to serve in the Russian Army Our people are poor and it seems we never have enough to eat Still I think even though we are poor we are happy Aren’t we As though Father can read my mind he says We will be happier in America We will have enough food to eat We will be free to practice our language and customs And Gustav won’t be forced to serve in the army But what about my friends Katarina says Her voice breaks into a sob and tears spill from her eyes Without waiting for an answer she runs from the room Katarina is thirteen but she cries more than five-year-old Helene Usually I am annoyed by Katarina’s constant angry crying but today I wish I could cry too What will we do there I ask Your Uncle Elmer has a farm in a place called North Dakota I know you have never met him but he has invited me to farm with him Father says Karl grabs Helene’s hands and spins her around the room We’re going to America he shouts The children dance wildly until they collapse into a pile of giggles I watch them in somber silence until Father stands and puts a hand on my shoulder America will be a new beginning for us he says
Chapter 2 Train to the Unknown The shrill train whistle pierces the air Black smoke rises from the smokestack as the train chugs toward the station With one hand I clutch Helene’s tiny palm With the other I grip my suitcase The case holds the only belongings I can take to America I try not to think about everything I had to leave behind but the images swim before my eyes A cuckoo clock made especially for me by my grandfather A life-sized baby doll named Inga that I have had since I was younger than Helene My favorite boots Three dresses A hat with feathers that I never wore but loved anyway The only time I shed tears was when I gave Inga to a neighbor child Helene tried to comfort me You can get a new doll in America she said I’m eleven I told her I’m too old for baby dolls Before I gave Inga away I took off her dress and folded it into my suitcase The dress made of blue-and-white gingham was the last thing my mother gave to me before she died Even though I am too old for dolls I will keep that dress for the rest of my life The train blasts into the station and Helene clutches my skirts frightened by the noise and the gigantic looming train cars Karl races along the platform until Father scolds him Katarina stares
sullenly at her boots and Gustav stares straight ahead We’ve never been on a train We’ve never even left Odessa A sudden fear grips me What if the train crashes What if the boat sinks What if America sends us back But I don’t have time to be scared The conductor orders us to the very last passenger car I grip Helene’s hand more tightly as the crowd on the platform surges toward the train Bodies bump against me and tall heads block my view Where is Father Panic strangles my throat What if I have lost him in this crowd Father I call Father But my words are lost in the hissing of the train and the shouts of the crowd Zizzy I hear Helene cry She wrenches free from my grip and scuttles into the crowd Helene I scream I turn to shove backward through the sea of passengers but the bodies are too tightly packed Everyone is pushing forward and no one is paying attention to me I’m just one young girl among so many others My vision blurs with tears I have lost my little sister I have lost Father I am alone
A hand tugs my arm I turn to see a dark-haired girl about my age She pulls me backward and we tumble out of the crowd I see Helene standing on the platform clutching her wooden horse Tears stream down her cheeks I rush toward her and gather her in my arms I dropped Zizzy Helene wails And then I was all alone It’s okay I tell her I’m here now The train whistle shrills We have to board the train I tell Helene tugging her behind me toward the passenger car I scan the crowd for the dark-haired girl but I don’t see her As we near the car door I see my father leaning out looking worriedly over the crowd of people Step back sir the car attendant orders Father We’re here I call I push through the people and hoist Helene into my father’s arms Then I step up into the train just as the final boarding call sounds I take one last breath of Russian air before the door closes and the train lurches forward into the unknown
