Painting Home

by Jolma, Erika;

Mr. Ranta whispered "amen!" before grabbing his wife's hand and holding tight.

  "From the instant of commencement of hostilities between Germany and Soviet Union, numerous instances of border violations have been committed by the Soviet Union, for which we have expressed our most vigorous protests, all to no avail."

  "What's he talking about?" Anna's gaze shot up, imploring her father to explain. "The Russians attacked Finland yesterday?"

  "Shhh." Her father reached out to her with a finger in the air.

  The solemn voice on the radio continued. "In this manner has commenced our second battle for defense only some nineteen months since the previous attack. This new attack toward Finland is a culmination point for that mode of politics, which the Soviet Union has pursued ever since the Moscow Peace Settlement toward Finland, and the purpose of which has been the destruction of our independence and the enslavement of our people."

  Everyone in the room sat straighter in their chairs, leaning so as not to miss a word.

  The president continued, explaining the incredible loss Finland had faced during the Winter War and the massive relocation that followed, resulting in hundreds of thousands of refugees. He also explained that the loss of Karelia had resulted in diminished defense capabilities for all of Finland.

  The radio crackled, dipping and fading as the entire room sat in silence, desperate to hear.

  President Ryti continued, explaining the many ways Russia had broken the terms of their agreement over the year. They had lied about almost everything, constantly pushing for more concessions from peace-loving Finland.

  It was now Anna's turn to say amen, an errant tear of joy slipping down her face.

  "Being accustomed to keeping the given word, people of Finland wanted to keep the agreement which we had been forced to make in Moscow. Our starting point was that, as we live in this corner of the earth from generation to the next in close proximity as neighbors of Russia, relations with them must be accomplished. Once again, we wanted, regardless of what happened; commence building of permanent peace with the Soviet Union.

  “This wish of peace was tested time and time again, as can be concluded from the previously mentioned constant demands."

  If anyone understood a wish for peace, it was Anna. She desperately wanted peace—and still, at times, clung to her belief that perhaps Finland would be better just settling down and rebuilding homes for the refugees from Karelia. But now it looked as though that quest for peace had a high cost: innocent lives in Helsinki. How could the Russians have done such a thing?

  Matti had been right—they should've marched back into Karelia months ago instead of clinging to hope in a treaty that Russia had never intended to honor.

  The chilly room suddenly felt stifling. Anna pulled out her handkerchief and dabbed her forehead. The last time Finland had declared war, she had been scared and upset, but it had all seemed so far away. This time it hit her hard. Matti was down there, probably already in harm's way. The thought of it made her throat close in fear.

  She gasped for a breath and forced herself to pay attention once again, even though she wanted to close her ears, to pretend the words hadn't been said.

  "Our possibilities of successfully coping with this, our second defensive battle on this occasion, is quite different than previously, when we, by ourselves, were squeezed by this eastern giant. The military forces of the great and powerful Germany, under command of the ingenious leader, Chancellor of State Hitler, will successfully stand side by side with us to do battle against the Soviet Union’s military forces…"

  "What did he just say?" Mr. Ranta spit the words out first.

  "Did he just say that we are in an alliance with Nazi Germany?" Anna shook her head, panic setting in. Not only was Matti fighting in an official war, but he would potentially have to fight alongside Nazi soldiers.

  "This has to be a mistake." Her father looked stricken.

  "Maybe this isn't what it seems," Mr. Ranta started again. The desperation in his voice turned Anna's stomach.

  Rising, Anna sought out the comfort of her mother's arms.

  Her mother's sobs drowned out the final words of the president's address.

  They were at war. Aligned with Germany.

  And Matti—her Matti—was out there somewhere. Probably fighting right now.

  38

  On the Karelian Border, Finland

  The men in the company huddled around the lone transistor radio in the officer's tent to hear the president's official address. Most listened only half-heartedly. They already knew what was to be said. They had witnessed the horror of yesterday first-hand.

  Takala leaned over and whispered into Matti's ear, "I hear the Russians lost twenty-five planes over Helsinki yesterday. We lost none."

  "We just lost schools and office buildings," Matti was not in the mood to look on the bright side.

  "Stinking Russians." Takala scowled.

  "When will we go in and take back Karelia?"

  "Soon, Matti.Very soon."

  Matti's thoughts drifted to Anna and his parents up in Kalajoki, who were almost certainly listening to the presidential address and worrying about him. If only he could call them, reassure them that he was all right.

  Lord, be with them as they hear this message. Help them to see that only through war will we regain what is rightfully ours. Give them peace even as they hear this terrible news.

  Matti shut his eyes and imagined Anna. Knowing her, she had escaped into her art. He pictured her sitting in her living room with a sketchbook in her lap, her hands racing over the rough-textured paper with precision and ease. He pictured a beautiful sketch of some exotic beach or distant city—always something new and different, never the familiar. Yes, she was sketching right now. Sketching to escape a home she didn't love.

  The home that he was fighting to save.

  Lord, fill Anna's heart with peace and joy even in the midst of this trouble. Because trouble is in this world we now have, but You, Lord, You have overcome the world!

  Opening his eyes, Matti surveyed the men in his company—men who would soon be fighting—maybe even dying—with him. Each one listened intently to the president's address, their jaws clenched shut in weary apprehension.

  Everyone was terrified. Not just about the war, but also that they would soon be thrust into it.

  Lord, give me the words to say to help my friends have peace. Help them to feel Your presence so they can fight with courage. And Lord, help us to take back Karelia soon.

  Matti stood and paced, his head not willing to settle on the truth that made his heart ache. Today changed everything for Finland.

  His life would never again be the same.

  39

  Leningrad, Russia

  "You won't believe this." Feodora slammed into the house waving a white leaflet.

  Tanya set Verushka down on the floor to play with some of Vera's spoons.

  Feadora held it out showing her.

  COMRADES! STAND AS ONE IN DEFENSE OF OUR FREEDOM!

  "Keep reading!" Feodora huffed, waving the pamphlet in front of Tanya's face.

  "Give it to me. I can't read with you moving it like that."

  "I'll just tell you. They've drafted the entire civilian population into mandatory military service to dig trenches and construct shelters. If you are between the ages of fifteen and sixty-five and are caught not working on the war effort, you could be shot. On the spot."

  "Let me see that."

  Tanya read the military order slowly, confirming what Feodora said. All men, women, and children were ordered to report to the nearest military checkpoint at eight o'clock on Monday morning. Those in defiance of the order were subject to military discipline, which could mean execution.

  "But what will I do with Veruskha?"

  "I'll watch her." Vera swung into the room carrying a tray of tea and a newspaper. "You have to go."

  Tanya swallowed hard. She couldn't leave Verushka, could she? But she had to. She had no choice.


  "Plus…" Vera held up the latest copy of the Leningradskaya Pravda. "The paper says that within a few days, our boys will turn the Germans back and drive them all the way back to Berlin."

  "It does?"

  "Yep! Right here, it says a sergeant…" Vera opened the paper, put her glasses on her nose and squinted at the paper before continuing. "…Sergeant Hirsch was shot down by our boys over Tallinn a few days ago. He's now in custody and singing like a sparrow. He says the Germans are sick of fighting and none of them want to be part of this war. Apparently, they're running as quickly as they can to our ranks the second they see the size of our Red Army divisions."

  "Well, that's a relief," Feodora said. "Maybe this war will be over before any of these fortifications we're building have to be used."

  "That's my hope. But in the meantime, you two had better get down there on Monday morning and register."

  "The paper also says the bakery on the corner of Gostiny Dvor has upped his production and is making mass quantities of white bread," Feodora added.

  "Bread?"Finally. Tanya couldn't help but lick her lips.

  "Verushka and I will go down there while you work tomorrow." Vera reached out and chucked the baby's chin. "Won't we, my love? Won't we?"

  Both Vera and Feodora had smiles on their faces, but Tanya couldn't help but let a tear escape. How could this be happening? How could this be her life now?

  "Verushka will be fine, Tanya." Vera rubbed Tanya's back, probably trying to erase the worried look from her face.

  "I hope so."

  "I know so, my dear." Vera touched her cheek. "I know so."

  ~*~

  "No. It can't be." Tanya moaned and covered her face with her hand as they walked up to the military checkpoint.

  "It can't be what?" Feodora seemed distracted this morning. She was awfully cheery today, but Tanya had to wonder how long it would last. Her supply of vodka had to be running low.

  "That's Lieutenant Pudovkin. Right up there, next to that gray truck."

  "Lieutenant who?"

  "Lieutenant Pudovkin. The guy I attended that first officer's ball with."

  "Oh. Lieutenant Pudovkin. That's great!"

  "How is it great?" Tanya's mortification grew worse by the second. How could she work alongside a man she had kissed…for money?

  "We'll have an inside scoop on what's going on. Maybe even get plum assignments. If we have to do this, it will help to know someone higher up."

  "Or, he'll call us out in front of all of these people. Tell everyone what we…what I did."

  "He won't." Feodora grabbed Tanya's hand from her face and dragged her toward Lieutenant Pudovkin. "Trust me. He doesn't want anyone to know about what happened either."

  Feodora strode up to the Lieutenant and gave an uncoordinated salute. "Feodora Yezhof and Tanya Egerov reporting for duty."

  "Hello Miss Yezhof, Miss Egerov." Lieutenant Pudovkin looked straight at her.

  Tanya knew her cheeks flamed in shame. Would he call her out? Embarrass her in front of all of these people?

  "You may go stand over to the left with the women's corps. I'll be over to give you instructions in a few minutes."

  His tone seemed benign enough. For now.

  Ten minutes later, when Lieutenant Pudovkin came to brief them on their assignments, Feodora had already introduced them to all of the other women waiting under the shade of a huge fir tree. She was in the process of planning a celebratory party for their little corps after the war.

  Why not plan a party? They had known each other for a whole ten minutes after all.

  Tanya forced herself to smile. Feodora's boisterous and fun-loving personality was a wonderful asset, even if it was a bit grating at times.

  Lieutenant Pudovkin interrupted her thoughts with instructions. "This corps has been assigned to help dig a service trench in the southwest sector of the city by Avteve. The trench will be used to get supplies to the front as well as to shelter civilians and military officers in the event of an invasion.

  "Please break into groups of three and then head back to the supply truck and grab two shovels and a pickaxe. You will work together to excavate the ground."

  "And how will we get to Avteve?" A woman with blonde hair and a perfectly pressed lavender dress called out.

  "Unfortunately, we'll have to walk, madam. Fuel supplies are low right now."

  "But that’s more than five miles," the woman moaned, looking at her high-heeled black boots in dismay.

  Tanya rolled her eyes at the woman, giving Feodora a secret look that told her what she thought of Miss High Heels. She was in for some surprises now that she had been enlisted to work alongside the riff-raff of society. She was probably the type who had excluded Tanya all those months when she was starving and desperate.

  Feodora scowled at Tanya and shook her head firmly. Then, she turned and held her dirty hand out to the woman and grinned. "I'm Feodora. Want to be in our group?"

  Tanya mouthed the word "no" to Feodora, but she was already walking toward the truck arm-in-arm with the woman.

  "Oh. OK, sure. I'm Agripina. Agripina Borowski."

  "Beautiful name. Now, do you have any other shoes at home that you can grab on the way so you'll be a bit more comfortable?"

  "I do have more shoes but…well, they have even higher heels." The woman burst into tears.

  "Well, then these will have to do. We'll walk slowly." Feodora linked one of her elbows into Agripina's and patted her gently on the shoulder. "Let's go get our supplies."

  The three of them walked over to the flat-bed pick-up that was parked on the side of the road, where an older man wearing a red armband gave them two shovels and a pickaxe as well as a map to their rally point at the trench.

  "Shall we go?"

  "Do we have a choice?" Agripina whined.

  The three headed off in the direction of Avteva, slowing to allow for Agripina's delicate steps on the cobblestone streets.

  "Wait!" Lieutenant Pudovkin ran up behind them, catching up quickly. "I'll walk with you."

  Feodora said "Fantastic" at the exact second Tanya said "We're fine on our own." But Feodora's voice was louder, and Lieutenant Pudovkin didn't seem to care that he was associating himself with women like them.

  "Thank you, Lieutenant Pudovkin. I would love to hear what's going on with the war. The papers say we're giving the Germans a good whipping."

  "I wish that were true, Miss Yezhof." The dark look on his face revealed that the papers weren't giving them the whole story. "News from the front is dismal. And this morning at our briefing we learned that the Germans have already broken through our two best defense lines protecting the city."

  "What does that mean?"

  "It means we'd better pray the Luga Line down on the Velikaya River holds."

  "The Luga Line? Where is that?" Tanya asked.

  "The Velikaya River is only a hundred kilometers from here. At most." Feodora's boisterous tone betrayed her fear. "I thought the Germans were already being driven back to the border."

  "I thought so too. But, they broke through our lines at Pskov yesterday and are marching straight toward Luga." A glimmer of fear flashed on the Lieutenant's grim face. "You know, I could get in a lot of trouble for telling you this."

  Feodora ran her fingers over her mouth, symbolizing that her lips were sealed. Then she looked at the back of Agripina's head and grimaced, signaling to Lieutenant Pudovkin that she wasn't so sure about Agripina's loyalties. Maybe they should be careful.

  "Anyway," he continued cautiously. "We're recruiting a volunteer corps to head down to Luga and reinforce the line. We've already signed up 20,000 citizens and are looking for more if any of you are interested."

  "No, thank you!" Agripina shook her head adamantly.

  "You may change your mind after you see the working conditions today, madam."

  Shaking her head again, Agripina seemed to disagree.

  A lump of bile rose in Tanya’s throat, and she quickly pus
hed it down. There was no way she could go to Luga. Not with Verushka here in Leningrad.

  Or could she?

  Trying to calm her heart, which now seemed to be fluttering into her throat, Tanya turned to Lieutenant Pudovkin. "What exactly would it mean if we joined the Volunteer Corps?"

  "It would mean that instead of working here every day, you'd take the train out to Luga for a week or two and help construct the defense line. The Red Army would supply your meals and transportation and when you were finished, and we'd ship you back here safe and sound."

  Free food. Tanya's interest was piqued.

  "Is the work there difficult for someone like…me?" Agripina asked. Tanya doubted Agripina had ever worked a day in her life. So, yes, the work would be hard for her.

  "Yes, it's hard. But you'd be doing something meaningful. Luga is the last line of defense for our city, and you could literally help save Leningrad. Think about it, and if you're still interested after we work today, find me and I can get you signed up. I will be leading the next train load down to Luga, so at least you'll know someone there."

  Feodora and Tanya looked at each other.

  Could this be the answer to Vera's prayers? Tanya shoved the thought aside, remembering that she was making her own way. But still, this was an opportunity. It wasn't ideal—she would miss Verushka dreadfully—but it meant three full weeks of provisions, when before, they’d had none.

  "We're here." The Lieutenant's voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and she turned to him as he pointed at a place in the line where only a few groups were digging. "Why don't you three start digging over there? Just dig the trench and haul the soil up in one of those carts and over to those mounds."

  "What will we do with those mounds?" Tanya asked, curious about what they were building.

  "Tank barriers."

  "Those are huge!" Feodora whispered.

  The three women made their way over and leapt into the trench, digging their shovels into the hard clay soil. Shovelful after shovelful, wheelbarrow load after wheelbarrow load, they worked their way back and forth as the trench grew slowly but surely.

  It was tedious, boring work, but at least they had each other for company. Some of the other groups worked in silence, but Feodora would never let that happen with them.