The following is from Anna, for those who have not read Anna – Her Odyssey to Freedom, shortly after Anna arrived in Canada both illegally and penniless, she is taken in by Ginny’s daughter Mandy who is now quite well-to-do. She works as a domestic for Mandy in exchange for Mandy teaching her English and putting her thru university. The Polsen family arrived on the morning of Christmas Eve. They had flown from Edmonton to Montreal and all of the family went to the airport to meet them. Anna stayed home to fuss about the house to make sure everything was immaculate. After a seemingly interminable wait Anna heard voices outside the front door. She rushed to the door to open it at the same time, as John was about to turn the handle. She held the door open wide beckoning with her arm for all to enter. Trish bounded in and began undoing her outer wear while John retrieved their luggage setting it aside with Anna helping. As Mandy’s family members removed their coats, Anna grabbed them and put them in the closet. “Now then Anna,” Mandy finally said, when everyone had their outerwear put away, “I would like you to meet my mother, father and sister Martha.” Her mother was clearly an older version of Mandy with the same warm smile, although her carefully kept ginger-coloured hair displayed flecks of gray. Her father, whose receding hair was almost snow-white, also radiated a warm smile. Martha, a short, stout, woman also with ginger-coloured hair, likewise smiled pleasantly at Anna. “Pleased to meet you,” Anna beamed. “I have heard so much about you.” “And we about you,” her mother smiled. “Mandy has told us in her letters all about your rather interesting life story.” “Yes, well come in to the sitting room. I will make you coffee and a treat, yes.” “Come Grandpa,” Trish said, clasping and tugging at her grandfather’s hand. “I’ll show you the Christmas tree.” He followed her to the sitting room with a laugh. “Trish sure has her Grandpa wrapped around her little finger,” John laughed. “Marty just adores his grandchildren,” her mother replied. As Anna wheeled in a tray containing Christmas snacks, a pot of tea and a decanter of coffee she smiled at sight of the family gathering. The Christmas snacks included a platter of speka piragi. Trish was bounding from one grandparent to another and from them to her Aunt Martha. All made a big fuss over her. Anna had not seen such a warm family scene since the sun had set on Latvia. She then turned to begin the laborious task of carting their luggage up to their respective bedrooms. “We can carry our own luggage,” Marty said as he noticed her heading for the stairs lugging a large suitcase. He, along with Martha and John, came along each taking some of the luggage. Although grateful for the assistance, Anna said. “It is my job as a maid to take care of these things.” “Nonsense, you are much more than a maid,” John chided as they went up the stairs. “Well now that you are up here, I can show all of you where your rooms are,” Anna replied. When they came back down, John said to Anna. “Why don’t you join us for a while? There is nothing pressing in the kitchen is there?” “No, nothing pressing. But I’ll be sitting in a private family gathering.” “As far as I am concerned, you are practically family,” Mandy called from the sitting room. “My family is dying to know all about you.” Anna came reluctantly into the sitting room and was going to sit on a chair to one side but Mandy’s mother said. “There is room on the sofa beside me. Come and sit here.” She patted the vacant spot on the couch. Marty sat down on the other side of her next to the chair where John sat. “Are you sure Mrs. Polsen?” Anna said. “I’ll be right in the middle of the family.” “Come please sit beside me,” she smiled warmly. “I prefer to be called Ginny. Only children call me Mrs. Polsen.” “Thank you Mrs. Polsen,” Anna said as she reluctantly came over to sit beside Mandy’s mother. As she sat beside Ginny, she said. “You and your daughter are a lot alike.” “Thank you,” Mandy said. “To be compared with my mother is a great honour.” “This relationship you have with Mandy reminds me of my own past,” Ginny smiled. “When I was a teenager, Mom hired a maid. An Italian girl named Gina, who like you was new to Canada and could barely speak English. She and I became good friends and we still are.” “Yes, she followed you out west, didn’t she Mother,” Mandy said. “Yes, she married one of our good neighbours. It’s hard to believe that she was once a maid.” “I keep telling Anna, that she is not a servant. Just a guest and employee.” Mandy said. “In the Old Country there was always the upper and lower class,” Anna said. “In Canada things are different,” Ginny said. “Oh there are households where domestic staff are treated like servants, but no one is bound by that lifestyle. When my friend Gina came out west she was behaving like a good servant concerned about her mistress. I had to convince her that she was my equal in every way.” “Anna wants to study to become a doctor,” John said. “Really,” Ginny smiled. “That’s excellent. There are not many female doctors in Canada. I wish you every success.” “Thank you,” Anna blushed. “You will have accomplished more than any of us,” Marty added. “I only got as far as secretarial school,” Martha added. “It doesn’t matter who you are or how much education you have,” Ginny said with an aura of wisdom. “You are what you are, and no one is better that you, ever.” “Mom ran away from a rich household,” Mandy laughed, “to join Father on a homestead.” “I guess true love is the key to any success in life,” Marty added, squeezing Ginny’s hand. “Did you know that Anna knows Larry Kekkonen?” Mandy said. “Really! How did you meet him?” Martha asked with surprise. “I met him in Berlin, just at the close of the war. Does he still live in Morning Glory?” “No, he and his father have a lumber and hardware business in Kasper Beach.” Marty replied. “Kasper Beach!” Anna exclaimed. “That was the place where Uncle Janis had lived. Do you know many people there?” “No, it’s at the other end of the lake from us. About twenty-six miles away.” Marty said. Anna who still thought in terms of the metric system did a mental calculation to compare miles with kilometres. “That is forty kilometres. Have you ever heard the name Janis Lindenbergis, from around there?” “Janis Lindenbergis,” Marty mused. “The name is vaguely familiar. Is that a Latvian name?” “Yes, my name is Anna Lindenbergis.” “There are a lot of Latvians around Kasper Beach.” “Anna is looking for her brother Karlis and a friend named Valdis,” Mandy said. “Well next time I happen to be at Kasper Beach. I’ll inquire of the Lindenbergis family.” Marty said. “Uncle Janis is dead though,” Anna said sadly. “According to the records at the Latvian consulate.” “I’m sorry to hear that,” Ginny said, touching her arm. “What are these buns?” Martha gasped as she sampled the speka piragi. “They’re absolutely delicious.” “Speka piragi,” Mandy replied, looking at Anna to make sure the pronunciation was correct. “She treats us to them all the time.” “It’s just a common Latvian dish,” Anna blushed modestly. “Oh they are good,” Marty said as he also sampled one. “They taste like they have bacon in them.” “They do,” Anna replied. “I must try one,” Ginny added. Anna got up and passed her the platter, then she asked to be excused. She had to check on dinner cooking in the kitchen. When supper was served that evening, Anna declined an offer to sit at the table insisting this was a family affair. The following morning as gifts were opened Anna was astonished to find that she not only received gifts from John, Mandy and Trish, but she also received them from Marty and Ginny, and Martha. “You shouldn’t have,” Anna gasped as she was given a gift from Marty and Ginny together. It was a picture book about Alberta. “I don’t know what to say, I never thought.” She felt embarrassed that they had given her gifts but she had not thought to get any for them. “Don’t let it bother you,” Marty said. “You didn’t know us, so you wouldn’t know what to get,” Martha added. “But...” “An oversight on my part,” Mandy said apologetically, placing a hand on Anna’s arm. “I should have known that Mom, Dad and Martha would give you gifts.” “Thank you Anna, Miss Lindenbergis” Trish said running to hug Anna. She was clutching a doll dressed in the Latvian national costume. John and Mandy likewise discovered that their presents from Anna had a Latvian flavour. Anna had earlier discovered that the great cosmopolitan city of Montreal had many European boutiques including stores that sold products from the Baltic nations. Christmas dinner was set out in the dining room with flair. Anna resisted offers by all three women in the house when they offered to help. Although the cuisine was Canadian, and included a large turkey, the table was laid out in the Latvian manner. This brought compliments from all around. In the final preparations however, she did relent and allow John to carve the turkey. As everyone came to the table, Anna stood back like the dutiful servant. Mandy looked around the table and said, “There’s one plate missing.” Flushed with embarrassment, Anna counted both the places and number of people while John and Mandy both wore mirthful looks. “I don’t understand Madam,” Anna said humbly. “There is a plate for everyone.” “You forgot a plate for yourself,” Mandy said. “This is a family Christmas dinner, I’ll eat in the kitchen again.” “You’ll do no such thing,” John said adamantly. “You weaseled out of sitting with us last night but this is Christmas dinner. You must sit with us.” “Yes, please sit with us,” Ginny added. “Dinner won’t be complete without you.” “I forbid anyone to sit down at the table until Anna brings herself a plate,” John said firmly. “Here, here,” Marty added. Anna wiped a tear from her eye and went to the kitchen to fetch the necessary tableware for herself. She was so nervous when she returned, she nearly dropped her plate on which was balanced the cutlery and a wineglass. Martha and Trish, who sat at the side opposite Marty and Ginny, quickly moved their plates over to make room for Anna. John poured wine for everyone and Anna fussed about making sure all the food dishes were in order. When everyone was properly seated, John rose with glass in hand. “I would like to propose a toast to Anna, for laying this succulent feast before us. To Anna.” The others raised their glasses. “I would like to welcome Anna to her first Christmas in Canada. May it be the first of many, many happy Christmas’s to come.” Mandy added, raising her glass. By now Anna’s eyes were glistening from being the centre of attention. She rose with her glass and said in a choking voice that augmented her accent. “To all you kind, vonderful peoples who make me feel so velcome in Canada. God bless all of you.” Anna turned and fled from the room in tears and Mandy went after her. Anna slumped down in a kitchen chair and cried abundantly. Mandy came over and put a reassuring arm on her shoulder. “Vhy you so kind to me. Vhat I do to deserve zis” Anna said reverting to speaking broken English. “You are a special person Anna,” Mandy said gently. “Anyone who has lived through the things you’ve lived through, seen the terrible things you’ve seen, and are able to tell about it must be special. Someone is looking out for you Anna, and that Someone sent you to us to help you get started in your new life here in Canada.” Anna sniffled and looked up at Mandy with watery eyes. “Come, your dinner will get cold,” Mandy beckoned with a smile. Anna stood up and the two women hugged for a long moment. “God bless you Mandy, you are a wonderful person,” Anna finally said. She wiped the tears from her eyes and they went back to the dining room.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:38:12 +0000
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