Thomas and Peter Molnar in the zoo

My brother Peter and I in the zoo in Budapest in 1940. My mother took us to the zoo, we went there very often. I still remember the taste of the cocoa. I don't remember much from the time I was a little child, only that I lived in a loving and warm milieu. I remember that when I was a small child my mother took me to visit different relatives, who made a big fuss about me, which I was quite bored of. In any case it showed that they loved me. My favorite pastime was when they took me to one of the two shops or to the warehouse, which was close to our apartment. I only have good memories from my childhood; thank God I can only say good things. It was a closely knit family and everyone loved each other very much. I don't say that there was never a loud word, because there surely was. I grew up in really safe circumstances, and we always had everything we needed. I can't say that there was luxury, but we had everything in the world. Always the best of food and plentiful. And we were in a very close relationship in the family, and not only with the immediate family, but also with the aunts, uncles and grandparents. In my childhood I got very many presents. For my birthday, but sometimes even when there wasn't any special occasion. I had everything. I had a Märklin, narrow-gage railway, lots of tin soldiers. Then what I liked very much was puzzles. I also got lots of books. When I was younger I got hardbacks, which could be folded out, and I built very good houses and castles out of these. But I was quite a withdrawn child.