a man bangs his head into a stone wall over and over until he bleeds. Uncle Shepsel asks Misha why he returns to the ghetto every night, when he could simply flee. Misha says nothing in return.

When Misha returns to the Milgroms’ room, he sees that Mrs. Milgrom is dead. Misha remembers calling Mrs. Milgrom “mother” once, but she refused to acknowledge him. Misha calls Mr. Milgrom “Tata,” just like Janina does, and Mr. Milgrom takes them both into his lap to comfort them (117). The next day, Mr. Milgrom gives the undertaker a bottle of pills in exchange for a burial. Misha observes Mr. Milgrom putting on a small black hat.

Uncle Shepsel stays behind in the room. The other members of the Milgrom family march in their own pseudo-parade down the street. Misha watches as women with fox furs around their necks cry and hurry along in the street. All furs are to be turned in to the Jackboots. Eventually, the small procession reaches the cemetery. After they lay Mrs. Milgrom in her grave, bombs start to fall around the city. Mr. Milgrom and the children hide in the grave with Mrs. Milgrom. Janina finds a milkweed pod in her pocket.

Misha and the rest of the Milgroms are forced to deal with the side effects of the bombing. While Uncle Shepsel believes that the Russian bombing is a sign that they are saved, most believe this to be false. With new people being forced into the ghetto every day, space is a commodity. When the family returns to the room, they find other people there. Mr. Milgrom allows the five adults and twin boys to take up residence in the room.

The winter is long and people in the ghetto continue to starve. Misha describes the haunted look of orphans in the streets. It has become difficult for Misha and Janina to find food past the wall, after the bombing; the only thing they have in quantity is lice. Misha describes an instance where he and Janina watch as a couple of Jackboots and their girlfriends throw pieces of bread onto the ground and watch as people lunge for the food. Misha notices one Jackboot lady who does not laugh.

Misha watches as a boy tries to follow a man who claims that he will lead the children to candy mountain, but the child is too slow to catch up with him. Misha and Janina are no longer able to leave food on the table due to the strangers and sneak the food into the pockets of Mr. Milgrom and Uncle Shepsel instead. One night, Misha and Janina see that someone is throwing food over the wall and the children momentarily have a vacation of sorts, feasting with the family. This goes on for a few days before, suddenly, the influx of food stops.

Misha and Janina usually meet on the outside of the ghetto before returning back together. One night, Misha is unable to fit through the hole. Misha strips out of all of his clothes before he is able to re-enter the city. The next day, Misha asks Big Henryk to beat his feet so that he will stop growing. As they are in the middle of this, the boys are distracted by a horrendous screaming noise. They watch as a Jackboot sets a cow on fire, the animal bounding into the air, aflame, before it is mobbed by starving people.