At the very beginning of chapter three, Asher's father called home from a business trip. He told Asher and his mother that Stalin had suffered a stroke, was paralyzed, unconscious, and dying. He then told his family, "When your enemy falls, do not rejoice." I think that this was a very noble statement. It was definitely one that Asher should pay more attention to and consider. He should keep this quotation in the back of his mind and think of it often as he grows older.
Also in chapter three, Asher was told that the family might move to Vienna because his father "has work to do now, and he can only do it if we live in Vienna." The work that his mother was referring to came about because Stalin died. "Things can be done now that no one could have done before," she said. Asher obviously didn't want to move to Vienna. The people from his synagogue thought that Asher didn't want to leave because he would miss his friends from school. I think, however, that the friend he was concerned about leaving was Yudel Krinsky from the stationary store. Asher seems to spend more time discussing political issues with Yudel than he did play with children his own age. The reader later finds out that Asher didn't want to leave the security of his apartment and his street.
At the end of the chapter, Asher subconsciously draws Stalin dead in his coffin. This was very shocking for me to read. When Asher realized what he drew, he was surprised too. I look forward to reading about the upcoming events that take place along with the move and the picture that Asher has just drawn. Back to Journal Page