Read Online The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister by Nonna Bannister, Denise George, Carolyn Tomlin - Free Book Online
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the corners of the benches trying to stay warm. There was a large potbellied stove burning, and it felt good just to come close to it.
Just as Mama was becoming concerned about our having to walk in all that snow and cold to Grandmother’s house, through the door came this little old man—or at least that’s the way he looked to me. It was Petrovich, and he was not that old then. He had a big smile on his face. Needless to say, Mama was extremely happy to see him.
“Petrovich, you know Anatoly, and this is my little one, Nonnatchka, ” Mama introduced me.
“Let’s hurry—the horses are getting restless, and I surely don’t want them to get chilled,” commanded Petrovich.
With great amazement, I looked over at the sleigh. I was somewhat frightened by the noises the horses were making, so I let Anatoly get in first.
“Don’t be afraid, Nonnatchka,” Anatoly reassured me. “It’s a lot of fun to ride in a sleigh.”
He was talking as though he was an “old pro” at that kind of ride. And he was right. After Petrovich threw the covers over our backs and our legs, it was warm and cozy, and even the cold wind against which we were riding did not seem to bother us too much. The roads were already packed with snow, and the sleigh was moving smoothly—there was a full moon, and there was plenty of light.
We arrived at the gates of Grandmother’s home much too soon. Anatoly and I were disappointed that the ride was so short—especially since I had really begun to enjoy the whole thing. Grandmother’s house was not that far from the station, and it had not taken more than ten or fifteen minutes to get there. However, Mama was very glad that Petrovich had come to get us so we didn’t have to make a long walk, dragging all our luggage along.
The house was lit up, with the shutters still open—there was no electricity in the village yet, but the utility poles could be seen along the roadside. Grandmother had plenty of light in every room by using oil lamps, lanterns, and all kinds of candles. Babushka was already standing by the gate, wrapped up in her shawl. As soon as she saw us, she shouted, “They are here!” It was almost like some general had given a command—the whole army of relatives came rushing out of the house.
First out was Uncle Zhenya (Yevgeny), who was only about fifteen or sixteen years old at the time and was Mama’s youngest brother. He was a very good-looking young man who, according to Babushka, had inherited his good looks from his father, Yakov. He was tall and had black hair, dark brown eyes, and a very light complexion.
“He surely would make a handsome Cossack,” Grandmother would proudly say.
----
COSSACK • Grandmother Feodosija’s compliments of Zhenya reflected her unrequited hope that her son would follow in his father’s footsteps. Yakov had been a member of the Tsar’s Imperial Guard as well as of the independent militant group known as the Don Cossacks.
----
Then came Uncle Ljonya (Leonid), who was somewhat shy and not very tall, with light brown hair and blue eyes like Grandmother’s—he was probably eighteen or nineteen years old. Aunt Tonja was next—she was petite and beautiful with light brown hair (almost blond) and hazel-colored eyes. She was engaged to be married that year and was in a dream world of her own. Aunt Xenja and her husband, Vladimir (Valodya), were absent that year. Then the cousins, one by one, came running out to meet their “big city” relatives: Halina—Uncle Ivan’s daughter, who was the same age as Anatoly; Aljoscha (Alexey), Halina’s brother, who was about a year or so younger than I; and the last one, Ludmila, who was just a baby (perhaps two years old)—she was Uncle Ivan’s littlest girl.
12: Homecoming Welcome
Petrovich took off as soon as he could to put the horses in the stable and put the sleigh away. He was quite tired and was ready to retire to his cottage, which was located between the stable and the orchard.
Just as Mama was becoming concerned about our having to walk in all that snow and cold to Grandmother’s house, through the door came this little old man—or at least that’s the way he looked to me. It was Petrovich, and he was not that old then. He had a big smile on his face. Needless to say, Mama was extremely happy to see him.
“Petrovich, you know Anatoly, and this is my little one, Nonnatchka, ” Mama introduced me.
“Let’s hurry—the horses are getting restless, and I surely don’t want them to get chilled,” commanded Petrovich.
With great amazement, I looked over at the sleigh. I was somewhat frightened by the noises the horses were making, so I let Anatoly get in first.
“Don’t be afraid, Nonnatchka,” Anatoly reassured me. “It’s a lot of fun to ride in a sleigh.”
He was talking as though he was an “old pro” at that kind of ride. And he was right. After Petrovich threw the covers over our backs and our legs, it was warm and cozy, and even the cold wind against which we were riding did not seem to bother us too much. The roads were already packed with snow, and the sleigh was moving smoothly—there was a full moon, and there was plenty of light.
We arrived at the gates of Grandmother’s home much too soon. Anatoly and I were disappointed that the ride was so short—especially since I had really begun to enjoy the whole thing. Grandmother’s house was not that far from the station, and it had not taken more than ten or fifteen minutes to get there. However, Mama was very glad that Petrovich had come to get us so we didn’t have to make a long walk, dragging all our luggage along.
The house was lit up, with the shutters still open—there was no electricity in the village yet, but the utility poles could be seen along the roadside. Grandmother had plenty of light in every room by using oil lamps, lanterns, and all kinds of candles. Babushka was already standing by the gate, wrapped up in her shawl. As soon as she saw us, she shouted, “They are here!” It was almost like some general had given a command—the whole army of relatives came rushing out of the house.
First out was Uncle Zhenya (Yevgeny), who was only about fifteen or sixteen years old at the time and was Mama’s youngest brother. He was a very good-looking young man who, according to Babushka, had inherited his good looks from his father, Yakov. He was tall and had black hair, dark brown eyes, and a very light complexion.
“He surely would make a handsome Cossack,” Grandmother would proudly say.
----
COSSACK • Grandmother Feodosija’s compliments of Zhenya reflected her unrequited hope that her son would follow in his father’s footsteps. Yakov had been a member of the Tsar’s Imperial Guard as well as of the independent militant group known as the Don Cossacks.
----
Then came Uncle Ljonya (Leonid), who was somewhat shy and not very tall, with light brown hair and blue eyes like Grandmother’s—he was probably eighteen or nineteen years old. Aunt Tonja was next—she was petite and beautiful with light brown hair (almost blond) and hazel-colored eyes. She was engaged to be married that year and was in a dream world of her own. Aunt Xenja and her husband, Vladimir (Valodya), were absent that year. Then the cousins, one by one, came running out to meet their “big city” relatives: Halina—Uncle Ivan’s daughter, who was the same age as Anatoly; Aljoscha (Alexey), Halina’s brother, who was about a year or so younger than I; and the last one, Ludmila, who was just a baby (perhaps two years old)—she was Uncle Ivan’s littlest girl.
12: Homecoming Welcome
Petrovich took off as soon as he could to put the horses in the stable and put the sleigh away. He was quite tired and was ready to retire to his cottage, which was located between the stable and the orchard.
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