Conscience in a Life of Hunger

“A boy lies in bed, he wants to sleep. He can’t fall asleep because he is hungry […]. It is quiet in the room, everybody is asleep, mother, father and a little sister, and there in the box lies half a loaf of bread. Maybe he can come down quietly and cut a little thin slice, a very very thin slice, no one will notice. His conscience doesn’t let him, this bread should be rationed for two more days; they have already cut more than they should. An argument between the hunger and his conscience. It will not be enough anyway; they have already eaten too much. Take! Take! Just a small slice. No, says the conscience. This bread belongs to your mother, your father and your little sister, don’t take from them, they are hungry too. Eventually, hunger won. The boy lies in bed, his blanket over his head, and bites from the dry bread soaked in his salty tears…”