To my grandparents Velvel William Chernoff and Dora Eva Rollband Chernoff and Harris Zvi Waldman and Sarah Papkin Waldman may their memories be for a blessing
one Miriam was startled awake Her room was shaking the window next to her bed rattling like chattering teeth A long eerie whistle reminded her that she wasn’t in Brooklyn anymore Sitting up she pushed the curtains apart expecting to see a giant lifting her grandparents farmhouse off the ground But the moonlight revealed only the lights of a caboose She watched it disappear down the snow-covered train tracks The night fell still and silent once again The next time Miriam opened her eyes sunlight was leaking through the curtains Her grandmother was standing by the bed smiling down at her 1
Bubby had a smudge of flour on her cheek and her soft gray hair was coming loose from her bun Rise and shine Miri she said cheerfully I’ve got your breakfast all ready When Bubby went back down the stairs Miriam knelt on the bed and pushed the curtains apart again The train tracks cut a path through the snow stretching from the bridge over the road at one end of the yard all the way to the woods at the other Letting the curtains fall back together she turned to the closet where Bubby had stored her clothes As she pulled on her dress and wool stockings stockings she kept an eye on the window wondering when the next train would come Bubby had set a bowl of oatmeal at the kitchen table Miriam looked around the room She had never seen such a big kitchen it was almost as big as her entire apartment back home She wondered if Bubby and Zayde were lonely eating at that big table every day all by themselves surrounded by empty chairs She thought back to her breakfast the day before with Mama Papa and Bubby at the cozy 2 Debby Waldman
table in their apartment in New York Mama had served her favorites warm chewy bialys soft cheese and smoked whitefish What do you think Mama and Papa are doing right this minute Miriam asked her grandmother grandmother as she stirred a spoonful of molasses into her oatmeal Bubby looked at the clock over the sink It was almost eight I imagine they’re getting ready to board the ship They’re setting sail today I wish I could go with them Miriam said wistfully She wiped her nose with the back of her hand Bubby pulled a handkerchief from her apron pocket and passed it to Miriam It’s not a journey for a young girl she said Gabriel and Rafael are babies Miriam said Why do they get to make the journey They have to Bubby reminded her It’s the only way for them to get to America Uncle Avram can bring them Miriam insisted He’s coming to America too So why do Mama and Papa have to go 3 Miriam’s Secret
