Letters Across the Sea by Genevieve Graham (best short novels of all time txt) 📗

then finally arrive at Queen’s Park, where everyone would congregate.

Molly’s smile was a mile wide, and her eyes darted everywhere, at the signs and banners and faces. He couldn’t blame her. He’d never seen anything like it in his life. Among the sea of signs, a group of young people waved a long, vivid banner of red and gold with the words “Young Communist League” painted across its length. Just like on the flyer, most of the slogans were written in English as often as Yiddish, and they represented every group imaginable: Headgear Workers, Fur Workers, Bakers, Single Men’s Unemployed Association, and more.

“I can’t believe this all started with your father’s group,” Molly said. “He must be so proud.”

“There ended up being about fifty different Jewish organizations involved. Most won’t be happy to see so many other groups here. They’ll see them as hijacking the cause.”

“Yeah, but having so many people makes it too big to ignore. I had no idea some of these groups even existed. I mean, there’s the Finnish Anti-Fascist Group. I didn’t even know we had Finnish people here.”

Max hadn’t either. “Not many in Kensington, that’s for sure.”

“I see the I.L.G.W.U.,” Molly said excitedly, spotting a series of white placards. In their middle, a green circle made up of the words “International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union” was pierced by the likeness of a sewing needle. “Look at that sign from the Furriers’ Union.”

“ ‘Hitler Is a Skunk, and the Furriers Will Cut Him to Pieces,’ ” he read. “Top marks for originality. See that one over there?” He pointed to a sign with the words “Bill 98,” crossed out by a big, black X. “That’s about Section 98 from Canada’s Criminal Code. It’s been around since just after the Great War, basically to stop communism and any other group with plans to affect change through force. If charged, a person could go to jail for up to twenty years. That’s why the Young Communist League wants it repealed.”

“Twenty years? I’m no fan of violence, but that seems pretty extreme.” She frowned. “Speaking of which, I don’t see any police. That doesn’t make sense with a march this big.”

“Chief Draper’s supposed to be here. Did your dad say anything about it?”

“I haven’t spoken with him since Sunday night. And I didn’t tell him I was coming today.” She shrugged. “I suppose it doesn’t matter. Everyone’s behaving.”

When the parade reached University Avenue, they followed the streetcar tracks north until the pink-purple stones of the Ontario Legislative Building rose before them. Veins of protestors streamed into Queen’s Park from all directions, jabbing the air with signs and banners, coming together in a pulsing heart of protest.

“Come this way,” he said, tugging her toward where he’d arranged to meet up with his family.

“Max, Molly, over here!” Hannah called when she saw them. His parents stood just behind her, in the shade of a tree, and Max spotted David standing with them. Good for him, he thought.

“I see you got your hat,” Hannah said to Molly as they drew closer.

“Actually, your brother got my hat,” Molly replied.

Hannah raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re a hero.”

He chuckled. “Kind of an exaggeration.”

“Well,” she said into his ear once Molly was out of earshot, “I’m pretty sure that’s how Molly saw it. Watch your step with her, brother-of-mine.”

He stopped. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m just warning you. Back away if you know what’s good for you both. Can you imagine what our parents would do if— I don’t even want to think about that.”

Confused, he watched her walk toward David, wondering why she’d said that. Max was enjoying his conversations with Molly, but he hadn’t done anything to suggest that they were more than friends, had he? Still, Hannah had noticed their closeness, and a sense of foreboding settled like an anchor in his chest. Growing up in the patchwork neighbourhood of Kensington, the lines between communities had blurred, but only so far. He knew that. And Molly did too. She could never date a Jew.

“Maxim, my boy.” His father held his arms out toward the crowd. “Look at this. You did this.”

“Hardly,” he said, forcing a smile. “I made a suggestion. Everyone else did the work.”

“I’m just glad everything has remained peaceful,” his mother said.

“Hey, David,” Max said, giving him a meaningful look. “Didn’t expect to see you over this way. Where’s your family?”

“Somewhere other than here,” David replied with a playful grin.

“I didn’t think you’d be here,” he heard Molly say to Hannah. “You don’t like political stuff.”

Hannah elbowed Max. “He made us come.”

“I didn’t make you, but I’m glad you came. I think it’s important that you be here to witness all this. You can’t always be an ostrich.”

“Nothing wrong with ostriches,” Hannah said, but she was smiling, her eyes twinkling in the sunlight. He could tell she was enjoying herself, and he had a feeling David had something to do with that. She lifted her hand to her brow, shielding her vision. “Hey, isn’t that Jimmy?”

He squinted through the crowd and spotted Molly’s brother standing near the flagpole, chatting with a few ball players Max recognized.

“I thought he’d be at work,” Molly said. “I guess they got out like I did.”

“Jimmy got a job? That’s great news,” Hannah said.

“Yes. Finally. He’s doing something at the Heintzman factory, but I’m not sure what. He doesn’t talk about it.”

“Heintzman?” Max repeated. He turned to his father. “Didn’t they just lay off—”

“Jacob Weiss and Aryeh Dvorkin, yes. They were told the company couldn’t afford so many workers in this economy. I didn’t know they were hiring.”

A bit of the colour seeped out of Molly’s face, but Mrs. Dreyfus squeezed her arm. “We’re happy for Jimmy. He’s needed work for a while. It’s just difficult. Aryeh’s mother doesn’t know what they’re going to do.”

Max knew both boys. Their families had come here from Germany only five years before, and these days, new immigrants who couldn’t make their way in Canada were being sent back to their