CHAPTER 6 JOURNAL

The absence of Reb Lev causes great turmoil in the Lev household. While Asher's father is out in Europe, he and his mother are left to contend with his absence. Changes were made in the house. Life seemed to go on, at least on the outside. A symbolic change in the apartment was when Asher's mother bought a small desk and bookshelf for her study material. This is significant because she could have used Asher's father's desk or the kitchen table, but she was growing away form the family during this time, making things for her. Her career was growing, and had it not been for Asher she would be out in Europe helping Reb Lev. To her Asher's childishness had cost her an opportunity and a husband, so she felt she had to help Asher grow up by leaving him alone more. This loneliness makes Asher hard outside, a shell. The good in him has all these things to say he wants to help his mother feel better. He wants to apologize for his childish but he cannot say the words. He wishes he could say that he would go, but a power, maybe his gift will not let him. The gift again comes to be a major problem when his father returns from Europe during Passover. Asher's lack of study and consistent drawing angers Reb Lev to the point where he threatens to bring Asher back to Europe against his will.