was never to watch television again in that environment. Her heart ached from her losses.
She felt so alone, unloved and frightened, but she also had to concentrate on her school work. She came to America to become somebody. She made up her mind, not to complain but to endure it all. She did not wish to disappoint and sadden her relatives, especially her dear father Achillea in Greece. For him she would endure it all!
They had sent her to America for a great opportunity. She decided to endure, to do her best in both the housework and her homework. After her nightly cry in her pillow she would pray to God for strength to pull through the next day. She imagined God’s Giant Hand covering and protecting her body like a warm blanket so she could fall asleep.
She concentrated on her wonderful memories of her loving family in Greece and hoped she would dream about them. When she dreamed about her family she never wanted her dreams to end. The dreams were never long enough for her to enjoy and get some much-needed loving.
She only spoke when she was spoken to. She kept to herself as much as she could after she finished her housework. She would stay up late doing homework, past midnight. She had to wait till everyone went to sleep so she could get some sleep.
This was not a normal home. She was on pins and needles and she felt like she was walking on broken glass. She learned to walk so softly like a cat, so she would not be detected when she went to the kitchen. She was being robbed of her teenage years.
She was forced to be a grown up before her years. She always had to think about consequences. There was a constant CHILL in that house because there was no love!
She never invited a friend to come to her home. Her aunt told her she could not bring anyone there. She only had friends at school. She did not complain to them. But her friends sensed there was something wrong at Efrossini’s home and behind that smile….
When the upstairs tenants were moving out, their teen age boy did not wish to take his thick tire dirt bike with them. So, he left it for Efrossini. Since she never had a bike before, she accepted it gladly. The next day her uncle was going to show her how to ride it. She did not want his help, but he insisted. As she sat on the boys’ bike, the uncle placed his hand on her butt, rubbing it. Efrossini quickly learned how to ride that bike to get away from him. So now at least, she could take a little ride in the neighborhood for recreation.
1940, Traveler’s Water Fountain Achillea and Malama
CHAPTER 15
DOING HER BEST, COPING
The aunt and uncle did raise a daughter they had named Alexandra. They had adopted her as a baby many years ago, when they visited Greece. They had not been blessed with biological children, so they went to an orphanage in Volos, Greece before World War II and adopted a baby. As an adult Alexandra had a beautiful smile with white straight teeth, olive smooth skin, gorgeous dark hair, and dark eyes. She must have been a very beautiful baby, too, a Greek living baby doll!
Now in 1962 Alexandra was already married to John and they had three small boys. They lived in a two-bedroom apartment on top of a restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.
She was a stay at home mom and John went to night school after his full-time job to advance his career as a chemist. The relationship between the young couple and Alexandra’s parents was on the cool side. When Efrossini was about 15 years old the young couple would invite her to their apartment to baby sit their three young boys and spend the night too. There Efrossini was able to take a shower and eat her fill. She remembers big bunches of bananas in that kitchen. Efrossini also used their typewriter to do her so important book reports which she still has. They have grades of A and even some A+++s.
It seemed Alexandra sensed Efrossini’s hardship and knew she did not ever complain.
Efrossini was also paid for her babysitting which came very handy for her growing body’s expenses. At that apartment she watched television and the western show Gunsmoke late at night. What a treat that was!
She would also take the subway from Corona to Brooklyn to another aunt’s home. This was Fotini and she was a few years younger than Efrossini the older aunt. Aunt Fotini was married to a wonderful man Stratos, who was a diabetic. They owned the rides at Steeplechase and the concession stands on the pier at Coney Island. These were very profitable businesses.
Efrossini remembers going there one Saturday. Her aunt Fotini gave her a whole roll of ride tickets for Steeplechase. She also gave her from one of their souvenir shops, a beautiful, tall, red lacquered Chinese pagoda jewelry/ music box with a ballerina that danced to its music. It was such an expensive gift and Efrossini treasured it.
Then her aunt Fotini took her to Macy’s famous department store. Aunt Fotini fully outfitted her from socks and shoes to a red wool plaid jumper with a low waistline and a black patent leather belt. The outfit also included a white blouse with ruffles at the neckline and at the wrists on the sleeves. It was very up to date and so stylish. She also bought her a new lacy slip and new underwear. Efrossini was so thankful that once again she had some new clothes. Her body was growing and she really needed new clothes every year.
The next day her aunt Fotini took her to the Greek Church to show her off to her friends.
Sunday afternoon Efrossini headed back to the subway and walked the long downhill walk to Jackson Heights.
She was carrying a bag filled with her old clothes and the heavy jewelry box, skipping as she walked. She was so happy for a little while. During her walk, Efrossini day dreamed about how much better her life would have been if the other aunt Fotini had brought her to America. Before she knew it, there she was on 72ndstreet.
When she entered the home of her aunt and uncle, they obviously noticed the beautiful new clothes. The clothes were just the right size and they fit Efrossini’s slender body so beautifully. They were very upset Efrossini was given the new outfit and her aunt called her sister Fotini to complain about her purchases. There was a fight over the telephone. She did not want her sister to meddle in Efrossini’s upbringing.
Efrossini went to her bedroom and took off the new clothes. She had learned to live with the punches. Efrossini knew by now, never to trust this aunt. She never confided in her about anything. And she did not bad mouth them to anyone. She kept to herself.
Efrossini’s report cards were always A’s and B’s. A couple of times she had gotten D’s at Physical Education, of all classes. This class was responsible for their students’ health and welfare. The school insisted on having their students monitored by a yearly physical at the family doctor and a dental checkup. Efrossini told her aunt and uncle about the school’s requirement and they ignored it.
One day the school teacher called them up and truly embarrassed them.
When finally Efrossini was taken to the dentist the ex-rays showed thirteen cavities.
When Efrossini was leaving Greece, she had a physical and lung ex-rays. She also had a dental checkup with ex-rays. There were no cavities, none.
Two years later she had thirteen cavities. Efrossini does not remember fresh fruits, fresh green salads with all the trimmings, nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, dairy products at the table like milk, cheese, yogurt or puddings. She was lacking calcium. She was a growing girl without calcium.
At her mother’s house she
