Credit of the characters goes to M&T!
I decided to write a historical fiction piece with Style being the central focus. I love history, and in my American History Post 1865 class, we are learning all about immigration and Ellis Island, so that is what inspired this. Hope you enjoy!
The year was 1912 and two young men worlds apart had no idea what was in store for them…
It was winter in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia when a young man, about 20 years old, was walking on his way home from the train station. As he walked through the usual evening sea of people, he noticed something on the station's brick wall. "Приезжайте в Америку, землю бесплатно!" ("Come to America, the Land of the Free!"). He stopped and stared at the poster, letting the images of happy families and progressive factories swarm in his mind. He had only dreamed about getting out of Russia. He was barely making enough money at his current job of mining. And the Jewish in Russia had never received fair treatment (i.e. the pogroms). With a strict budget, he had finally saved up enough money for a third class ticket on a ship headed for America.
"What, What, WHAT? Kyle Abraham Broslovski. You cannot possibly be telling me you are leaving your family for America?"
"Mama, I can't stay here, and you know that. I have offered to stay here for a little while longer to save up the money so that you, Papa, and Ike (his adopted Polish brother) could make the journey with me, but you refused!" Kyle said defensively.
"Yes, we're just fine here, but if you want to leave, I guess I understand."
"Thank you Mama" Kyle hugged his mother warmly.
"אוי גאָט, ביטע העלפֿן מיין זון!" she sighed.
Those three months passed quickly, and it was time for Kyle to be headed off to America. He hugged his father, mother, and brother Ike goodbye. Even though he felt like crying, he knew this was not the time to cry. He was off to start a better life, and that's what kept him going. As he boarded the ship, he looked around the dock seeing an array of faces. Some happy, with the gleam of hope in their eye, and some were crying as they were leaving their family behind.
Kyle reached in his coat pocket and took out the poster from the train station. It was his sole reminder of why he was making this journey.
I didn't write his last name as "Broflovski" on purpose. And what his mom said was "Oh God, please help my son." in Yiddish. So this was just an intro to his character, there will be more chapters to come!
Reviews, as always are greatly appreciated! Thank you for reading! -AG