Summary

The elderly Lizzie took a break to drink a glass of water, then resumed her story. After the war started, women began to fill in for absent men’s jobs, which was how Mutti began working at the zoo. Papa returned home on leave every few months, but seemed weaker and more troubled each time. Over time, Papi returned home less and less often, and was possibly sent to Russia. Every time he sent a letter, Mutti would read it to the children and they would sit together thinking about Papi before Mutti put the letter behind his picture on the mantle. The war grew worse and worse and the family could no longer even bear to listen to the radio, but only listened to the gramophone. Lizzie became resentful and frequently irritated.

Meanwhile, Mutti continued to...