The Voyage: A Historical Novel set during the Holocaust, inspired by real events

Author:Kagan, Roberta [Kagan, Roberta]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2014-03-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 75

A vote was taken. The union won, hands down. Gimbels employees were now a part of the RWDSU.

Anna came into work on a Monday morning to find a letter waiting for her behind the counter where she worked.

“This is for you.” Her supervisor, Joan said. It came with the mail this morning.

“Oh, no…” Anna said. “I hope it isn’t about my husband.”

“Go in the back and sit down and read it. I’ll watch the counter.” Joan said. Anna was a good, reliable employee, who stayed out of trouble. Joan liked her.

“Thank you,” Anna said, taking the envelope and walking to the break room.

Three women whom she knew from different departments were pouring coffee. She didn’t want to stop and talk, so she took the letter into the bathroom, locked herself in a stall, and tore the envelope open.

It read:

“Just wondering if you’ve had a craving for egg rolls lately, no pork, of course? Or maybe you’ve had a hankering to go out dancing? I’ll be at the diner next-door at seven when you get off work tonight. Come on over and say hi to your friendly union rep, Benny, at your service.”

She tore the paper into small pieces and flushed it down the toilet. Damn him, she thought. I have enough to worry about without him bothering me.

Anna ignored Benny’s request, and three days later a dozen red roses arrived at Gimbels for Anna. All the salesgirls who saw the delivery boy carrying the box wrapped in silver paper came rushing over to see who the flowers were for.

“It must be from your husband overseas,” one of the girls said as Anna thanked the delivery boy.

“How beautiful… May I get Anna a vase from the housewares department?” another one of the girls asked Anna’s boss.

“That won’t be necessary. I believe we have something in the back that Anna can use.” Joan smiled at Anna. “Come with me and bring your flowers. We’ll put them in water.

“Aren’t you going to open the card?” another salesgirl asked.

“Perhaps Anna would prefer to open that in private. Come along, Anna.” Joan put her arm around Anna’s shoulder and led her away.

Anna tucked the card into the pocket of her skirt. She had a feeling that the flowers were not from Alex. How could he send flowers all the way from California? They had to be from Benny, and she would prefer that the others not know about his interest in her.

Joan filled a vase with water and put the flowers in one-by-one. “They are lovely.”

“Yes, they are.”

Joan never asked who the flowers were from. She put them on the table in the break room and left.

Once she was alone, Anna opened the card.

“This act of sending flowers is not really my style, but you are a rare find. So, how about that dinner? You know how I hate to eat alone. Benny.”

He was really beginning to get on her nerves.

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