Prisoners in the Promised Land

by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

The Ukrainian Internment Diary
of Anya Soloniuk
Spirit Lake, Quebec 1914

Monday, May 18, 1914

Mama insisted that I go to school today. I didn’t want to walk alone because I am afraid of that man who called us names. I knocked on Stefan’s door but no one answered so I had to walk by myself.
Unfortunately, that awful man was leaning against the door of his flat with a smirky look on his face. I had no choice except to pass him because there was too much traffic to cross over to the other side. I kept my eyes on the sidewalk and walked as close to the road as I dared. Just as I passed, I heard a smacking noise and then I looked down and saw a splat of greeny-yellow. It had barely missed me. I walked fast, keeping my head down. Why would he do that? He doesn’t even know me.