Amerika: The Missing Person

Karl lives on the sixth floor of a building that serves as his uncle’s home and business—and is impressed by the writing desk in his room, it being the type his father always wanted. He feels grateful, considering the conditions he might have had to live in “if he’d climbed ashore as a poor little immigrant!” (28).

After Karl mentions to Jakob that his mother taught him basic piano, the latter purchases one for him. The piano is delivered to his room, and Karl is filled with a “crazy joy” (31) when he plays it. However, he is not devoted to learning it, and his uncle asks if he wants to learn other instruments. Jakob hires an English tutor for Karl; he quickly picks up the language and recites a poem for his uncle.

As Karl’s English improves, his uncle starts to introduce him to friends—the first being Mr. Mak, a confident young man with the carefree attitude of a millionaire’s son. Karl joins Mak for horseback riding.

Karl learns that Jakob’s business is trade—specifically, delivering raw materials from one company to another. He is later invited to have dinner with his uncle’s business associates, Mr. Green and Mr.