Emmi’s smile faded. “What’s wrong?”
“I created a mess of things for Anna,” Max said.
“You did not,” Anna said.
“It was my idea,” Max said, turning toward Anna.
Emmi furrowed her brows. “What are you talking about?”
Anna drew a deep breath, cold air stinging her nostrils, and then looped her arm through Emmi’s. As they walked toward school, she and Max told Emmi about bartering Norbie’s timepieces for food, and their encounter with Waldemar.
“Oh, no,” Emmi said. “Waldemar followed you for the entire afternoon?”
“I think so,” Anna said. “I’m sure he has informed Fleck. I’ll likely be relieved from my duties when we arrive at school.”
“You won’t be let go,” Max said. “I’ll talk with him. I’m sure he’ll be reasonable about the situation.”
“Ja,” Emmi said. “You’ll smooth things over with Fleck; you always do.”
“I hope you’re right,” Anna said, walking ahead. “But if things work out poorly with Fleck, I might need to speak with Dr. Stalling about returning to the hospital.”
Emmi nudged Max, and then picked up a handful of snow. She packed it with her gloved hands and tossed it, striking the back of Anna’s knit cap.
A clump of snow dropped inside Anna’s collar, freezing her bare skin. She turned, slipping on ice. “What was that for?”
“You worry too much,” Emmi said.
Anna, as if by reflex, grabbed a handful of snow and hurled it. But it missed Emmi, who ducked, and struck Max in the face.
Max crouched to a knee and lowered his head.
“Oh, no!” Anna dashed to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—are you okay?”
Max sprang up, laughing, and dumped a large ball of snow onto Anna’s head.
“Trickster!” Anna said, packing a handful of snow.
Emmi chuckled, then received a snowball to her shoulder from Anna.
Within seconds, the trio—like a group of schoolchildren on a snow holiday—were chucking snowballs, pelting each other’s coats. Max, with the aid of Nia, who pointed him in the general direction of Anna and Emmi, landed several hits. Anna’s angst evaporated under a hail of snowballs and, for the moment, she forgot all about Fleck, her hunger, and the war.
Max tossed a snowball, landing short of Anna’s feet.
“Come on, Max!” Anna shouted. “Is that all you got?”
Max waved, and then sucked in air to catch his breath.
Anna dropped her snowball and approached him. “Are you all right?”
He nodded. “I’m out of snowball fighting shape.”
“If the winter continues to be like this,” Emmi said, extending her hand to catch snowflakes, “you’ll get plenty of exercise with me and Anna.”
A muffled clopping and squeak of wagon wheels grew from behind them.
Anna turned. Through the falling snow, a horse-drawn wagon appeared. On the bench and holding the reins was Fleck. Sitting next to him was his dog, Elfriede.He’s early. She dusted her and Max’s coats, attempting to hide evidence of their snowball fight.
Fleck tugged on the reins and the wagon slowed to a stop. “Get in.”
