“It is common knowledge for Ukrainians. We learned about it in Ukrainian school, but my grandmother didn’t live through it. Her family was in western Ukraine, which, during the time between the World Wars, was occupied by Poland. They didn’t have to deal with Stalin till World War II.”
“What did she say about it?”
“She said it was horrible. Some people managed to escape into her village, and they told stories about whole villages in eastern and central Ukraine being wiped out. People were deported by cattle cars to Siberia, like we read about in your Bobby’s journal, or forced to starve in their own homes after Stalin exported all of the food. Children were left at train stations by their parents in hopes someone would take pity on them and bring them home and feed them, but they rarely did. People died in the streets waiting for a crust of bread.” He lowered his voice. “The worst were the stories of cannibalism. People spoke of being so desperate they ate dead bodies, and in extreme cases, killed other people to eat them.”
Cassie’s jaw dropped. “That’s unbelievable. I feel so dumb. I’m of Ukrainian descent. I should know what my family went through. How have I never heard of any of this?”
“Well, the famine was covered up pretty much until the Soviet Union fell, and there are still people who insist it never happened,” Nick said. “Stalin put on a good show, made collectivization sound great, and the press and his allies either bought it or ignored it. Some even lied. Walter Duranty, from the New York Times, completely refuted that a famine was happening. Hell, he won a Pulitzer for his articles on it. Nobody wanted to believe the ‘breadbasket of Europe’ was being starved to death.”
An ache swelled in Cassie’s throat as the pieces clicked into place. Bobby hiding food. The terror. The grief.
“This explains so much about Bobby.”
“She may have some major survivor’s guilt. It’s not always easy to talk about traumatic things. That’s probably why she gave you her journal instead of telling you herself. Speaking of, when should we read some more? Maybe it will tell us exactly what she went through.”
“What about now?” Cassie turned to face him. “Please. My mom was going to go to the park with us this morning. I can probably get out of it and stay here with you.”
“It’s a date. Let me run home quick and clean up from work.” Nick smiled at her. “Two dates in one day. Watch out. You might get sick of me.”
“Oh, my gosh, I forgot about tonight. I’m sorry. I’m monopolizing all of your time.” Cassie waved him away. “Go, get on with your day and forget I asked.”
Nick chuckled. “There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing, though I am a little disappointed that you forgot about tonight.”
Cassie flushed and stared into her coffee. “I didn’t forget, exactly. I got distracted, and I want to read more of the journal so much.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m only teasing.” Nick stood and handed her the empty coffee cup. “I’ll be back in a half hour.”
While Bobby, Birdie, and Anna walked to the park, Cassie and Nick worked. They’d found their rhythm, and Cassie typed as quickly as Nick translated, not pausing until Alina’s death. Cassie could feel him watching her, but she kept her eyes on her screen, reading the last words over and over.
My sister was dead.
“She blames herself for Alina’s death,” Cassie finally said.
Nick grimaced. “And that guilt is on top of the pain of losing so many others. Really, I’m amazed she’s as stable as she is.”
Cassie shook her head. “I don’t know what to say to her.”
“I wouldn’t say anything yet. We still have a lot to get through.”
“We’re back!” Anna called as she ushered Birdie through the back door. “Birdie is going to finish her cone outside with you guys.”
“Grammy bought me a treat!” Birdie held up a mess of pink frozen yogurt hanging haphazardly off a cone and slurped a mouthful off the top.
Nick tried to hold back his laughter as Birdie moved closer, her cone dripping a trail behind her. She looked over his shoulder at the pictures on the table and pointed a sticky finger.
“Hey, that’s Katya and Alina!” Birdie licked off another messy bite. “Can I see it?”
“Nick will hold it for you,” Cassie said. “Don’t touch anything with those hands. It’s all very old and delicate.”