Monday, February 8, 1915
Tato and I had words today. He said that he was going to stand in the soup line. I told him that people who go to the soup line might get arrested. He didn’t believe me, Dear Diary! I am so worried about him! We still have a few potatoes and a quarter barrel of flour. Mykola can still get free milk. I know it’s not very much food, but I would rather go hungry than risk having Tato get arrested.
Wednesday, February 10, 1915
My namesday: I am now thirteen.
At lunchtime today, Mary and the other girls sang “Mnohaya Lita,” or “Many Years,” which was very nice. Mama and Baba made a small batch of potato pyrohy and our family and the Pemlychs all ate together. What really surprised me is that Mykola made a picture for me at school today as a present. It is pinned to the sheet that separates our part of the flat from the Pemlychs’ part. He drew me a picture of our old cottage in Horoshova. Stefan made a poem for me. Here it is:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet
And so are you
Thursday, February 11, 1915
Stefan didn’t make up that poem. Mary told me it is an old Canadian poem. I still like it, though!
Friday, February 12, 1915
Today it is almost warm. Maybe Tato was right about the soup kitchen. He and Mr. Pemlych have said that they see the same people there every day and no one has been arrested. Maybe the rumours were wrong.
Later
Mykola is doing well at school. He brought home an arithmetic test that he got 100% on! Tato hung it up on the sheet beside the picture. I am pleased for my brother but I am also jealous. I wish I was still going to school so that Tato could be proud of me too.
Monday, February 15, 1915
This is a terrible day. Tato has been arrested and so has Mr. Pemlych. They are being held at the Immigration Building. Baba says that Mama and Mrs. Pemlych have gone to the Immigration Building to see what they can do to bring the men home.
Later
at the Pemlych flat, wrapped in my comforter
All I can do right now is wait. Here is what happened.
I knew something was wrong as soon as I finished work, because Tato wasn’t there waiting for me. At first I thought he was just late so I told Mary and the other girls not to wait for me and I stood just inside the doorway and waited. And waited. And waited. After about twenty minutes the boss gave me the eye so I waited outside.
I was worried about Tato by that time, but I was also worried about myself. It’s dangerous enough walking home by myself, but can you imagine if I walked home in the dark? So before it got dark, I decided I had to leave.
About half a block from the factory, Stefan came running up the street to walk me home. He came to meet me as soon as he heard what happened to our fathers. Things are very bad for us, but I am thankful that I have a true friend in Stefan.
Someone is at the door.
Later
Mama is back from the Immigration Building. She says the arrests were for “loitering.” That means standing in the street when you don’t have a job. What I don’t understand is where are you supposed to stand if you don’t have a job?
Thursday, February 18, 1915
Oy, Dear Diary, I asked Mama to take me to the Immigration Building to see Tato, but she said not this time. She and Mrs. Pemlych went together. I wrote a note and drew a picture for Tato and Mama took that with her. When she came back, her eyes were rimmed with red. She said that she was tired and went straight to bed. I knew she wasn’t really tired, Dear Diary — she was sad. I could her the muffled sound of her sobbing.
Later
Mama says that Tato may be sent away but she doesn’t understand where. Oy, Dear Diary, I am so worried!
Wednesday, February 24, 1915
Stefan has been arrested. Must go.
Friday, February 26, 1915
Why does Canada hate us so much? How could they arrest Stefan when he is not even a man? Even though he has grown tall very quickly, he still has the face of a child. It seems that any Ukrainian male who stands on a street corner gets put into jail. I thought Canada was a land of freedom. This makes me sad and scared.
Tuesday, March 2, 1915
Mama and I visited Tato yesterday. It was so crowded that it was hard to speak to him. His eyes have a blank look, like he can’t believe what is happening. He tries to make us feel better, though, and he doesn’t complain. He even made a joke, saying at least they feed him. He and Stefan and Mr. Pemlych are all in the same big room with many other men. I noticed that Stefan’s hands were clenched into fists and he has a scowl on his face. On the way out, Private Howard Smythe bumped hard into my shoulder as if it was a mistake, but I know he did it on purpose.
Thursday, March 4, 1915
Since Stefan has been arrested, there is no one to walk me home. Mary and Natalka and the other girls are in the same situation, so we have started to meet up and walk together before and after work. I still have to walk half a block by myself and that is very bad. I am learning new words but they are not ones that I would ever repeat! We all go to the market together too.
Friday, March 5, 1915
Oy, Dear Diary, it gets worse and worse. In today’s paper it says that the war is being fought right in Galicia and that the Austrians have lost twenty-five battles in a row. Who can still be alive in my homeland? It must all be in ashes now. You should see the look in people’s eyes as they pass me. In Canada we are despised and in the old country we are dead. I am so sad.
Monday, March 8, 1915
Every day is the same. My heart is wrapped in sadness.
Monday, March 15, 1915
It says in the paper that the Allies think the war may be over in three weeks. I am praying that this is true. I want Tato to come home!
Thursday, March 18, 1915, after supper
Oy, Dear Diary, in today’s paper it is all about the Russians who are winning battles in Galicia. Also, I just got a letter from Irena. It is no better for her. Here is her letter pasted in below:
Hairy Hill,
Alberta, Canada
Tuesday, March 2, 1915
Dear Anya,
I can barely write this letter because I am so sad. Our neighbour Yurij Feschuk has been arrested! Here is what happened.
Father and our neighbour went to town to get their papers stamped. They stamped Father’s, but then refused to stamp Yurij Feschuk’s. Instead, they handcuffed him and took him away. Father found out that he has been taken to a work camp just outside of Jasper, Alberta. Anya, this is just not right! Our neighbour did nothing wrong!