When The World Was Ours

Elsa misses Max and Leo but feels guilty for preferring her new life in all other ways. Her parents and brother seem happier, and although school is challenging, Elsa is learning quickly. Everything is almost perfect, until Elsa’s vati (father) announces that he plans to join the army to fight against Hitler’s forces. He doesn’t allow his wife to object, and she cries, demanding that he come back home. Soon, the whole family embraces, and Vati promises to come home. Now he insists that they spend a happy evening together.

Mr. Schmidt, the headmaster of Max and Leo’s school, calls an assembly that the entire school attends. Max knows Mr. Schmidt to be a kind and gracious person, and he wonders if some kind of reward will be announced. Max and Leo sit together, and the students are quiet as Mr. Schmidt begins calling out the names of various children, asking each to stand. Eventually, he calls Leo’s name, and when Leo stands, Max feels jealous, certain that Leo has been picked for something great.