Page 44 - Images Literary Magazine 2016 - 2017.pdf

Darius comforted Alexei as his stomach grumbled like a whale moaning in the deep sea. Valentina
tried to make the best of the moment by proposing swimming in the large body of water near the camp,
probably a Polish lake. ?It?s November, Valentina. Sit down.? I said to her.

?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,
steaming in the salty wind. A man grabbed
us and stamped papers and clipped them Art by Samantha Bellman, Grade 7
to our clothes. Mine read:
NOWAK, E KATKA

POLISH FEMALE
ISFAHAN

My sibling's cards also read Isfahan as
we were hurriedly rushed onto the ship
along with other Polish children. Before I
was confused, but when I read their cards,
I finally understood. We were being
evacuated, out of Poland and Russia to
somewhere safe. I almost cracked a smile,
but then I heard little children in front of us arguing.

"Hannah!? a little boy said to his sister. ?Did you know that this is the Caspian Sea? Did you? Did you??
?No Herschel, now be quiet, we are lucky to even be breathing. We would?ve been toast had we been
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.

That girl, Hannah, was right. All of my Jewish friends disappeared one day after the Germans and
Russians arrived in Poland. God only knows if they are still breathing. Alexei continued to cough and his
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
Middle East. Isfahan. Isfahan. IRAN! ?Across the Caspian, far from Bonn, is the Iranian city of Isfahan? The
rhyme never made sense since the teacher was clueless, the name seemed to make its way into my
head. Were we heading to Iran? Why? Why not Siberia? Were the Soviets helping us escape the treachery
of war and disease? Why Iran, I thought to myself as we continued walking up the plank.
We were led into the top deck of the ship, breathing in the fresh air of the salty Caspian Sea. Poland
must?ve been an eternity away, because every single sign was written in Russian, and everyone spoke
Russian too.
Darius looked at me, ?Maybe Mama and Papa are meeting us there, Katka! We are in Russia, aren?t we??

?Darius,? I quietly said. I couldn?t keep this from him, or Valentina, or even Alexei any longer. ?Mama and
Papa are not coming with us or meeting us in Isfahan,? I told them.

?Well, when are they coming?? Darius inquired.

?Yeah, what ship are they taking?? Valentina asked, making it even harder to confess.
?There is no ship! They are never meeting us there because they are dead! I am so sorry, I couldn?t-?