Page 44 - Images Literary Magazine 2016 - 2017.pdf

I obeyed Medusa and walked into the chilly November air. Outside of the church, Brest was a city of
Darius comforted Alexei as his stomach grumbled like a whale moaning in the deep sea. Valentina
Soviet flags, tanks, and propaganda. As I was walking, I felt a tug on my ripped dress and I spun around,
tried to make the best of the moment by proposing swimming in the large body of water near the camp,
ready to smack whatever foolish boy was behind me.
probably a Polish lake. ?It?s November, Valentina. Sit down.? I said to her.
"Valentina! You scared me!? I squealed when Valentina?s sly grin met me on the side of the road.
?THE NOWAK FAMILY! KATKA EVANA, DARIUS VICTOR, VALENTINA CATERINA, AND ALEXEI PETER!? A
female voice said. We followed the young woman outside the tent, and to the dock of a massive ship, ?I?m coming with you Katka! Sister Tatiana surprisingly gave me permission when she said, ?The less of
steaming in the salty wind. A man grabbed you, the better? so I just walked out and here I am! Darius and Lex are still sleeping.? Valentina explained,
us and stamped papers and clipped them Art by Samantha Bellman, Grade 7 looking like a ragdoll with her messed up hair and dirty face.
to our clothes. Mine read:
Before the war started, Valentina was the jewel of our family. She had luscious blonde locks and blue
NOWAK, E KATKA eyes as clear as the morning sky. I wish I was as beautiful as her, but my mother always told me it's
wrong to be jealous of someone that was younger than you.
POLISH FEMALE
?Ok then, let?s go the market,? I happily offered, taking Vali?s hand into mine and we strolled into the
ISFAHAN
nearby marketplace where the linens were sold.
My sibling's cards also read Isfahan as
?Katka?? Valentina asked.
we were hurriedly rushed onto the ship
along with other Polish children. Before I ?What is it, Vali?? I replied. Her voice was higher than usual.
was confused, but when I read their cards,
Valentina then started intensely crying, her tears dripping to the ground. I looked to where she was
I finally understood. We were being
looking to, and my face dropped and my eyes glittered with tears as well.
evacuated, out of Poland and Russia to
somewhere safe. I almost cracked a smile, In the middle of the square, a wooden frame stood with a Soviet flag waving in the wind next to it.
but then I heard little children in front of us arguing. Four nooses hung around them, and around the nooses were the heads of screaming young men,
begging to live.
"Hannah!? a little boy said to his sister. ?Did you know that this is the Caspian Sea? Did you? Did you??
?Valentina! Valentina TURN AROUND!? I firmly ordered my frightened sister, who buried her head into
?No Herschel, now be quiet, we are lucky to even be breathing. We would?ve been toast had we been
my stomach.
on the Nazi side of Poland. Jews in Germany don?t live very long. Now please shut up,? the girl, Hannah
said, and they disappeared into the lower decks of the ship. I turned us around, with the z?oty, and ran back up the steps of the church. Tears flowed down my face
as I realized what would probably happen to my family, and all the Polish children here if the Soviets
That girl, Hannah, was right. All of my Jewish friends disappeared one day after the Germans and
continued to occupy our home. Death would only follow us, like a shadow follows its body in daylight,
Russians arrived in Poland. God only knows if they are still breathing. Alexei continued to cough and his
hidden but visible. Sister Tatiana was there in the hallway, an angry grimace on her putrid complexion.
skin was paler than a vampire?s. There was no doubt that he was sick. Maybe there was help in Isfahan.
The name of the city sounded familiar. In geography class when I was in school, we learned about the ?WHERE IS WHAT I ASKED FOR?? she screeched loudly.
Middle East. Isfahan. Isfahan. IRAN! ?Across the Caspian, far from Bonn, is the Iranian city of Isfahan? The ?Sister Tatiana, please understand that I couldn?t-? I almost choked on my words. The thought of what
rhyme never made sense since the teacher was clueless, the name seemed to make its way into my their fate was to be made me shiver. ?I could
head. Were we heading to Iran? Why? Why not Siberia? Were the Soviets helping us escape the treachery not get the linens when men are hanging in the Art by Sarah Corsi, Grade 8
of war and disease? Why Iran, I thought to myself as we continued walking up the plank. streets for all to see.? I managed, as Valentina
We were led into the top deck of the ship, breathing in the fresh air of the salty Caspian Sea. Poland quivered.
must?ve been an eternity away, because every single sign was written in Russian, and everyone spoke ?You dumb, pathetic, ignorant-? the nun
Russian too. insulted until a hidden bravery was unleashed
Darius looked at me, ?Maybe Mama and Papa are meeting us there, Katka! We are in Russia, aren?t we?? within me.

?Darius,? I quietly said. I couldn?t keep this from him, or Valentina, or even Alexei any longer. ?Mama and ?YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A WOMAN OF
Papa are not coming with us or meeting us in Isfahan,? I told them. THE LORD! How can you speak to someone in

?Well, when are they coming?? Darius inquired. this way in a House of God, a holy place for
anyone to feel safe! This is enough!? I fought
?Yeah, what ship are they taking?? Valentina asked, making it even harder to confess.
back.
?There is no ship! They are never meeting us there because they are dead! I am so sorry, I couldn?t-?