White Bird: A Novel

Chapter One

1930s, France

 

Sara? Sara, are you ready to go?

I spun around in an exasperated circle, watching the skirt of my new dress flare out. Papa, how can you ask that? I ve been ready for hours, I told him.

Hours? He raised a dubious eyebrow.

I nodded. Yes, hours. Can we go now?

In a moment, when your mother is ready. Where s your coat and hat? asked Papa.

I groaned dramatically. It s spring, Papa. I don t need my coat and hat.

Papa put on his own coat and hat, then folded his arms across his chest. My dear girl, I am a man of science. The calendar may say it is spring, but look outside and you ll see that the trees are telling a different story.

The trees say I m fine without my coat and hat, I informed him.

Your mother says otherwise, and that s final, said Maman, joining us in the front hall. She looked so chic in her red wool coat and matching hat that I abandoned my protest and put mine on, too.

Fine. Can we go now? I asked, twirling again for her to admire me. She kissed me on the head, and we set off for the market, the three of us, arm in arm.

This was our family tradition on weekend mornings. We would go for a brisk walk together and do our grocery shopping. I always insisted on walking in the middle. I felt safe and snug between the two of them. I also liked imagining the three of us as a sandwich: my tall, elegant papa and my pretty, sophisticated maman were the two sides of une baguette, and I was un petit morceau de fromage nestled between them.

Bonjour, Dr. Blum! Bonjour, Mme. Blum! our friends and neighbors would call out as we passed them in the streets. I liked noticing the way the people in our town looked at us. That s Dr. Blum, I would imagine them telling visitors. He s an extremely talented surgeon. And his wife is brilliant as well. She teaches at the university! And she was one of the first

R. J. Palacio with Erica S. Perl