The Beginning.......And The End.....

    

“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