Number the Stars

In the morning, while Ellen is still asleep, Annemarie hears her uncle get up to go milk the cows. Kirsti finds a cat she's named Thor and tries to give him water. Mrs. Johansen has made a good breakfast, which includes some butter. She says, “he managed to save a little this time” (Page 68). Annemarie wonders what Henrik saved the butter from, and Mrs. Johansen explains that normally the army relocates it all. Ellen comes downstairs, and the girls play outside all day. Mrs. Johansen cleans, grumbling that Henrik needs a wife and needs to take better care of the house.

When Henrik comes home, he says that tomorrow is the day for fishing. Annemarie remembers the phrase form her father's telephone call. Henrik says he will stay on the boat all night and asks if Mrs. Johansen has prepared the living room, which she has. Henrik explains that there's been a death and that Great-Aunt Birte will be buried tomorrow, with a funeral at home. This confuses Annemarie because not only hadn't she heard of the death, she never heard of this relative before. It turns out the great-aunt doesn't exist. 

After dinner, Annemarie goes to the barn where Uncle Henrik is milking. She tells him that he's lying and that she knows that there is no Great-Aunt Birte. He asks her how brave she is. “Not very,” she responds (Page 75). He tells her he doesn't think this is true and that she is like her parents and him, but that it's easier to be brave if she doesn't know everything. She thinks back to the soldier on the street and how she didn't know about the Germans taking away the Jews and agrees. Henrik says that the lie was to help her be brave, and so he won't tell her anymore. There's a noise outside; Annemarie sees it is a hearse and goes back into the house.

Kirsti has already gone to bed. Ellen tells Mrs. Johansen that she's sorry for the death. Annemarie doesn’t tell Ellen the truth so that she can protect her. Other people come, whom Mrs. Johansen calls friends. Annemarie looks at her mother and knows she is lying; her mother looks back and understands that Annemarie knows. This bonds them together: “In that moment, with that look, they became equals” (Page 79). Among the visitors are a mother with a baby who is nursing and an old man. Annemarie thinks it is a strange funeral because nobody has brought food like after Lise died and nobody is reminiscing. Henrik sees something outside and notes that someone is coming in a relieved voice. Ellen goes with him outside. Peter comes in the house, then Mr. Rosen comes in, carrying Ellen, with Mrs. Rosen.

Henrik has to leave. Now between her parents, Ellen seems to be in a different world from Annemarie. Mrs. Johansen tells Annemarie that she can go to bed, but Annemarie goes to sleep in the rocking chair instead. Later, she is awoken by headlights and a knocking at the door. A German officer says that many people are gathered together, and Mrs. Johansen explains that it’s for a funeral. The officer questions Annemarie and she explains that it is for Great-Aunt Birte. However, the German wonders why the coffin is closed. Mrs. Johansen says it is because of typhus germs, but then suggests opening it anyway despite the germs. The Nazi slaps Mrs. Johansen and says to do it after they leave. Before going, the officers demand that they put out the candles.

As they leave, Annemarie cries for her mother, who only shakes head. Peter reads a psalm aloud about numbering the stars. To Annemarie, the world seems big and scary. Finally, Peter says that it is time, and he opens the coffin.