Status Updates From Between Shades of Gray

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The grouchy woman looked at my drawings of the Lithuanian coat of arms, Trakai Castle, our patron saint, Casimir, and the stork, the national bird of Lithuania.

Some people in the camp are to be moved. Elena and her family will be one of them. Andrius and his mother will not be moved. Lina is forced to draw a photo of the commander, Komorov. Lina finds out her father is in Krasnoyarsk Prison. Lina gives Andrius her drawings.

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"Not my children," whispered Mother. "Please, God, spare him. He is so young. He's seen so little of life. Please.....take me instead." Mother raised her head. Her face contorted with pain. "Kostas?"

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I thought of Munch as I sketched, his theory that pain, love, and despair were links in an endless chain.

"No, he won't. He probably never noticed you lived there," said the bald man. "You're not exactly the noticeable type."

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"And be glad of that," said Mother. "Be glad that not everyone is desperate for food like we are."

She ignored me and continued. "Well, I can see you're upset. Jonas said that you were nasty to Andrius. That's unfair. Sometimes kindness can be delivered in a clumsy way. But it's far more sincere in its clumsiness than those distinguished men you read about in books. Your father was very clumsy."

Jonas almost died of Scurvy. Andrius brought him a tomato. The Siberian woman knew of a tea that could heal. It took two weeks for to Jonas to improve. it is Christmas and the sub freezing weather is getting into everyone's spirit. The Lithuanians gathered to reminisce about Kucios . Their Christmas Eve celebration.

I’m actually enjoying this much more than I thought I would so far since I typically don’t like historical fiction books. I’m not too far in so it could be hard to say what I will think by the end.