Do you remember my newborn calf Kvitka? She has grown big and strong. The soldiers took away her mother Chorna, so we have no milk until Kvitka is older.
Please write and tell me about your wonderful new life. It makes me happy to know that you are happy and safe.
Your true friend,
Halyna
Oh, Dear Diary, my heart almost stopped when I read that Halyna is marrying that horrible Bohdan! It is a true sign that all of the men are gone. I don’t know whether I should tell Halyna all of the things that are happening to me. I don’t want to upset her. But she is my friend so I should tell her the truth. Maybe it will make her feel better about her own life.
Sunday, August 16, 1914
On the way to church today a man ran up to Baba and grabbed her babushka. Baba held onto it and wouldn’t let him pull it off her head. He pulled so hard that he knocked her to the ground, but Baba still wouldn’t let go. Tato yelled at the man but it didn’t do any good and by this time, there were a couple of other men gathered around and even a woman. They were all laughing at Baba, telling her she should go back to where she came from.
Tato’s face was red with anger and he punched the man in the mouth. That made the man let go of Baba’s scarf. Mama and I helped Baba to her feet. There was blood on the man’s teeth. I watched in horror as he punched Tato’s stomach so hard that Tato fell down. I ran to help him up, but before I could get there, another man kicked Tato in the ribs. Just then, a couple of men from the chytalnya came to Tato’s defence. The other men scattered. I hate to think what would have happened if those friends hadn’t come by right then.
Mama said that maybe we should go back to the flat, but Tato brushed all the dust from his clothing and then checked to see if Baba was injured. Without saying a word, he held out an arm for Baba, which she took. Mama walked on the other side of Tato and gently looped her arm around his back so he didn’t limp too much.
Mykola looked like he was about to burst into tears. “Do you want a piggyback?” I asked.
A smile poked through his sadness, so I crouched down and he hopped up and we continued on our way to the church.
Later
Stefan came up to the roof after church and sat with me. “What are all these little white and yellow balls?” he asked, looking at my feet. They were the beads from the beautiful necklace that Irena had made for me. The threads must have broken without me realizing it. I stood up and shook out my clothing and more beads fell to the ground. What I was hoping was that the one special Venetian bead somehow got stuck in my clothing and wasn’t lost. Stefan got down on his hands and knees and helped me look, but we couldn’t find it. I don’t know when it broke. Perhaps when I gave Mykola a piggyback?
It makes me sad to have broken the necklace that Irena made for me, but if I hadn’t lost the Venetian bead I could have at least put it back together. Oy, can things get any worse?
Thursday, August 20, 1914, after work
I don’t have much new to write, but just wanted to say that Mary’s eyes were red this morning. She told me that her older brother has enlisted in the Canadian army. I didn’t know she had a brother. She has never mentioned him before. It turns out that he lives in Toronto and speaks good English. His name is Ihor but he calls himself George.
Friday, August 21, 1914
It rained all day. I got soaked going to work and coming home!
Later
Tato just came home. He says something called the “War Measures Act” has been put into place. It means that people who recently came from Austria-Hungary or Germany can no longer get newspapers or letters from home, and if the government wants to, it can take property away from us because we’re “enemy aliens.” As if we owned much.
Monday, August 24, 1914
dusk, on my roof
I am getting better at doing the seams. My stitches are so neatly done that the boss has moved me to another job. In one way this makes me sad because I no longer sit beside Mary, but I do make more money. My new job is working with the buttonhole maker. It is a more difficult job and Mary told me that they have trouble keeping people in it. I am going to try my best, even if it means staying late at work. I cannot lose this job. My family depends on it.
Tuesday, August 25, 1914
It is cold, Dear Diary, and so is my mood. Because of the War Measures Act, men who are not “naturalized British citizens” must report at the Immigration Building on St. Antoine Street. This means Tato must report too! He went there today for the first time. Some men are being held as prisoners there, including Slava’s father! Where could Slava possibly be? I am worried about her.
Thursday, August 27, 1914
The Russians have invaded Germany. Each day, the news gets worse. My life is black black black and all this has happened because of that student killing the Archduke.
This may sound awful, but even though it is bad here in Canada, I am glad that we are here and not in Horoshova. If we were there, Tato might be dead by now.
Friday, August 28, 1914, at bedtime
Now Germans have invaded the north of France. They are calling this “a terrific struggle waged all over the world.” I am sad for all the people who are being killed. And all because of an argument between Austria and Serbia.
Saturday, August 29, 1914
The British have sunk four German warships. It is good that Britain is doing better in the war, but what about all of those Germans? They don’t deserve to die. None of these people deserves to die. It is all so unfair.
Since it is unsafe to be outside, I have been doing work on my hope chest. It is a dreary life to work in a sewing factory all week and then to handsew on the weekend, but I am trying to stay busy to take my mind off the war.
Monday, August 31, 1914
The weather was so nice that I asked Tato if we could go to the market together today. He is getting good at shopping, but I need to get fresh air once in a while. I was shocked at how rude a few of the farmers are to him. Some of the people that I used to buy goods from will no longer sell to us. There are still farmers who will sell to us, thank goodness.
September–December 1914
Wednesday, September 2, 1914
I am forcing myself to look happy today even though my heart is breaking inside. Mykola is going to school, but I am not. How can I possibly go to school when I have a good job? Tato was angry with me when I told him I would not quit, but deep down I know he was relieved. After he sat quietly at the table for a bit, he said if his daughter wasn’t in school, then his son would be. I think Mykola is too young to go to school, but Stefan says other boys his age go, so Mykola should also. Besides, with me working such long hours, what child is here to play with him? Stefan said he would take Mykola to Sarsfield School with him and he has promised to watch over him. I just hope Stefan stays in his nice mood about this.