Once

Felix Salinger lives in a Polish Orphanage in 1942. His parents, Jewish book sellers, put him there when the Nazis began to make things difficult for Jewish business owners. Mother Minka was a customer of theirs. During one mealtime, Felix finds a whole carrot in his soup—an unheard-of luxury. He takes it as a sign that his parents are looking for him.

Felix feels sad thinking about saying goodbye to the nuns and his friends, especially Dodie. He decides to do something nice for him and asks Mother Minka if Dodie can take a bath first: The selection for bathing takes place in a freezing hall beneath the orphanage. He lies and tells her Dodie wants to grow up to be a doctor and needs to be hygienic. Mother Minka sends Felix to the end of the line. Freezing, he fondly recalls bath time when he lived with his parents.

Felix worries whether his parents will recognize him “after three years and eight months” (11). He is much taller and wears glasses now. He remembers that his mother promised not to forget him. He thinks she meant “they wouldn’t forget to come and get me once they’d fixed up their bookshop troubles” (11).