Читать книгу Greek Girl's Secrets - Efrossini AKA Fran Kisser - Страница 14

May 5^th 1962 and it is time to leave for the very long trip to a different part of the world, on the other side of the earth.

All her brothers and sisters came to the downtown bus depot, to bid her good bye and wish her good luck.

Her father had asked the adult married children to chip in, and outfit Efrossini with freshly, seamstress made clothes. The father had taken his daughter downtown and bought her the latest fashions from Paris. One of her three pairs of shoes was black patent leather, with square toes and one-inch mambo heels, finished with black ribbon bows.

He also bought her a beautiful ¾ length spring coat. It was a vertical thin line stripe, brown velvet with satin lining complete with matching gloves, a hat and a purse. Everything in her suitcase was brand new, down to her hose, underwear and pajamas. Efrossini felt so beautiful in her new clothes and her new hair style. She was just thirteen years old with great plans for her future.

It was a sunny day in May and Efrossini watched from her bus window her family disappearing in front of her eyes as the modern Pullman bus drove away. Efrossini was accompanied by her father Achillea.

This bus would take them to Athens, to the international airport there. Her parents tried to make this long trip for their young daughter easier. So, the father went along part of the way to comfort Efrossini.

On the bus, there was a microphone and people would sing Greek songs, which made it easier to travel with. If her father was with her, Efrossini felt very safe and secure. Back home in Thessaloniki, her father had taken her out to shopping, to the movies, downtown live shows and the yearly famous September Thessaloniki’s World’s Fair. So, this trip felt like one of those outings, a day out with her father!

After eight hours of the bus driving up and down and around mountains, now they drive through the mountains, a very long trip and finally Athens was in the horizon.

And before she knew it, the bus pulled into the depot and stopped.

Her father escorted her into a taxi cab, along with her suitcase. They were driven to the airport. Achillea talked to a stewardess at the TWA airline booth. Suddenly, she knew: now she would be traveling by herself and fear set in.

Her father held her tightly for a long time, crying, he squeezed her, he kissed her, for the last time. Then, Efrossini started to cry. Quickly, the stewardess escorted Efrossini on the plane.

On the plane she noticed the neat wall paper, the organized rows of seats and how small the windows were. It was a fairytale she thought. The stewardess guided her to her seat by a window. The window was so tiny. It was like a dream, she was really going to fly on this plane.

But now she is by herself she realized, and again the tears started to flow. The stewardesses were very nice, attentive and comforting. Efrossini would calm down a little, then, she would start crying again. This crying went on, the whole eight-hour trip!

When the captain of the plane announced they were approaching New York City she noticed through her window, the sea under her. It was not pretty. It was dark and unwelcoming.

When the plane left Athens, the sea was the most wonderful shade of blue, and the sun was blindingly bright. What a difference, she thought. Where did they send her?

The plane finally landed, and all was safe and sound. She crossed herself in a mini prayer, thanking God.

She exited the plane with one of the stewardesses, and together, they walked to a very large reception hall. There, they both looked around and Efrossini noticed her aunt and uncle. The stewardess wished her well and went back to her job.

The aunt and uncle had not changed much. They just looked a little older.

Efrossini ran to them trying to hug them, expecting friendly smiles, hugs and kisses that would have eased her long trip, after all they were the only people she was familiar with.

The first thing her aunt said was: we need to take you home and wash that hairstyle out. The year before, Efrossini’s hair was short. That is what the aunt remembered. Now her hair was up on her head in curls. Being well nourished her hair grew quickly. Along with her new clothes and the one-inch mambo heels, Efrossini looked like a grown up, almost.