Читать книгу Greek Girl's Secrets - Efrossini AKA Fran Kisser - Страница 17

God became her shadow. She walked with God. He was her Protector. She apologized to God for anything she did wrong. She constantly thanked God, for being with her, and for anything she had. She had so many beautiful, loving, memories from living with her family in Greece. She tried to think about those memories keeping them alive in her heart and head, to sustain her very self. She felt her childhood was over.

The hungry girl stole bread at night from the middle of the loaf, so it would not be detected. She knew it was wrong to steal but what could she do? Dear God, she would ask: I am so hungry. She was always so hungry. She remembers walking to the local bakery and buying a loaf of bread for her aunt.

It was either whole wheat, rye with caraway seeds or the dark pumpernickel bread. There, she waited in line by taking a number. It was a very busy shop. She did not mind waiting in line. She wished she could work there just to fill her belly by inhaling the wonderful baked goods’ aromas.

She was always tempted to open the wrapper of the bread and taste it, on the way back to their house. She thought of the consequences though. So, she contained herself. She became self-disciplined.

She also stole the aunt’s toothpaste, because the uncle would forget to give her the two-dollar weekly allowance, he had promised her for working so hard, both at school and at their house.

She was scared to ask him when he forgot, remembering that Sunday night. It was always on her mind. The ugliest, scariest memory she had, it was that Sunday night! She tried to stay away from her uncle and refused to talk to him unless he asked her a question.

When Efrossini outgrew her custom made Greek clothes, the aunt would buy her clothes from a used clothing store. This type of a store was not in vogue over 50 years ago in a flourishing country like America, and in the middle and upper middle-class town of Jackson Heights. Once, her other aunt Fotini had donated a green wool coat with a standing collar to that same used clothing store, just the week before. She was so surprised to see it on Efrossini. Her aunt Fotini knew it was previously hers, because of a small tear inside the left sleeve, in the lining.

Efrossini prayed to God, so the aunt and uncle would go out, so she could sneak a shower, and then wipe the whole bathroom dry, so there was no evidence she had taken a much-needed shower, what her growing body needed. She was only allowed one shower per week! Her world had changed immensely, but not the way her parents thought.

In Greece she had three mothers, two were her older sisters. Here, she had none.

She missed her wonderful father who was not only loving, but a walking encyclopedia, also. There were not brothers, sisters, a loving home here. She had no one to hug her or kiss her, or tell her a nice and uplifting thing.

There was no music here or church going on Sunday ways to nurture her soul and now her uncle took away Bonanza that she watched on Sunday evenings.

She was never to watch television again in that environment. Her heart ached from her losses.

She felt so alone, unloved and frightened, but she also had to concentrate on her school work. She came to America to become somebody. She made up her mind, not to complain but to endure it all. She did not wish to disappoint and sadden her relatives, especially her dear father Achillea in Greece. For him she would endure it all!

They had sent her to America for a great opportunity. She decided to endure, to do her best in both the housework and her homework. After her nightly cry in her pillow she would pray to God for strength to pull through the next day. She imagined God’s Giant Hand covering and protecting her body like a warm blanket so she could fall asleep.

She concentrated on her wonderful memories of her loving family in Greece and hoped she would dream about them. When she dreamed about her family she never wanted her dreams to end. The dreams were never long enough for her to enjoy and get some much-needed loving.

She only spoke when she was spoken to. She kept to herself as much as she could after she finished her housework. She would stay up late doing homework, past midnight. She had to wait till everyone went to sleep so she could get some sleep.

This was not a normal home. She was on pins and needles and she felt like she was walking on broken glass. She learned to walk so softly like a cat, so she would not be detected when she went to the kitchen. She was being robbed of her teenage years.

She was forced to be a grown up before her years. She always had to think about consequences. There was a constant CHILL in that house because there was no love!

She never invited a friend to come to her home. Her aunt told her she could not bring anyone there. She only had friends at school. She did not complain to them. But her friends sensed there was something wrong at Efrossini’s home and behind that smile….

When the upstairs tenants were moving out, their teen age boy did not wish to take his thick tire dirt bike with them. So, he left it for Efrossini. Since she never had a bike before, she accepted it gladly. The next day her uncle was going to show her how to ride it. She did not want his help, but he insisted. As she sat on the boys’ bike, the uncle placed his hand on her butt, rubbing it. Efrossini quickly learned how to ride that bike to get away from him. So now at least, she could take a little ride in the neighborhood for recreation.

1940, Traveler’s Water Fountain Achillea and Malama