“Move Along !” came the cry of the ship’s steward. A river
of human beings pushed and shoved their way up the sagging gang plank. Third class accommodations aboard the Saale was obviously going to be crowded. Each passenger was an emigrant heading off to a land they did not know with only
what belongings they could carry.
People were grumbling in all sorts of languages. Screams and
sobs were mixed in along with the barely audible wailing of a very small
infant. His name was Bernard and he was but six weeks old. Bundled in a woven
bag that would serve as both carrier and cradle he dangled around his mother’s
neck. His father Juljan could not get his mother to relinquish him so that her
husband could hold him higher in the fresh air. So he did what he could by
placing himself as a barrier between his family and possible miscreants or
diseased in the group. His one arm tightly held her waist so they could not be
separated. His other arm and back were loaded as a pack mule with as many
supplies as he could carry for his wife and first born son.
Suddenly there came loud crash from farther up the
gangplank. Another passenger’s suitcase which he had been carrying on his head
tumble down toward the little family and out of instinct Juljan covered his
wife and son with his own body. The case lost its’ momentum and landed on the
back of an old German man who went to his knees in pain. Only the quick arms of
fellow passengers kept him from falling overboard.
Maryanna could feel Julian’s grip on her waist just under
Bernie tighten and surprisingly it calmed her just a bit. She was forced to
admit herself that her own Father had been right. A woman traveling alone to
America was a very dangerous thing to do.
“Mrs. Kurzynowski... I want to ask you one last time if you are sure you want this? Your husband has gone to extraordinary measures to save your marriage.” Her lawyer translated for her just as he had done through two years of litigation. She looked directly at the judge and pronounced as firmly as she could, “Yes”. Maybe now Julian would stop asking her to remarry him and she could go on with her life as the independent woman she was born to be.
The divorce was granted and a notation was placed
on the paperwork requesting to keep this news out of the local paper. Being
labeled a “divorcee” in 1920 carried a stigma that gave energy to wagging
tongues and inspiration to small minds. All of which Maryanna hoped would
disappear with the healing salve of time. As for all the pain, arguments, and
secrets, their memory would fade too. She would surround herself with her
children and grandchildren and run her store. Julian would have to just move on alone.
Author's copyright 2012
