Ezra pulled fresh Chocolate Babka. It was the first time his parents had allowed him to make this all by himself, so he was proud of himself when he pulled it out of the oven and found it didn't smell like garbage. He would eventually have to learn how to make all his families recipes, Baer Bakery would soon be his once he finished high school. His parents had graciously allowed him to finish off his senior year, but it came at a price. His mother and father were overworked with no help. They weren't a poor family, but they couldn't afford to pay any staff. The bakery made just enough to pay the bills that piled up over time. Ezra felt especially bad about the hospital bills. He'd been badly beaten a couple weeks back by a group of Christian boys. He'd been stabbed in the stomach and now suffered a scar that would plague him. It didn't help that people who were non-Jewish viewed their shops as garbage. 

It was a new experience on Germany now. What had once been a happy place Ezra grew up in slowly became his own personal hell. He'd convinced his parents that it was still safe for him to deliver some of the bread they made or different items to customers who were too scared to leave their homes, but he was on a tight leash these days. His family was very well known, so people knew to avoid him at all cost so they weren't considered sympathizers. He put the Babka down on the counter and began to slice it into pieces. His stomach growled a little as he debated taking a slice for himself. This was his favorite dessert after all. With a shake of the head he decided against it. His family could use what little money would come from that slice. Once he finished with that he began to set out some more Sufganiyot. These little guys were some of their money grabbers. Everyone enjoyed the homemade jelly that was stuffed inside them so much that his mom began to sell it on the side. 

"One day mom...I'll be here to help you," He whispered to himself as he stood behind the counter and placed a couple loafs of bread into a white box. This would have to be delivered soon. A little old lady that Ezra couldn't remember the name of always placed an order for this bread. She was too scared to leave her house these days. Even in the Jewish parts of their town people against their faith would sneak in and use their trusting nature to cause harm. Ezra had began to hear every day about some unfortunate boy was beat up or girl was assaulted.   It always angered him to the core. They weren't good enough to exist, but they were good enough for sex. He did his best not to despise the people of those other faiths, but he couldn't help it sometimes. Especially the rich ones. They always seemed to look down his community the most. They viewed him and other Jewish people as nothing more than monsters who wanted to watch their lovely country burn. Nobody ever bothered to ask, they were just lumped together under the words of that man.

The second Ezra had heard him speak, he knew his life was in danger. His trust diminished and he vowed to do his best to protect his mother and father no matter the cost. He'd give his life up for them. He'd even kill if he had to. After the attack he suffered there was nothing to scare him anymore. He had to be strong for his mom. If he so much as thought about crumbling his mother would surely follow and his father would think less of him. He had to prove to both of them that he was stronger than their doubts.