THE BOYS IN THE STRIPED PAJA

Thinking Up the Final Adventure

The day after Father told Bruno that he would be returning to Berlin soon,

Shmuel didn't arrive at the fence as usual. Nor did he show up the day after

that. On the third day, when Bruno arrived there was no one sitting crosslegged on the ground and he waited for ten minutes and was about to turn

back for home, especially loved that he would have to leave Out-With

without seeing his friend again, when a dot in the distance became a speck

and that became a blob and that became a figure and that in turn became the

boy in the striped pyjamas.

Bruno broke into a smile when he saw the figure coming towards him and

he sat down on the ground, taking the piece of bread and the apple he had

smuggled with him out of his pocket to give to Shmuel. But even from a

distance he could see that his friend looked even more unhappy than usual,

and when he got to the fence he didn't reach for the food with his usual

the eagerness.

'I thought you were not coming any more, ' said Bruno. 'I came yesterday

and the day before that and you weren't here.'

'I'm sorry, ' said Shmuel. 'Something happened.'

Bruno looked at him and narrowed his eyes, trying to guess what it might be

be. He wonder where Shmuel had been told that he was going home too;

after all, coincidences like that do happen, such as the fact that Bruno and

Shmuel shared the same birthday.

'Well?' bruno Asked. 'What was it?'

'Father,' said Shmuel. 'We can't find him.'

'Can't find him? That's very odd. You mean he's lost?'

'I supply so, ' said Shmuel. 'He was here on Monday and then he went on

work duty with some other men and none of them have come back.'

'And hasn't he written you a letter?' bruno Asked. 'Or left a note to say

when he'll be coming back?'

'No, ' said Shmuel.

'How odd, ' said Bruno. 'Have you looked for him?' he asked after a

moment.

'Of course I have, ' said Shmuel with a sigh. I did what you're always

talking about's. I did some exploration.

And there was no sign?'

'None.'

'Well, that's very strange, ' said Bruno. 'But I think there must be a simple

exploration.'

'And what's that?' shmuel Asked.

'Imagine the men were taken to work in another town and they have to

stay there for a few days until the work is done. And the post isn't very good

here anyway. I expect he'll turn up one day soon.'

'I hope so, ' said Shmuel, who looked as if he was about to cry. 'I don't

know what we're supporting to do without him.'

'I could ask Father if you wanted, ' said Bruno cautiously, hopping that

Shmuel wouldn't say yes.

'I don't think that would be a good idea, ' said Shmuel, which, to Bruno's

disappointment, was not a flat-out rejection of the offer.

'Why not?' he asked. 'Father is very knowledgeable about life on that side

of the fence.'

'I don't think the soldiers like us, ' said Shmuel. 'Well, ' he added with

something as close to a laugh as he could muster, 'I know they don't like us.

They hate us.'

Bruno sat back in surprise. 'I'm sure they don't hate you, ' he said.

'They do, ' said Shmuel, leaning forward, his eyes narrowing and his lips

curling up a little in anger. 'But that's all right because I hate them too. Hate

them, ' he repeated forcefully.

'You don't hate Father, do you?' bruno Asked.

Shmuel bit his lip and said nothing. He had seen Bruno's father on any

number of occurrences and couldn't understand how such a man could have a

son who was so friendly and kind.

'Anyway,' said Bruno after a suitable pause, not wishing to discuss that

topic any further, 'I have something to tell you too.'

'You do?' asked Shmuel, looking up hopefully. 'Yes. I'm going back to

Berlin.'s.' Shmuel's mouth dropped open in surprise. 'When?' he asked, his

voice catching slowly in his throat as he did so.

'Well, this is Thursday, ' said Bruno. 'And we're leaving on Saturday.

After lunch.' 'But for how long?' shmuel Asked. 'I think it's for ever, ' said

Bruno. 'Mother doesn't like it at Out-With-she says it's no place to bring up

two children-so Father is staying here to work because the Fury has big

He said the word 'home', despite the fact that he wasn't sure where 'home'

was any more. 'So I won't see you again?' shmuel Asked. 'Well, someday, man,

yes, said Bruno. 'You could come on a holiday to Berlin. You can't stay here

ever after all. Can you?'

Shmuel shook his head. 'I supply not, ' he said sadly. 'I won't have

anyone to talk to any more when you're gone, ' he added.

'No, ' said Bruno. He wanted to add the words, 'I'll miss you too, Shmuel,'

to the sentence but found that he was a little embarrassed to say them. 'So

tomorrow will be the last time we see each other until then, ' he continued.

'We'll have to say our goodbyes then. I'll try to bring you an extra special

treat's.'

Shmuel nodded but couldn't find any words to express his sore.

'I wish we'd got to play together, ' said Bruno after a long pause. 'Just

once's. Just to remember.'

'So do I, ' said Shmuel.

'We've been talking to each other for more than a year and we never got

to play once. Do you know what else?' he added's. 'AH this time I've been

watching where you live from my bedroom window and I've never

even seen for myself what it's like.'

'You wouldn't like it, ' said Shmuel. 'Yours is much nicer, ' he added.

'I'd still like to have seen it, ' said Bruno.

Shmuel thought for a few moments and then reached down and put his

hand under the fence and lifted it a little, to the height where a small boy,

perhaps the size and shape of Bruno, could fit underneath.

'Well?' shmuel Said. 'Why don't you then?'

Bruno blinked and thought about it. 'I don't think I'd be allowed, ' he said

doubtfully.

'Well, you're probably not allowed to come here and talk to me every day

either, ' said Shmuel. 'But you still do it, don't you?'

'But if I was caught I'd be in trouble,' said Bruno, who was sure Mother

and Father would not approve.

'That's true, ' said Shmuel, lower the fence again and looking at the

ground with tears in his eyes. I hope I'll see you tomorrow to say goodbye

then.'

Neither boy said anything for a moment. Suddenly Bruno had a

brainwave's.

Unless.' he began, thinking about it for a moment and allowing a plan to

the hatch in his head. He reached a hand up to his head and felt where his hair

used to be but was now just stubble that had not fully grown back. 'Don't you

remember that you said I looked like you?' he asked Shmuel 'Since I had my

head shaved?'

'Only fatter, ' Conceded Shmuel.

'Well, if that's the case, ' said Bruno, 'and if I had a pair of striped

pyjamas too, then I could come over on a visit and no one would be anything

wiser.'

Shmuel's face brightened up and he broke into a wide smile. 'Do you

think so?' he asked. 'Would you do it?'

'Of course, ' said Bruno. 'It would be a great adventure. Our finals

adventure. I could do some exploring at last.'

'And you could help me look for Papa, ' said Shmuel.

'Why not?' said Bruno's. 'We'll take a walk around and see while we can

find any evidence. That's always wise when you're exploring. The only

problem is getting a spare pair of striped pyjamas.'

Shmuel shook his head. 'That's all right, ' he said. 'There's a hut where

they keep them. I can get some in my size and bring them with me. Then you

can change and we can look for Papa.'

'Wonderful, ' said Bruno, caught up in the enthusiasm of the moment. 'Then

it's a plan.'

'We'll meet at the same time tomorrow, ' said Shmuel.

'Don't be late this time,' said Bruno, standing up and dusting himself

down's. 'And don't forget the striped pyjamas.'

Both boys went home in high spirits that afternoon. Bruno imagined a

great adventure ahead and finally an opportunity to see what was really on

the other side of the fence before he went back to Berlin - not to mention

getting in a little serious exploration as well-and Shmuel saw a chance to get

someone to help him in the search for his papa. All in all, it seemed like a

very sensitive plan and a good way to say goodbye.