*
My God, look at you!
†
You’re all so tanned. But emaciated and older, and completely disheveled.
‡
I brought your down comforter from Basel
§
What? Such a miserable room? You can’t possibly seriously think that all four of us are going to sleep in that bed?
‖
Bubi will sleep in the hayloft while it’s still warm.
a
Such a handsome uncle!
b
Be careful, that’s not sponge cake, it’s cornbread.
c
Where are you taking me?
d
I’m going to show you everything.
e
Is this possible?
f
But when I opened my eyes, I saw a copper ring in the train compartment, always the same one. I thought: in twenty-four hours I’m going to open my eyes and be a different person.
g
You can’t imagine how poorly father is living, in a basement room with no bed. You mustn’t tell anyone.
h
I’m afraid of animals and robbers.
i
There are no robbers.
j
He guards the forest.
k
I’m scared, Bubi.
l
What are those people saying? Please, let’s go back into the forest.
m
Is this possible? This is a regular wilderness, isn’t it?
n
That’s how I always imagined witches to be.
o
Jump down from there or the horses will bite you.
p
I feel like a prisoner, Bubi. My God, what a thought: am I going to have to live here forever?
q
Why are you crying?
r
Me?
s
I just can’t believe it. That that’s really Vati’s bell, when he was always such a heathen
t