The Peacock

The Peacock takes place in Toronto, just after World War II has ended. Barbara and her family are safe in Canada, but her father feels a great responsibility to help other Jewish families who are not so fortunate. Barbara’s father, a tailor, is part of The Tailor Project, a group of tailors dedicated to hiring as many Jews as possible, because, at that time, Canada had a policy of only allowing those immigrants who had a secure job in Canada to enter. Refugees had no status at that time and were sent away if they had no job. Many countries, including Canada and much of Europe, refused the Jewish refugees. Barbara’s father was being sent by his employer to go to Germany and interview prospective workers.

While her father was away, Barbara remained at home to help her sad mother and deal with her three older brothers. Two of her brothers, Mickey and Donny, are at camp, and Avrum, the oldest, lives in Montreal with his wife. One day, just before Barbara’s father left, a large peacock appeared in the yard, much to the distress of Barbara’s mother who is afraid of it. Barbara assures her dad that she would handle the situation with the peacock.

Barbara corresponds with her family through letters. She can’t write to her dad, but he sends her letters with descriptions of the families he has met and mentions the children, especially Goldie, who charms the adults to get “extras” for her family. Barbara’s brothers, Mickey and Donny, send prosaic accounts of their days at camp. Barbara hopes she can count on her brother Avrum to help her get rid of the peacock, but she is disappointed when he writes to say that he and his wife are expecting a baby and can’t travel. Barbara is thrilled about the new baby but realizes that she is on her own with peacock.

Barbara hatches a plan to get rid of the peacock. First, she must gain the peacock’s trust. She starts by feeding it treats, and, after a while, she coaxes the peacock into a wagon, and the pair practice going for short trips around the yard. With her mother in Montreal visiting Avrum and his wife, and her other brothers at camp, she only has to deal with Auntie Belle who has come to supervise Barbara. As soon as Auntie Belle is asleep, Barbara puts the peacock in the wagon and sets out for the zoo, an activity which takes all night. Barbara falls asleep at the zoo gates, but, luckily for her, a kindly zoo guard finds her, gives her something warm to drink and calls Auntie Belle who arrives to pick her up.

Father returns from Germany before Hanukkah, and, in the spring, the whole family makes a visit to the zoo. While she is there, Barbara is sure she sees the peacock she brought to the zoo. She also meets some Yiddish families there and gets a chance to talk to some of the children. The children, excited to see the peacocks, call out in Yiddish. Barbara isn’t sure, but she thinks maybe these are the tailors’ families, and she gets a chance to share some macaroons with them.

The author has based the contents of The Peacock on her own family history, and it’s a way for young children to learn a little about the impact of war, especially World War II and its impact on the Jews and the many other refugees. The peacock acts as a metaphor for the refugees, having no home and nowhere to go. Both Barbara and her father have tried to help in their own way.