One Life to Give by Andrew Bienkowski

Author:Andrew Bienkowski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Experiment
Published: 2013-05-10T04:00:00+00:00

“TATOES?” CRIED A delighted Jurek.

“Potatoes,” corrected Andrew, who liked to teach his younger brother things. “You say it, potatoes, not tatoes.” Teaching Jurek was one of the good things about being an older brother.

Intense concentration played across Jurek’s features as his mouth tried to form the new word. “Tatoes,” he repeated.

“Yes,” said Babcia, touching her younger grandson on the top of his head. “These are from Madame Luchik, from a fortune I told today.” She pointed to a pile of brown peelings. “See, Jurek?”

Jurek stepped closer and eyed them hungrily.

“That is a lot,” said Andrew, eyes wide.

Babcia’s heart swelled with pity to see her grandsons excited by the bounty of a meager pile of peelings. In Poland, every day they’d had more food than they could eat, and a cook to prepare it, too. That her grandsons should now be so grateful for receiving what another person would throw away suddenly pained her. “They are only the peelings,” she said.

“Where is the rest of the potato?” Andrew asked.

“It is with Madame Luchik.” Babcia felt the pity move aside; a sudden defiance rose up within her. Her grandsons need not be ashamed. They were brave and smart and deserving. “Did you know that Madame Luchik is a foolish woman?” asked Babcia, leaning towards them conspiratorially.

Andrew shook his head, eyes round and innocent.

“She is foolish,” said Babcia. “She has peeled away the best part of the potato and given it away. She has kept the plain, tasteless, white part for herself, and given us all the vitamins and flavor. We will eat the peelings and be healthier, and it will give us strength to walk all the way to Poland if we have to.”

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