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11.3.22

ORPHANS

 

ORPHANS

Marysa looked at their faces, tear-streaked and dust-covered. They’d hidden in the cellar till now, but that explosion was the final straw. “Right – we’re leaving.”

Older children helped toddlers into layers of clothing and, carrying the babies, they set off on foot.

At dusk Marysa spotted the cattle-shed and the exhausted children burrowed into the straw. “Titka, we’re hungry.”

Town-bred Marysa approached the cow with trepidation, but it yielded its aching udder gratefully to her fumbling efforts, and soon thirty bellies were full of warm milk.

Days later they reached the border, with several children perched on the cow’s broad back.

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I woke at five this morning, unable to sleep again for thoughts of the desperate plight of the Ukranians. Media reports of children making the journey to Poland unaccompanied because their parents are staying to fight the Russians. There was one child alone because his mother had to look after a grandmother too frail to move, another whose mother couldn't leave her orphanage full of children. Hence this story, prompted by Lisa Fox's photo on Rochelle's blog at  https://rochellewisoff.com/

Thanks to Google for translating 'Auntie' into Ukranian for me. 'Titka'.

16 comments:

  1. And let's hope they all make it back home soon

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    1. It must be terrifying for them all, especially as Russia is so enormous and Putin so mad.

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  2. Nice to read a warm story so well written. She is providing what she can - their first lap to freedom.

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    1. A journey she and the children will never forget.

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  3. What a lovely tale of survival, Liz. Beautifully done.

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  4. Hope perhaps, but experiences that will never be forgotten. Well told, Liz.

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    1. An experience that shouldn't have been necessary at all. Thanks. Bill.

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  5. at least, they made it to the border. more challenges lay ahead.

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    1. With Marysa in charge they'll make it!

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  6. An excellent story of courage, resourcefulness and survival. Goodness knows those qualities are needed right now. I love that the cow went with them. Such a nice, human touch in among all the inhumane horror of the world of your story, and of the real world.

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    1. The cow saved them, so they saved the cow!

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  7. Dear Liz,

    And we watch the news, hoping and praying, doing what we can to send whatever we can to aid the victims. Good story.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. What the Russians are doing is appalling.

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