The Girl in the Torch Read Online Free Page B

imagined her mother’s spirit in the moonlit clouds, ascending to the other world where her father would be waiting.
    Before closing her eyes, Sarah prayed for her mother’s safe delivery to heaven. But she prayed even harder for the officials to find her relatives, or for them to find her.

Uncle Jossel
    S EVERAL DAYS PASSED AND still no word came about her aunt in Brooklyn. Everyone in the dormitory who Sarah had arrived with had departed. Weighed down by the sadness of losing her mother, she couldn’t bring herself to return to the roof garden to assist Miss O’Connell. She spent most of her time wandering the grounds alone, watching people come and go, worrying and waiting.
    Each day, one of the friendly officials would give her his newspaper when he was done, so she could practice her English. She would sit on a bench outside and read every word, from cover to cover, soaking up as much news of America as she could, to prepare for when the Cohens would take her to live with them in Brooklyn.
    One afternoon, after a full week of waiting, Sarah was resting on her bed when the woman in the blue skirt came to visit with a male official.
    â€œI’m afraid we weren’t able to find your family,” the woman said.
    â€œWhat do you mean, you couldn’t find them?”
    â€œWe tracked down their last known address, but the landlord of the building said they moved a year ago.”
    â€œA year ago?” Sarah repeated, panic rising in her chest. “Can’t you keep looking?”
    â€œHe said they moved somewhere out in the western part of the country. He didn’t even know the state. I’m sorry.”
    â€œWhat’s going to happen to me?” Sarah asked.
    â€œOur records indicate that you have an uncle back in your old country. Your mother’s brother.”
    â€œUncle Jossel?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut I don’t know him very well.”
    â€œThat’s okay.” The woman nodded reassuringly. “A blood relation is a blood relation.”
    Sarah wasn’t sure exactly what the woman meant, but her heart sank. Her uncle was a bachelor who lived in a nearby village. He was very heavyset and wore glasses and had a long bushy beard with gray curls. Whenever he visited, he refused to directly address her, or her mother for that matter.
    â€œTell the girl to fetch us some water from the well,” he would call to her mother without giving either of them a glance. Then later, “Tell the girl to come clear our cups. And be quick about it.”
    â€œHe doesn’t even look at me when he gives orders,” she said to her mother. “It’s like I’m not even there.”
    â€œMy brother believes that men have their world, and womenand girls have theirs. And he likes to keep it that way.”
    â€œWell, I don’t,” Sarah said.
    The memory made Sarah feel sick to her stomach. How could she remember the details of her detested uncle and hear his deep, wheezy voice more clearly than she could her own mother?
    â€œIsn’t there any way I could stay?” Sarah asked the official.
    â€œWith no relatives, you’d be a public charge,” the man said.
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œThat means the state would have to pay to support you, and you’d likely be sent to an orphanage. It’s better if you go back. I’m sure your uncle will be more than happy to take you in,” the official said.
    Sarah knew he would not be. “Has anyone written to my uncle to see if he wants me?”
    â€œSomeone in your country will help track him down for you,” the man said.
    â€œBut he doesn’t like children or girls,” Sarah pleaded. She had to make them understand. “What if he doesn’t want to take me?”
    â€œI’m sure he will,” the woman answered.
    â€œBut what if he doesn’t?”
    â€œI’m sure they’ll be able to take care of you in your own