Number the Stars

All three girls play with paper dolls, pretending they are characters in Gone with the Wind. Ellen, in particular, is good at acting. Mrs. Johansen brings in new shoes for Kirsti, who hates them. Because war shortages mean there is no leather, her shoes are made out of fish skin and are green. Ellen suggests using ink to dye them black, which Kirsti accepts. The girls return to their game, which mixes the story with locations they know, such as Tivoli Gardens. Annemarie remembers seeing fireworks at Tivoli Gardens and Kirsti claims she can also remember this, though Annemarie knows she is too young. However, she figures out that Kirsti is actually remembering the time when the country blew up their own naval fleet, destroying their ships so the Nazis couldn't take them. At the time, her mother thought the king must have been sad about it, but her father said he must have been proud. The memory makes Annemarie want to stop playing. Ellen has to go home anyway to help clean for the Jewish New Year celebration. She invites Kirsti to come and see Mrs. Rosen light the candles.

On Thursday, the Johansens see the Rosens going to synagogue.