Page 46 - Images Literary Magazine 2016 - 2017.pdf

Then she slapped me. She slapped me hard. A stinging pain burned through my skin.

?Get out," Sister Tatiana calmly said. ?Take your filthy siblings, and get out.?
The next day, Darius, Valentina, Lex, and I were walking on the streets of Brest alone and afraid, all
because I had to open my big mouth. ?Maybe we will see Mama and Papa working!? Darius proposed
with hope.

We walked for hours, hoping there were scraps on the road, or maybe even a generous family
would take us in and help us. My father would have known what to do. Resourceful and persistent, he
could?ve helped get out of this mess.
?Katka,? Darius said with concern in his voice. ?What are they doing?? I spun around to find Soviet
trucks rumbling down the road. The four of us, stunned and frozen, stood idly by as they pulled over
and marched towards us.
One Soviet general approached us with his guards and said, ?What are you doing out on the
streets??

?We were orphans at the nearby Catholic church...we were tossed out,? I explained. I thought it was
better, to tell the truth rather than lying, what could I lose now?

?Poles,? he concluded. ?Names??
What was he doing? Writing our names to be next on the four hooks in the middle of town? Maybe
sending us to Siberia to freeze. Accepting our defeat, I answered.

?Siblings. I am Katka Evana Nowak. My brother Darius Victor, my sister Valentina Caterina, and
Alexei Peter.?

He scribbled our names on his list and looked at us with a look different than the other Russians
I?ve encountered. He looked genuinely sympathetic.

?Come with us, please,? he said quietly as his guards grabbed us roughly and dragged us forcibly to
their trucks. Alexei started to wail as he was hoisted by a soldier and thrown into the back of the truck.
Darius looked confused. Valentina never let go of my hand as we were hustled into the truck.

?WHERE ARE YOU TAKING US?? I screamed as Alexei cried.
?Katka!? Darius yelled for me, and in the darkness, I felt the hands of my brothers and sister hold me
as we were driven into the unknown shadows of the future.
The truck drove for what seemed like days. We had no food or water, and Alexei?s consistent
coughing made me fear for his health. Medicine was scarce nowadays, especially for Poles. Soon, the
truck stopped, and my muscles felt like jelly. Famished, I visualized a roasted chicken with bread. The
doors opened to reveal a smell of salt and wind. A bustling Soviet camp was where we arrived. We
also saw Polish children being huddled in our direction. I was curious but fearful. The same general
who plucked us out of the street led us to a tent where other Polish children were. We were put in a
line and told to wait until our names were called.
I stopped talking after Darius and Valentina broke into tears and Alexei cried because of his painful
coughing. By this time, the ship was well into its journey, and the stars surrounded the Moon in a
spectrum of beauty and wonder. I could still hear Darius whimper over the thought of our dead
parents. Valentina just stared out into the night wind, pondering the horrors of life.