Chapter 12

When Bruno woke, he found himself back in his attic room. He sat up sharply, still unaccustomed to his new bedroom. He rubbed his eyes and rolled out onto his feet.

His father had apologized. He remembered that. How come he couldn't grasp it?

He rubbed his eyes again. I don't believe him. Bruno went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth. All the while, he stared straight into his own eyes, as if interrogating himself.

Why can't I believe him? He searched himself for an answer, and, lacking one, shoved it aside and got ready for breakfast.

The table was set, and his father was already there, eating. Bruno heard his father and Maria conversing.

" – He's a grown boy. He can handle it."

"Ralf, don't you think it's too much for him?"

"Not at all. I think he'd like to learn."

"You think so. Did you ask him?"

"Of course, Maria."

Bruno searched his mind. Asked me what?

"Liar."

"Maria. Let's not get so melodramatic. The boy –"

"Look at the state he's in!"

"Keep your voice down!" said Ralf, for Maria's voice had risen close to a scream.

Maria lowered her voice and said, "You can't teach him that. I won't allow it."

Ralf laughed. "You won't allow it? What's the matter with you? He's not your son, he's mine."

"It didn't look like it at the train station yesterday."

There was a clatter, and the sound of a chair scratching the floor. Bruno jumped slightly, and stifled a gasp. He moved closer to the dining room, and stood in the shadows, where he could see them and they could not see him.

Ralf had stood up from the table. His face was angry, cold. Maria faced him on the other side, her face equally as furious.

"I'll not have you giving orders in my house. Especially since I pay you."

"You ought to care more about Bruno! All you care about is your uniform, and soldiers, and-and guns! Why not start him back on his studies? That would help him a lot more than a –"

"Enough! You order me around in my own house, you try to put me out of favor in Bruno's mind, and I let you! But when you question my love for my son, you cross the line. Pack your –"

Bruno stepped in quickly, forcing a beaming smile on his face.

"Good morning! What's wrong? I heard raised voices."

"Bruno," Maria said, her eyes still frigid and locked on Ralf's, "did we wake you? Sit down and have some breakfast."

"I can get it," said Bruno quickly.

"No, no. I can do it."

Maria walked out, but not before giving Bruno a warm hug and Ralf a deadly glare. Ralf sat down slowly and took another bite out of his eggs. He chewed slowly, his eyes still narrowed at the empty doorway where Maria left.

"Good morning," repeated Bruno.

Ralf's eyes slowly met his. His eyes narrowed shrewdly, and he said, "You were listening, weren't you?"

Bruno began to say no, but when his father sat back with a knowing smirk on his face, he sighed and nodded.

"Hm," his father said as he regarded Bruno thoughtfully.

After a moment of silence punctuated by pots and pans banging loudly in the kitchen, Bruno asked, "What did you supposedly ask me?"

Ralf laughed, embarrassed, and began to speak, but a loud BANG! from the kitchen had him standing up quickly.

Maria burst into the dining room, her blond hair falling out of its bun, her face red with fury. "I knew it!"

She waved the pan in her hand furiously. "Oh, I knew it. I knew you were lying."

Ralf walked over and took hold of the pan. "Maria, relax. "

"You're not teaching him that barbarity."

"I'll teach him what I want."

"Not while I'm here."

There was silence. Bruno felt a curious wave of something, but he didn't quite know what. It came from looking at the two of them, arguing over something that involved him. It gave Bruno an intense desire to laugh and cry.

He decided to laugh.

It came first as a chuckle, then as a laugh, then as a loud guffaw.

Maria and Ralf looked at him curiously, and then began to smile. When Bruno finished, he said, "What am I supposed to be learning?"

Maria rolled her eyes. "Your studies."

Ralf sighed. "How to shoot."

Bruno laughed again. "That's what you two are arguing about? How about I do both?"

Maria looked down at her feet. Ralf scratched his head. They nodded, and Maria snatched her pan back, obviously trying to stay angry at Ralf.

Bruno turned to his father and said, "When do I get a gun?"