"You alright?" Regina rubbed Henryk's shoulder passionately, and Henryk smiled.

"Yeah, I'm ok. Why do you ask?"

"Well…it's just…with the books…"

"The books?" Henryk frowned and glanced over to his wicker basket lying on the floor; the amount of books left inside shouting out how poor they were.

"Yes…I mean…I know it's not been easy for you…"

"Oh! Oh, that's what this is about! You think it's not a proper job!"

"I never said that. I just…"

"Yeah. I need a job like Wladek's; that's what you think."

"No…yes…I mean…"

"Not all of us can be as famous as him, you know." Regina sighed, and Henryk grinned.

"I was just giving you a bit of sympathy. I think it's a good enough job…but…"

"But Wladek is giving us 50 zloty per day? Is that it?"

"No!"

"Then what?"

"Henryk, it's not all about the money, you know. I think…you need a career."

"I don't need a career! Yeah; you think - just because you're a lawyer, and Wladek is a pianist, and Halina is into art – I have to have a proper job. Well, you're wrong."

"I know, and I do think it's ok as a job, but –"

"Who knows if we're going to come out of this alive anyway?"

"Yes, but if we do, you need something to fall back on." Henryk scowled and turned away from his sister.

"Sometimes you really piss me off."

Henryk stood, scowling, as the heavy autumnal rain fell onto him, soaking him to his bones. He shook his head and stared grimly into his wicker basket, mentally counting the books he had yet to sell. All of them. Henryk sighed and let the two books he was displaying in his cold hands fall to the pile inside his basket. He scowled again and squinted through the rain covering the market place. The rain covering the whole ghetto. The rain covering every Jew.

Wladek gripped Henryk's arm and spoke softly, disappointed at himself for abandoning his brother.

"I'm so sorry…I came as quick as I could…"

"Yeah well…it wasn't quick enough." Henryk shook himself from Wladek's grasp and picked up one of the handles of the basket. The weight hurt more everyday.

"Sell any?" Henryk tutted and continued to walk; Wladek followed him slowly.

"What do you think? Yeah, of course, I've sold them all."

"I'm sorry I left you."

"Sure you are."

"I know how you feel." Henryk spun round and laughed sarcastically.

"Yes! You do, don't you! Of course playing the piano for bastards in a warm, cosy café is exactly the same as standing in the rain for five hours selling nothing."

"Henryk…I didn't mean…"

"Yes you did."

Henryk turned the key in the door of his flat, momentarily stopping at the threshold to stand in the glorious heat the spun out around him.

"Henryk!" Regina thrust herself forward, and hugged him tightly. Henryk hugged her back and buried his head in her curly hair. "I missed you…I was so worried…"

"Hah. I was fine. No thanks to Wladek though." Wladek pushed past Henryk; but was soon in an embrace with his Mama.

"Thank you!" Henryk scowled at the attention his brother was getting. Wladek smiled and spoke gently in his Mama's ear.

"It's ok. He looked like a little child, standing in the rain…" Henryk pushed Regina away from him, and stormed up to Wladek.

"I am not a child!"

"I said you looked like a child. And you're behaving like one."

"What?"

Your job…you…"

"My job is fine!"

"It's…"

"Not like yours? Oh yes; everybody wants to be the parasites' little pet; don't they?"

"It's not a career!"

"Shut up!" Henryk shoved Wladek and he fell backwards, banging his head on the chest of drawers.

"If you expect me to help you tomorrow…"

"I don't want help from you, you bastard."