THE URN
Written and illustrated by
Elaine Troisi
Warsaw
April 29, 2000
Maurice, Rachel, Marin
Rachel stammered, still gripping Maurice's arms, "It's about time you came back, little brother!" She kissed both cheeks, her exuberance faltering as she caught his puzzled look.
"Little brother?" Maurice repeated, glancing at Marin, who shrugged in dismay.
"What do you mean by 'little brother,'Rachel?"
Marin scanned the sheaf of photocopies she had picked up. A look of shock consumed her expression.
"Maurice, you really are Rachel's brother. It says so, right here. Oh, my!" She handed him the document.
Rachel released her grip. "Let's all sit down. Let me explain. I wish I could apologize for my excitement, Maurice, but I cannot." She hugged him again and patted the sofa where she wanted him to sit.
There was a brief silence. She took deep breaths to slow her racing heart. Maurice looked at Marin. "I'm bewildered, to say the least. Please explain what's going on?"
"This afternoon, at the Ringelblum Archives, I photocopied everything that I could, but I didn't have time to read anything while we were there. When you two went out on your date ... yes, I know what's going on between you two," she said wryly, smiling. "Anyway, while you were out, I started reading the documents, that one in particular," she said, pointing to the paper in his hand. "I must have read that a hundred times!"
Marin rose. "I expect this will be a long night. We need coffee."
"Or whiskey!" Maurice said. Marin laughed and poured 3 cups of steaming coffee from the carafe. She topped his off with a shot of cognac.
Rachel continued. "One document explained that Hannah Rabinowitz married Jacob Solomon in 1940, the day before they escaped the ghetto and began the perilous journey to Paris." She stopped. Her throat was dry, and a river of emotions flowed through her. She, too, was overwhelmed.
As she sipped the hot coffee, she tried to collect her thoughts. Maurice put his arm around her shoulders, comforting her. He could sense how hard this was for
her.
A strong breeze reached them through the patio door. Marin rose to close the door. The sounds of the city were quiet now, and the city lights were dim. It was already two in the morning, but the story had to be finished. This time Marin returned to sit beside Maurice. She nestled her head on his shoulder, and he leaned into her.
Marin asked, "Do you know what happened to Hannah's and Jacob's parents ?"
Tears brimming, Rachel went on."Both families were active in the Jewish Combat Organization to thwart the Germans from deporting Jews to death camps."
Maurice interjected, "But the 1943 uprising failed, as we know. So, do you know what became of our grandparents, Rachel?" It suddenly struck him! They were talking about his grandparents! It was their family. He sank back into the sofa, suddenly overwhelmed.
"Deported, like all the rest." Rachel's face was white.
"And did Hannah and Jacob make it to Paris?"
"Yes," Rachel replied. "And I was born in your father's home in 1941." She looked at Marin. "And your grandmother, Golde Soneberg, delivered me. Isn't that amazing?" She sighed deeply and dabbed at her eyes, realizing just how small their world was.
Marin's look of shock brought Rachel to a stop.
"You found all this in one day's research! Imagine how much more is out there? And where do I fit in?" Maurice asked.
"Maurice, you were born after the war ... 1946. In the house you live in now. Your mother and father are also Jacob Solomon and Hannah Rabinowitz. Same as mine!"
"But why is your name Rabinowitz, and why is my name Rabineau." A look of realization crossed his face. "Wait a minute! Rabineau ... Rabinowitz." He looked into Rachel's eyes.
Marin interjected, "Wait a minute, Rachel, shouldn't your surname be Solomon? That was your father's name, Jacob Solomon."
"I think we need to return to Paris. This is all so very complicated," Maurice commented, throat suddenly parched. "Why didn't we grow up together, Rachel?"
"Stop! I don't know about you guys, but I need a break. I'm exhausted and completely overwhelmed," Rachel threw her arms up in despair.
"Okay then. It's time for breakfast, or sleep, or something," Marin said.
Early morning sunlight crept into the room and found three weary and confused people slumped on the sofa. Cold coffee and scattered papers stared up at them from the coffee table. The only sound came from the patio as the city of Warsaw began to wake.
ENJOY chapter 23and watch for the next chapter on February 16! And, as always, I'm listening!
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Chapter 23