"Later, they read some more in bed, adhering to the tradition of circling the words..."

"That was when Mama finished her soup with a clank, suppressed a cardboard burp, and answered for him."

"When she wrote about that night, she held no animosity toward Rosa Hubermann at all..."

"When Sister Maria found it, she asked him a question, very amiably."

When he reappeared inside, Mama fixed her gaze on him, but no words were exchanged. She didn't admonish him at all...which was highly unusual."

"In the opinion of Hans Junior, his father was part of an old, decrepit Germany..."

"Ignoring futility, Papa walked to the doorway and called out to his son."

"Earlier, there had been a minor calamity. The Hubermann's couldn't find their flag."

"She would gather all of the accrued letters to her mother, stuff them into an envelope, and use just a tiny portion of the washing money to mail it..."