by Maria Kiely
“But my husband worked for the government. He was a Czech diplomat in Paris. Surely you must have some way of reaching out to your American colleagues who have diplomatic connections with the French? If they could just let someone in the French command know that we are here, I’m sure it would get to my husband.”
“I wish it were that easy, but communicating with the French is almost impossible at the moment.”
My mother takes a deep breath and nods. “All right, well, can you provide us with a place to sleep here until I figure out what we should do next?”
The officer shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “I’m afraid every bed is full, ma’am. We could find a place for you and your daughters to put your bags, and maybe in a day or two, a few cots will open up. Otherwise there is a small houseboat nearby that is serving as a hotel. If you can afford it, I would recommend you stay there.”
Mama nods. “Thank you. We’ll go to the hotel.” She rises and puts her hand on my shoulder to indicate that we are leaving. But I do not stand up. I feel ready to cry. Papa doesn’t know where we are, and he’s not coming for us.
I look over at Ruzena, but she is staring straight ahead out the window with no expression in her eyes. I reach into my pocket and roll my pebble between my thumb and forefinger.
I gaze up at the officer, unsure what to say or do next but deeply wishing that he could help us. The officer returns my gaze for a minute, and then he stands up and clears his throat.
“Well, maybe there is something I can do. You say your husband was a diplomat in Paris? Do you by any chance know anyone in Switzerland to whom you could send a telegram? If you do, they could perhaps contact your husband in Austria and let him know you are here. The Swiss are neutral, so they never lost communication with any of the territories.”
Mama relaxes her hand on my shoulder. “Thank you, sir. I do have some friends who live in Switzerland, and I would be very grateful to send them a telegram.”
I let out a small sigh. Mama always knows what to do. While she writes the telegram, I look out the window and watch the Danube flow on its way. Mama seems confident that this will work, so I am hopeful too.
I’ve felt so many different things the past few days, it’s like my emotions have been on a roller coaster! I make myself take a deep breath and try to focus on the present. I’ve never been on a houseboat before, and I’m excited to see what it’s like.
Chapter 27
SO MANY REFUGEES
“WE HAVE TO find Honza,” Ruzena announces as soon as the office door closes behind us.
“I’m afraid I don’t have enough money for him to stay at the hotel with us,” Mama replies as we head back downstairs.
“That’s okay. He can stay here with his friends and we’ll be with him tomorrow. But we have to tell him we’re going now. We can’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“You’re right,” Mama says. “Let’s find him and then go to the hotel.”
When we emerge from the stairwell into the crowded cafeteria, Ruzena tries to hurry ahead, but Mama pulls her back.
“Wait, how are you going to find him? Did his friend tell you where their cots are?” Mama asks.
“No, but they’re probably in the cafeteria now. We can go table by table and look,” answers Ruzena.
As my mother and sister discuss where to start searching, I scan the room. So many tables! And all are filled with men, women, and children—people who’ve left their homes in Czechoslovakia in search of a freer or safer one, just like us. Then suddenly I see him sitting at a table at the far end of the cafeteria. I grab Ruzena’s arm and point.
“Look! There he is! There’s Honza.”
Ruzena’s gaze follows my finger. She grins at me, and without a word, she’s off running across the room. I move to follow her, but Mama puts her hand on my shoulder.
“Let her talk to him alone. You’ll see him tomorrow.”
I’m annoyed that Mama’s holding me back. I’m sure Honza would want to say goodbye to me too. Then I look across the room and I see them. They have moved a little way from the table where he was sitting with his friends. Honza is leaning down so that their heads are close together, and although they are not touching, they are completely connected. Mama is right. I am glad that I didn’t follow Ruzena. Even from across the room, I have the strange feeling that I am intruding.
Finally, Ruzena returns to us. “Honza is glad we’ll spend the day here tomorrow. His friend Jan is going to share his cot with him tonight. He says they can take turns sleeping. I hope he’ll be all right.” Ruzena gazes back across the room at Honza, who has returned to his table of friends.
I don’t want to leave Honza behind, but I’m happy he found his friends. He acted so brave, but it must have been scary to travel without them. I can’t imagine taking this journey without Mama and Ruzena, and it makes me thankful for them.
Chapter 28
BUTTER
ON THE WAY to the hotel, I notice that Regensburg looks much more run-down than Zwiesel. Mama says that although it wasn’t too badly bombed during the war, there is very little money available to fix the buildings. However, the streets are clean and I notice that lots of people have planted window boxes of flowers to help brighten their houses.
As we pass a small grocery store, Mama stops and says we should buy something to eat. The store is dark and most of the shelves are almost bare. An old woman behind the counter nods at us as we enter and watches us as though we might steal something. Mama takes a loaf of dark brown bread and three apples to the counter and asks the woman for a container of milk and a little bit of lard from the refrigerated case behind her. Even though she has a hard scowl on her face, I smile at the woman as she places the food in a bag. I am so hungry that I can hardly wait to get to the hotel to eat. Suddenly she stops calculating the bill and smiles back at me.
“Do you like butter?” she asks in a voice that is much softer than she looks.
“Oh yes!” I say. “I love butter.”
“Then you shall have some,” she replies. She turns back to the refrigerated case and produces a large chunk of butter wrapped in paper.
“Oh, no. I’m sure it’s much too expensive,” Mama protests. I know she’s right, but I can’t help wishing we could have it anyway. In Roven, we had to make butter in secret at night during the war because Babicka was supposed to give all the cream to the German soldiers, and even now it is a rare and special treat.
I’m trying not to show my disappointment—and then I can hardly believe my eyes. The shopkeeper carefully unwraps the butter and slices off a nice-sized pat. She tears a piece of paper, wraps up the pat of butter, and puts it in our bag.
“It’s my little gift to you. You look like you could use it,” she says with a warm smile.
It’s like she is presenting me with a treasure. I can almost taste the salty creaminess already. I am practically dancing with delight as I thank her. Mama looks like she might try to refuse, but then she looks down at me and changes her mind.
“Thank you very much,” she says. “You can’t know what this kindness means to us.” Mama pays her with some of the American money and tucks the bag under her arm. I wave to the shopkeeper as we go back out onto the street, and she waves back.
I am learning that people can surprise you with kindness when you least expect it.
Chapter 29
THE HOUSEBOAT HOTEL
A COOL WIND blows off the river as we approach the hotel, which is a long, flat wooden boat anchored to the dock by large concrete blocks. It isn’t as romantic as I pictured it to be, but it’s still going to be exciting to sleep on a real boat on a river!
We are fortunate to get the last room, and when we step into it, I can feel the slight motion of the water. Our room is small but has a round window, and when I stand in just the right position, all I can see is water.
“This i
s wonderful!” I say, gazing out at the river.
Ruzena looks at me as if I’ve gone crazy. “This is what you call wonderful? Everything is damp in here, and all this rocking makes me feel like vomiting.”
“Well, it is certainly unique—but I do wish there was a proper place for us to wash ourselves,” Mama says, looking at the bucket of cold water we were given to clean our hands and faces.
“This is miserable!” my sister says. “Can’t we go back to the camp?”
“There’s no room for us there,” Mama replies. “At least here we have a bed and can get a proper night’s sleep.”
I’m sorry my mother and sister are displeased, but I’m glad we’re staying here. It would be so much more fun if Maruska were here—this would be the best place to have a real high-seas adventure. I’d be so happy to be playing with her now—and to have one of those warm down comforters from our farm.
As soon as we are settled, Mama pulls out the food and lays it on a small table beside the bed. I can hardly wait to taste the butter. Mama cuts three thick slices of bread and spreads a little butter on each one so that we can have more tomorrow. I try to eat slowly and savor every bite. I can taste the sweet cream and bright salt, and I love the rich smoothness on my tongue. Even though I feel like I’m only taking tiny bites, my portion is gone in what feels like an instant, and I can’t help asking for more.
Mama gives me another piece of bread—but this time she spreads lard on it instead. I’m disappointed but know I’ll be grateful tomorrow. When we finish our bread, Mama gives us each an apple. It is tart, almost sour, but crisp, and I am so glad to have a piece of fruit that I eat every bit of it except for the seeds and stem. I no longer have the empty ache in my stomach, but I’m still very hungry.
After our supper, we share some of the milk, and then Mama says it’s time to go to sleep. It’s so drafty on the boat that it’s hard to believe it’s summer. Mama makes us wear our stockings and undershirts under our nightgowns and put our sweaters on top. She pulls a thin blanket over us and sings a lullaby as we cuddle together for more warmth. I snuggle against Mama’s back and soon I am fast asleep.
* * *
We all wake up early, stiff from the cold and dampness. Mama rubs my hands and feet briskly to warm them and then rubs Ruzena’s too. All of my clothes feel slightly damp, and I cannot get warm. Ruzena says that her throat hurts.
Mama looks at us with concern. “Let’s eat the last of the bread and butter, and then we can go to the refugee camp. We can spend the day there and then just come back here to sleep.”
Ruzena brightens at the prospect of seeing Honza and does not mention her sore throat again, but I can’t stop shivering. I chew my breakfast as slowly as I can, savoring the butter and hoping that the food will warm me.
Chapter 30
MAKING FRIENDS
AS WE ENTER the cafeteria at the refugee camp, Ruzena runs off to find Honza. Mama and I look around for a place to sit. After a moment, Mama takes my hand and leads me across the room.
“Come. I see Mr. and Mrs. D. You remember Mr. D, don’t you? He used to work with Papa at the Department of Agriculture,” Mama says over her shoulder.
I look beyond her to the table that we are heading toward and see a couple who must be a few years older than Mama and Papa. I immediately recognize Mr. D as one of the men in uniform who came to Dedecek’s memorial service. Mr. and Mrs. D notice Mama at once and rise to greet her. I give a polite curtsy. They are very glad to see Mama, and invite us to sit at their table. Soon the grown-ups are deep in conversation, and I’m left to sit quietly and stare around the cafeteria.
I wonder who all these people are and where they came from. I wonder why they left their homes and where they are going.
Then I catch a glimpse of someone who looks like our horrible neighbor, Mr. Z, and I almost cry out to Mama. Did he follow us here? Is he waiting until Papa arrives so he can turn us all in together? His back is to me, and when he turns around, I feel a rush of relief—the man is a complete stranger. But now I can’t shake the idea that any of these people could be spies for the Russian government. I try to put away my fears by looking for Ruzena and Honza.
I see Ruzena sitting with Honza and his friends at the same table they occupied yesterday. I wish I could go over and sit with them, but I worry Ruzena would be mad at me for intruding. Then I see Honza lean closer to Ruzena and say something. They both turn and scan the room. Honza spots me right away. He jumps up from his seat, grinning broadly. He makes his way straight toward me, crossing the cafeteria with long, confident strides. When he is almost at our table, I cannot restrain myself any longer. I hop up and run toward him.
“Honza!” I cry.
“Anna, I’ve missed you!” Honza laughs. “Let’s ask your mother if you can come sit with us. We’re playing cards and I need you to play with me. Everyone’s cheating,” he says with a wink.
Honza approaches our table and gives Mama a polite bow. She introduces him to Mr. and Mrs. D, and he bows to them too. I admire how Honza can go so quickly from joking with me to being proper and polite with Mama and her friends.
Honza turns to Mama and asks, “Would it be all right with you if Anna came and played cards with us?”
“Of course. How nice of you to ask her.” Mama smiles at Honza. To me, she says, “Go have fun, but come back at lunchtime.”
I feel grown-up as I turn and run across the cafeteria with Honza close behind.
“Hey, guys, this is Ruzena’s sister, Anna,” Honza announces when we reach the table. “Anna, these are my friends—Jiri, Tomas, and you remember Jan from yesterday.” Honza’s friends all call out greetings, and I smile and wave at them.
“Come on, make some room so Anna can sit down,” says Honza playfully, shoving Jan’s shoulder. Jan pretends to fall out of his seat in a comically exaggerated way that reminds me of Pavel. I sit next to Jan. Honza sits across from me next to Ruzena.
“Okay, we’re playing Steal the Old Man’s Bundle. Look out for this one,” Tomas jokes, gesturing to Jan. “He cheats!”
Tomas shuffles a deck of cards while Jiri hums a familiar tune. As Tomas deals, I start singing the words to the song Jiri is humming. It’s a folk song that Papa used to play. Ruzena knows it, too, and soon the three of us are singing in harmony. The other boys applaud when the song is done.
“You have beautiful voices,” Honza says to me and Ruzena.
“Thank you! Jiri sings pretty well too,” I reply.
Honza smiles at me and then turns to Ruzena. “You told me you were a concert pianist, but you could also be a professional singer.”
“Our whole family likes to sing. Anna and I learned to harmonize practically before we could talk, but the piano is what I really love. I miss playing so much,” Ruzena says.
“I know you’ll get to play again soon,” says Honza.
“Okay, let’s start!” Jan picks up his cards.
Jiri teases me about taking all his cards. Jan steals some of Honza’s and hides them up his sleeve. By the end of the game, we have all dissolved into laughter. I can almost forget where we are and pretend that I really did visit Pavel at camp and that these are his friends instead of Honza’s.
Jan shuffles the deck and smiles mischievously. “Okay, let’s play a betting game,” he suggests, dealing the cards.
We all agree, although no one really has anything to bet with. The boys each have a few Czech coins that we divide among us, but that does not seem like enough. Then suddenly I remember I have something. I reach into the pocket of my jacket and feel the pack of gum that Private Mayfield gave me. I hold it in my palm, unsure if I want to share it or not. I haven’t even opened it yet. It seems so precious. I had thought I might save it and open it with Papa. But then I look around the table and think about how nice and welcoming the boys are—and how kind and generous the shopkeeper was—and decide I want
to share the gum.
The boys have never seen gum either. Honza and I explain what it is, and they are eager to try it. I save a piece for Papa and a piece for Pavel, then slide three sticks out of the pack and put the rest back in my pocket. I carefully tear each stick of gum into four pieces and give two to each person sitting around the table. Now we all have something of value to bet with.
We play several hands of the betting game. All of the boys are especially excited about winning the gum. We each win a few hands, but Honza is the best card player out of all of us and luck is on his side, so after a while he has collected a pile of coins and most of the gum. We all tease him about cheating.
“Look. See. Nothing there!” Honza laughs in protest, rolling up his sleeves. Then he points to the pile of gum and coins in front of Ruzena. “Besides, I’m losing everything I have to her.” Ruzena looks pleased. She is a careful card player and only bets when she is confident she can win.
At last, only Ruzena and Honza are left with anything to bet. They stare at each other over their cards, pretending to be very serious. Ruzena consults her cards and pushes all the coins and the two pieces of gum left in front of her into the middle of the table. Honza responds by jokingly flexing his muscles and pushing his pile into the center as well. Then he hesitates, takes off his neck kerchief, and throws it on top of the pile with a grin. Ruzena raises her eyebrows at him, and then she removes a tiny silver pin in the shape of a bird from her jacket collar and lays it carefully on top of the scarf.
There is a moment of silence before they lay their cards on the table. Jan, Jiri, and Tomas burst out laughing as Ruzena ties Honza’s kerchief around her neck with a triumphant smile. Honza pretends to be devastated by the loss.