2 - Uncle Stas Would Not Let Us Starve

For the next few days we ate everything in the house that we could find; old cookies, candy and all of Father's best chocolates that he was always hiding from us. One evening cousin Maryna came over wearing a big smile on her face, dangling a smoked fish by its tail. We laughed. Mother asked her if she had bread, maybe a potato, anything? Hugging Mom, she said, "Sweet Auntie, you should be happy with this ugly dried fish. It cost me my gold ring for only six of them."

The next day when it was barely light, there was a loud knock on the door. Terrified, Mother slowly opened it. She was relieved to see a man who was not a soldier, so she let him in. He was a big man and I could see he was a farmer. "I am Stas Marchewa, first cousin of your husband, Waclaw Marchewa, and you are Eleonora, right?"

He apologized for arriving so early, then dragged in a sack of flour, a bag of potatoes and a bushel of apples. He explained that the farmers were trying to find their family members, knowing that those in the cities were starving. Mom's eyes filled with tears. I just wondered how he managed to evade the soldiers on every corner, how long he knew we lived here and how he found our house. Finally, I decided he was definitely an angel and knew everything. Mother agreed.

After he left, Mother made dough from the precious flour, then molded it in her palms into flat circles. Looking for the salt and sugar in the cabinets, I noticed a smile on her face as she was silently thanking God for the gift of life, knowing that Uncle Stas would not let us starve. Cousin Maryna came back with a small jar of marmalade and shared the joy with us. As soon as it was dark, I was allowed to go out with her. We ran from one Aunt's house to another, taking with us a cup of flour, two potatoes and an apple for each.