My Mother, Lucy wrote a book titled "The Legend of Lucy". She gave each of her children a copy in 1993. In addition Lucy provided an additional prologue that told the events of her life prior to Lucy's escape to Israel. "The Immigrant" that follows is that prologue.


                                                    —-  Susan Francisco (Greer)
                                                           

It is 1938 and the sky was gray.You could feel tension in the still air. As I was looking out my bedroom window, I could see the Police Station. And for the first time I saw a different flag hanging other than our Austrian flag. This flag had a swastika on it, it was a Nazi flag. At the time I didn't know the meaning of it but I did feel there was something wrong.

Usually there are children on the street laughing and playing, but not today. There was hardly anyone on the street; it looked like a day of mourning. No one could guess what laid ahead, the whole city had changed overnight.

I could sense that there was going to be some bad times ahead, but I had no idea how bad. My mom was standing next to me starring out the window, as I looked up at her I noticed how she was twisting her handkerchief and tears came rolling down her face; then she said "Oh dear God, not again" "Haven't I suffered enough pain in my life?" Then my mother took me by the hand and guided me to her bed and sat me down then put her arm around me, she started to tell me about her life when she was a young girl.

"I was born in a little town called Tluste, Poland. I had 6 brothers and 4 sisters, some of them died at an early age. My parents owned a grocery store which gave us respect in the community not to mention that we lived quite well. In our community everybody helped everybody when in need. When I became of age the matchmaker introduced me to my husband to-be. We fell in love immediately, he was tall, dark, and handsome with blue eyes. His name was Hersh and he came from a very fine family that was well-educated and rich. He had the choice of choosing any one of us girls for his bride and he chose me."

"Now that we are engaged, he was allowed to take me out as long as there was a chaperon. Holding hands was all that was accepted but we snuck a few kisses here and there, once, the chaparone caught us kissing but he just turned his head and pretended he didn't see it."

"My wedding day was beautiful and so was my wedding gown, it was long, white, lacy, and made out of satin. I looked perfect for the lavish occasion. The wedding was held near my husband's community in the Ukraine near the Russian border. The whole family attended and nobody was more in love than we were."

"I hated to leave my community and move into his because I was so far from home I didn't know anyone and I started to get homesick. When my husband noticed my unhappiness, he decided to move to my home town, everyone was pleased. I was so in love, I felt that the whole world was mine."

"I was three months pregnant with your sister when the Cossack’s came and started looting our stores and destroying everything that the community worked so hard to build. Some of the Cossack’s were so mean chat they raped women as well. This was the beginning of the take-over of Poland. In our despair, our family packed up our necessities and we all went 'underground' to escape to Vienna, Austria."

"The journey was long and winter was nearing, the nights were extremely cold especially since we were underneath the ground, being pregnant with your sister kept me warmer than the rest. The damp, cold underground was too much for your father, he became extremely sick. I tried to keep him warm best I could but I was really worried he wouldn't be able to make it. As the days went by our food supply was depleting so I started praying and I never lost faith; and finally after many long weeks we made it to Vienna."

"My sister set us up with an apartment to live in. When we arrived my sister took us to the apartment where a big pot of chicken soup was waiting for us on the stove. I was really worried about your father, he seemed so weak, I fed him and put him to bed and he didn't wake up til the next evening. He said he felt better but he looked so pail I sent for the doctor, The doctor examined your father and prescribed him some medicine and said he should stay in bed for at least a week. It took a couple weeks for him to recover and in no time he became himself again."

"Now that we have settled in Vienna, Hersh and I gathered up all our savings and opened our own business in ladies lingerie. In no time our lingerie shop became known and our business picked up. Life was good."

"A few months later, your sister was born a beautiful blonde, healthy little girl. About two years later I had you, and then a year later I had your brother Leo. Your sister Gisi was always hungrier than you and your brother and you, Lucy, were the hardest to feed. You would only eat hot dogs and sardines. Your father and I are very lucky that all of you are healthy and beautiful."

"As time went on we became familiar with the country and the people were absolutely wonderful here. We felt at peace here with the beautiful music and exquisite opera houses. Every Sunday the family would meet in the park and have lunch while catching up with the latest gossip. Meanwhile you, Gisi, and Leo played games with your cousins, it gave me great pleasure to watch all of you play together."

"When you were about ten years old your father caught a cold that wouldn't clear up so he went to the doctor and after various tests they found out that the cold had settled in his lungs. The seriousness of your father's condition led the doctor to believe that he never completely recovered from his last cold. There was no medicine to cure him. The only thing I could do is to make sure he gets plenty of rest, eat the right food, and hope he doesn't get worse. This is why I urged you children to be quiet."
With that statement, she gave me a kiss on the cheek and left the room.

The things I remember most about my father was that on Sundays my sister, brother and I would come visit him at his bed where he had chocolate waiting for us. We would jump all over his bed trying to find the chocolate he hid. Then all of us would sit around Dad while he told us a story.

Hitler's occupation worried our father and caused him to be hospitalized due to a heart attack. Mother feared for our safety so one day she took me aside and told me to be brave and that she Was going to have to send us out of the country or all of us were going to die. She said she was going to send Gisi to a camp and my brother to an orphanage and me to Palestine or England. At the time I didn't quite understand what was really going on, but in between my mother's tears I promised I would do what ever she asked. And the last thing she said to me that night was to always remember who I am and to never lose faith, she said not all people are bad like Hitler, I have to do what is best to save your life.
I remember feeling her pain as I fell asleep in her arms.

By now, the Nazi Party called the S.S. took our business and apartment from us. We had to move into a one bedroom apartment with hardly much heat. Our food was rationed and our milk was powdered. A curfew was set for all Jewish people. At night we weren't allowed to have any lights on and the city looked like a big blackout. During the day there were a lot of speeches and marches along with Hitler's men looting our stores and taking our pride by doing such things as pulling off an old mans beard, beating people who were in their way, and raping anyone they chose. Some people even jumped out windows to commit suicide then to be a victim of their inhuman abuse. The chilling screams I heard through the walls of our one room apartment throughout the day left me frightened. All my friends that knew I was Jewish started avoiding me,

All Jewish men were collected and most never came back. There was no law and order to found. I couldn't understand why all these terrible things were happening. We are good, honest people, why was God letting this happen.

The next few months were one of the hardest days of my life, I cried a lot, mother was gone most of the time at the hospital in Innsbruck to see my father which was far from home. My father's health was failing fast, and the night he died I could feel his pains, I was dreaming that he was drowning and he couldn't get his breath, I tried to save him but I coudn't reach him no matter how hard I tried. I kept calling, Daddy, Daddy, and then my own voice woke me up; my pillow was all wet, I must have cried in my dream. Even before the notice of his death I knew he had past on.

Although, I did have some relief, now the Nazis can't kill him, at least he died in peace. My tears were rolling down my cheeks uncontrollably, I was glad no one was home, my mother was still at the hospital. I was waiting for my mother to return and trying
to think of the good times my father and I shared. I was always proud to be seen with him he was so handsome, ladies would flirt with him and mother was jealous, father would pat her on the behind and say,"You are the only one." Then he would hug her and give her a little kiss. She was so in love with him. When father felt good he would take me to the open-air theater to see plays and musicals there, my favorite was Hansel and Gretel. In the Jewish religion we have a fun holiday called Purim and on this day Gisi, Leo, and I used to dress up in our fathers and mothers clothes and perform a play. They always clapped, even if it wasn't very good. Another time I remember with my father was when I was about ten years old, I started to develop a little bust, I wanted to show my father that I am getting big, I paraded back and forth in my father's bedroom and said, "Have you noticed anything about met" He looked at me for a minute and then said, "I can see you are growing up." I started to turn red and I ran out of the room, after, I realized what a silly thing I did. On Friday night when my mother used to light the candles and make a prayer over them, my father would watch with pride. We had to have the best table manners and be properly dressed for the occasion. Another memory
I have of my father was that when I had a test in school he would stay up with me until I knew it perfectly. One of fathers favorite games was chess which he played at the club, going to the club to play chess was one of his favorite joys.

Once a week he used to try and teach my brother how to play chess,but Leo, which we called Burschi, always was to playful to concentrate, and father lost his patience with him, and gave up.

My mother did everything in her power to keep him well, she got the best doctors, she hired a maid to feed him proper and take care of him while she was at work, but nothing helped. Now, everything is going and the family is divided.

The next day all of us went to the funeral, the whole family's attending, there where so many tears that were shed. We children were not allowed to see the casket. I was glad when everything was over. I was glad my brother and sister were with me for the week.

We had to sit Shiva for seven days, in the Jewish religion you sit on a low stool and you only wear stockings no shoes, and you don't leave the house for seven days, people bring food and condolences. Before the week was over my mother grieved so much that her hair turned white, I don't think she cared if she was dead or alive. Her only ambition was after that to get us safe out of the country as soon as possible.

My grandparents from my father's side had a lot of money and were able to escape to Belgium then later to France, where their other son Uncle Jechil and his two children lived. My other grandmother went to live with her son-in-law who had five children and whose wife had passed away. He owned a huge home and a undergarment factory.After our fathers death we also lived a short time with our uncle, one day the Nazi S.S. came and confiscated the factory, while one of them talked with my uncle the other S.S. man took my little cousin Jankel and he was trying to throw him out the window, his crying alerted me and I ran toward my cousin and grabbed him and I gave the Nazi a dirty look, I was glad that he didn't say anything to me, he just seem to act surprised that I was there, I grabbed my little cousin by the hand and took him to another room,until the S.S. left I was a complete wreck.
My uncle decided to take what he could and leave for south America with Grandma and the children, we moved out and got us a small apartment. Later I learned that the Nazis came and killed all of of the family before they had a chance to escape. My sister, Gisi and

I, and a few cousins where lucky to escape the concentration camp, some went to England, south America and Palestine.

Many years later I found out that our mother and brother were killed in a concentration camp in Poland.

My mother stood in line day and night getting our papers
in order, so we can leave Vienna, and finally after many weeks the papers came through. A children organization accepted my sister and me to go to Palestine. My mother was so relieved when the notice came she started to cry with joy,

Mother started to pack my clothes and everything else she thought I might need.
She had my brother and sister come home so they can go to the
train station to see me off. There was so much excitement with me leaving, I didn't realize that this would be a journey of no return.
I was happy to be with my brother and sister and I tried not to think that I was leaving.

My mother seems to be very nervous and every time someone would knock on the door she would shake with fear, that this might be the Gestapo.

The night before I left we all sat on the bed my brother would tell us all about the Orphanage and Gisi about her camp and the people she meet. It felt good all of us sitting together and talking laughing and hugging each other.

Little did I know that this would be my last night forever us being together like this.
I didn't sleep very good that night, and no one else did ether, I was glad when morning came and everyone was up.

My mother washed my hair and combed it pretty and fussed over me, every body seems to be happy, "ecept me."

The day came for my departure, the taxi came and picked me up to go to the train station. I was so scared I just clung to my mother no{wanting to leave. She stroked my hair and held me close to her and told me to be a good girl and to write and not to forget us. When we arrived at the train station my mother had to push me out of the taxi, I just did not want to leave. My brother and sister hugged and kissed me that they loved me and said, "We will all be together soon." The whistle blew and a woman came over to me and said it was time to go.
I kissed my mother again and stepped on to the train. As the train started to move I ran to a window and waved til I could not see them any longer then streams of tears went rolling down my face which I had held back for so long.

The train was packed with about a hundred children like me. It was dark by now and in no time all of us fell asleep. When I woke up the sun was shining, I looked out the window and watched the landscape all the way to Italy. We didn't pass by any towns only farm houses which seemed strange considering it was such a long journey. Finally we arrived in Trieste, Italy. I was stiff from sitting and was glad to get out of my seat.

Several ladies were waiting for us. They put us in groups and gave us instructions where to sleep, eat, and report in. No one was sure when our ship was to arrive, they just said in a few weeks. I had a room with a girl named Trudy and we became good friends. We ate together, we went out together and we also left Italy together. The best thing that I liked about Italy was the Spaghetti and being able to walk the street with no Nazi's any where in sight. When the ship arrived it was full of children from all over Europe. The journey was nice and the food was good. We spent a lot of time on the deck singing Hebrew songs and dances. The trip was eight days long and we arrived in Haifa, Palestine in September, 1939.

It was early in the morning when the ship docked, they got us off the ship as soon as was possible then assembled us. Then they called out all the names of kids whose relative was there to pick them up. My name wasn't among them and my tears started to roll down my cheeks, I felt so deserted. My girlfriend came over and said goodbye and was gone before I could get her address. The rest of us had buses waiting. They asked us to get our luggage and I couldn't find mine, I told the lady in charge and she said that they would trace it and I would receive it later. The bus was full of boys and girls just like me, unclaimed. The Children's Organization of Palestine had a motel ready for us for the night while they figured out what they were going to do with us. They ended up sending me to live with a German family; a mother and daughter. There were about 20 homes surrounding us, some were farms and others grew orchards of oranges. The old lady that I lived with didn't grow anything, not even flowers. I had a nice clean room and I tried to be cheerful, but they had me eat in the kitchen while everyone else ate in the dining room and no one would hardly speak to me, it was as if I was invisible. Then to top it all off, my luggage was never found and I had no change of clothes. The old lady gave me a pair of shorts and long dark stockings to wear, I looked ridiculous. I had to wash my clothes every day and this went on for three months. I was very depressed, I cried myself to sleep every night wishing I was dead. There was no one around that was my age, my only friend was a deck of cards. I took lots of walks and talked to myself, I was so homesick. I did try to write cheerful letters to my mother but it wasn't easy, I didn't want to burden her with my unhappiness.

One morning the lady told me that the social worker was coming and she had a surprise for me. I thought thank God, it was probably my luggage, I could hardly wait to get out of these rages. I never realized how important clothes were until I didn't have any.

When I heard a knock at the door, my face lit up and when the old lady opened the door, there stood my sister. I screamed with joy, I ran to her and kissed and hugged her and cried with happiness. Gisi was able to stay with me for a while, and life started to get better. My clothes were never found
but my sister shared hers with me and I felt like a person again. Gisi stayed with me there for about a month and we held on to each other for dear life.

The social worker found us a new place to live, my sister was sent to a religious school in Jerusalem and I was sent to a farm with another German family which was about two hours away from Gisi. They raised chickens and had acres of alfalfa growing.

My job was to collect the eggs and feed the chickens. The owner
seemed nice. She was a tall women with huge breasts, they stuck out straight a least a foot. Her husband was a short, stocky man. They had a daughter whom I thought was a brat. I lived in a bungalow with two other girls who worked with other farmers.

The lady I worked for made excellent food and each meal was like a feast. I must have gained twenty pounds while living there. Other than eating with her family I was pretty much ignored. Although, I did have the chickens to talk to.

One day there was a dance held and a lot of the young people from the village attended and one of the boys that was there started talking to me. He told me he didn't live too far from here and asked me if I would like to see where he lived. We went to his place which was a large house with a fence, he brought me some lemonade out and we sat on the steps talking. I was so engrossed in our conversation that I lost track of the time and when the owner of the house came home, which was his boss, he had a fit when he saw us. We tried to explain but he would not listen. The next day , we were marked as bad people and I was sent to Haifa with another German family. This was a foster home up in the hills. It was a huge two-story house that was surrounded by many trees. It was beautiful. The lady was very business-like, and her husband was a tall man who never smiled and seemed to wear a blank stare on his face most of the time and he never said anything. The lady had three foster children that were each about 3-4 years old and she had two of her own children that were approximately the same age. Also there were two other foster girls that were older than I was.

I went to school to learn Hebrew which was taught by an Austrian professor. Going to Hebrew School was great mostly because my teacher was just about the only person who would talk to me and I really needed someone to talk to at that time.

When I came home to the foster care house, the food was bad and she was really mean to those little children that were in her care. She was forever punishing them and it really got to me. If you didn't eat her food she would save it and make you eat it the next day and the next until you ate it. One day I didn't like something that she fixed and I went without food for three days, I couldn't even give the food to the dog, he wouldn't eat either. The lady even tried to hit me once but I grabbed her arm before she had the chance and I warned her that I would hit her back if she did, she just turned around and stomped out of the room. That woman never tried to hit me again.

One day the lady asked me to watch the children for a while as she had to leave to run some errands. After she left I decided to gather up the children to play a game with them. I gathered
the children taking each one by the hand when I noticed a letter in her little boy's hand that had my sister's handwriting on it. I grabbed the letter and proceeded to look around the house for more. I found two more letters which were about three months old. I was furious. I went into the bathroom and read them.

The next day at Hebrew School I told my teacher what was going on and asked him if he could give me a stamp and an envelope to write her. He gave me them immediately and I was quite grateful.

During recess I wrote my sister for her to notify my case worker to inform her of the events that have happened with this foster lady. A couple days later the case worker arrived and the,lady sent me to my room so she could talk in private with her. As the case worker was leaving I shouted from my window that I needed to talk with her. She stopped and I came down stairs to meet her. She suggested that we go for a walk. As we were walking I told her everything that happened.

I insisted that she take me away from here, if she didn't I was going to run off. When she looked at me, she knew I was serious. She told me to pack my clothes and come
with her, I didn't even say good-bye. On the bus she took notes of all the things I told her and she said she would investigate this. This made me feel better. (Later on I did learn that the foster woman got what she deserved, all the children were taken away from her). While on the bus my case worker asked me if I was interested in an Agriculture school. The school was in
Tel-a-Viv. Anything is better than where I was I told her and then I said, "Please, no more German families."

I liked this school, everyone was friendly and you were treated fair. I was happy here. My room mate was a girl named Judith. We became friends and she would take me all over Tel Aviv, she showed me many places. One place that I really liked was this dancing school. The dance instructor was great, we could dance to anything. He thought I was a natural.
I looked forward to going each time because the music gave me such a good feeling. Music made me feel alive. Judith and I met a couple of nice fellows in dance and after lessons they would take us out for sodas. They never asked us out for a real date and after several months I got tired of that and dropped him.

I wrote to Gisi and told her all about the Agriculture school I stayed at. One day she came to visit me at the school as I was milking the cows, I thought Gisi was going to faint;
when I came to greet her, she said, "You stink like those cows, how can you work with such dirty animal, they scare me." I just laughed. After I was finished for the day I took her to my room while I cleaned up. Then we went to the dining room so I could show her off to Anne and my friends.

Gisi and I talked endlessly for hours. I asked her about Mama and she told me they were in a concentration camp, we cried together, To break the ice I suggested that we go for a walk. Gisi told me that she found our uncle Moshe living in .Tel Aviv He wasn't doing that great and he was going through a divorce.
Once in a while I would visit him and he always would give me a dollar. It wouldn't buy very much but I did buy some sweets with it. Gisi complimented me on my perfect Hebrew. I told her that I had a great teacher. When Gisi left, I was sad, I wished she could have stayed longer.

I was in school now for over a year when Judith told me she was leaving to go home to her mother who lived in Tel Aviv now. She asked me if I would like to go with her and she said we could work and live at her home. It sounded so great that I agreed.

I told Anne about it and she said that she would not recommend it but it's my choice. She said once you leave this school youcannot return. I was looking so much for some excitement, and Judy painted me a pretty picture, so I went with her. She took me to a house which was not her mothers, and asked me to stay here. She wanted to go home and fix things up and will pick me up in two hours, I was surprised, but said fine. But she never returned for me. The lady was named Martha and I asked her what I should do? She said you can stay here, I have 4 children one more doesn't matter, I thanked her and said, I will get a job and pay for my stay. My first job was cleaning a house and I was a disaster,my next place was no better, my third job was baby sitting, I thought I could do that, wrong, the boy was 5 years old, I was to take him to the park, and fix his lunch, well this boy kicked me, spit on me, run off, after three days of this I called it quits.

Martha treated me really good, and I was almost happy there, I loved her children and played a lot with them. Her older son came home on vacation, and he was very nice, he took me to the movies and beach and we had long talks and walks, after a few days he asked me to marry him I was in shock, I told him I am to young for that, John said he would wait. In my confusion I said to him I have to ask my sister. I wrote Gisi a letter, and she replied to come to Jerusalem immediately.

The next day I packet my bag and told Martha I was leaving.
I thanked her for her hospitality and left. I went to the highway and didn't have to wait to long before a truck stopped for me. He told me he was going to Jerusalem and I was happy and hopped in the truck. We were on the road about a half hour when he stopped for coffee, and when he returned he said that is as far as I go. "What do you mean."? I asked. You told me you where going to Jerusalem. "Sorry, my boss told me to return." I was hurt and said I cant stay here in this desert please take me back to Tel Aviv, alright he said. When we got .back he invited me for dinner, and since I was short of money I said "Thank you". He said he would like to change his clothes , and asked me if I like to freshen up, I said that I could use "Thank you."

But I didn't realize I was in a hotel and when he came out of the bathroom he was
naked. I turned my head and before I could say anything, he picked me up and tossed me on the bed. I struggled and hit and bit him, but he was wild. I became hysteric and started to cry.
I asked him what he was going to do and he looked at me and said,
"You mean to tell me that you have never been with a man?", at this I said, "No, I am only fourteen years old." Well, when I said that he jumped up and put his clothes on. He then walked over to me and grabbed me by the shoulder then looked in my eyes
and said, "You look much older." He then threw his hands up in the air and said, "Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into."

I was so shaken I couldn't move. He asked me to forgive him but I just sat there and cried. I didn't know what to do. The truck driver finally said, "Wash your face, I am taking you for dinner." I went to the bathroom and puked, then I washed my face. When I came out he seemed to feel my reluctance and said, "Don't worry, I won't touch you." We went to dinner and I ate without a sound, I was still shaken. After dinner we got in his truck and he said, "Where do you want me to take you?" I said, "Jerusalem." He said, "I can't, this is a company truck."
I responded, "But you promised me" After a few minutes he said,
"The best I can do is to buy you a ticket and the bus is not leaving until tomorrow morning" I asked him if I could sleep in his truck, and he said, "No, you can sleep in my room" I was afraid and he said, "Don't worry I won't come near you." Well, I didn't have anywhere to go so I went back with him to his room. He went to bed with his clothes on and I took a blanket
and slept underneath the bed. He thought I was crazy but I didn't care. Every time he moved my heart started to pound. I was glad when morning came and he did keep his promise, he didn't touch me. He took me to the bus depot and bought my ticket. After he gave me the ticket I thanked him and stepped onto the bus. The minute the bus started to move I sighed with relief, thank God nothing bad happened to me.

I was so tired that I slept most of my trip. When I woke up I saw the sign Jerusalem
5 more miles. I told myself I would never tell my sister of this incident. I could feel the air was cooler here then in Tel Aviv and there was mostly rocks around here, and a few trees.

I asked the driver to drop me off as close as he could at the school, he was nice enough to stop for me. When he let me Off he pointed towards the direction the school was. I thanked him with a smile as I got off the bus. I kept saying out loud Jerusalem, Jerusalem.

I was excited to see Gisi, it had been a long time since we had seen each other. As I walked closer toward the school, I spotted my sister in a window, she waived to me and I took off running towards her. We hugged and cried with joy. She took my hand and eagerly showed me her school and introduced me to all her friends. Everyone welcomed me. Gisi told me I could stay with her for two weeks and then I would have to find a solution. The school was big and there were several beds in her room. The place was very neat but not too attractive, it reminded me of a convent. Gisi was happy there and that's all that mattered. At dinner she asked me to tell her all about John, the guy that proposed to me. I told her how he had mistaken my kindness for love and that I never meant to lead him on.
I didn't even like him, he was too old for me. Gisi said, "Well thank God you are here." I responded, "Amen to that."

The next day I suggested that we go to town, I wanted to see some of Jerusalem. I heard so much about it! We walked to town but it was Sabbath and there were no buses running and all the stores were closed except for a few restaurants and coffee houses.

There were a lot of people walking, but mostly the Hasidim Jews who wore black coats. They were real orthodox people. They originated in Poland and they were still living in the
B.C. century. They think of themselves as the only real Jews and everyone else is an outcast.

Going to that school made Gisi very religious. She had never been on a date or to a movie, she hadn't done much of anything for that matter. Needless to say as time went by I corrupted her completely. I took her out with boys and we went to the movies and night-club drinking. She asked me if I would like to visit our cousins she had located. "Oh, someone cares that we are alive." I said sarcastically. "Oh, don't be so hard on them Lucy, they are struggling too." Gisi exclaimed. "We're going to visit our cousin Max and his wife Rachel and they have
a little boy, Amos. I promise you, you will like them." said Gisi. We went to their house which was a small one bedroom.

Rachel greeted us with a big smile and came over and hugged us and said, "I am so happy to meet you, Gisi told me so much about you; you are truly as pretty as she said" "Come in the
house, I will fix us a snack" She was truly a nice person and very tall with black hair that was drawn to the back, she also had snow white skin. I found her beautiful. When we left she said we could come back any time, I told her that I might stop by next week while Gisi is working and she said, "Good."

We hugged goodbye. I told Gisi I had enjoyed the visit. Gisi and I walked back to the school with our arms around each other; it felt good to be together.

While Gisi was working, I went to see Rachel and we would go for walks and talk a lot. I met the butchers son whose name was Paul. One day he asked me out for dinner. I told him if he had a friend for my sister, I would. He said, "No problem."
So, we made a date for this weekend. When I told Gisi, she got mad, "How could you do this!" she exclaimed, "You don't even know them." I responded, "Rachel said that he is a fine
boy." Well, when the time came for us to go, Gisi was reluctant. "Gisi," I said, "it's a dinner date with real food, it's time you get out and see the world instead of hiding in that convent." "Jerusalem is dead, In Tel Aviv there are night clubs and dance parties."

Gisi answered, "Jerusalem is the holy city, that kinda stuff isn't allowed." I said, "I know, you can't even wear shorts here." Gisi responded, "You know Lucy, you could use a little holiness." "That's quite possible," I replied, "but I am facing life and you are hiding from it." I was so mad I began to cry, all I wanted to do is to go out for dinner with a.couple of boys, what was so wrong with that. "You are so wild Lucy," Gisi said. "No, I want to live,"I exclaimed, "I have been pushed around, misunderstood, accused of things I haven't done, and shit on while you're hiding in this safe place which I am glad for you, but now it is time you see the world." Gisi put her arm around me and said she would go this
time. When we arrived they were already there, Paul introduced us to Dave then they smiled and seated us. They ordered dinner and I could tell Gisi was enjoying herself especially the food. After dinner they took us to a movie. We had a wonderful evening. I liked David and I think he felt the same. On the way home way home David mentioned that his father is a Rabbi and that he himself was going to college. Before he left we made a date

And just when things were going right, the school informed me that they were closing down due to financial reasons. I was really disappointed, however, the school found me another place, a shop, where I would learn and work at the same time; but it wasn't what I expected.

I washed hair, put soap on men's faces, swept floors, hung towels, I felt more like a maid. And as for cutting hair I mainly just practiced on dummies. Nevertheless, I did make tips and a small salary.

David and I dated once in a while and we would kiss and hold hands. This kept me happy. One day during lunch I met this girl who worked next door in the drug store, she told me that we lived near each other. So, we became friends and started walking home together, her name was Polly. She was a Sabra, born in Israel of Spanish decent, she had beautiful olive skin and dark red hair. Polly took me many places in the old city and she showed me many churches. She seemed to know a lot of people and she spoke Arabic fluently. One day while we were walking in the old city, I told her how I'd like to meet one of those Arabs, that head piece they wore fascinated me.

Soon after that she told me that we had a date, I laughed and said, "Sure, I'll believe it when I see it." In the old city we stopped at a coffee house and ordered some Turkish coffee and before our coffee arrived two handsome Arabs came over to our table and greeted Polly then sat next to us. My eyes popped out of my head. I starred at them and said to Polly, "Where
did you find them, they are gorgeous!" After I realized I was starring I apologized, I had never met an Arab before. They invited us for dinner somewhere out of town for real Arabic
food and drink. I was impressed. Then they took us to an Arabic wedding, boy was that a treat. The women were separated from the men and the men danced with men! Too bad I didn't have a camera for that shot. And when the bride danced slowly to
the alter all the women chanted. Afterwards I thanked them for giving me such a wonderful time. On the way home I told Polly I thought she was something special and that this evening was a great surprise.

One weekend when Dave and I had a date he told me that he is going to Naifa to a special school to become a Rabbi like his father. He said he wouldn't be able to see me for a long time. I told him that it is best if we break it off. He was too religious for me, even if I cared a lot about him I could not fit in his world, so we parted with friendship. I wished him the best and told him he would make a fine Rabbi. He probably should have dated my sister. He kissed me good-bye. I was sad but it was for the best.

My job was quite boring in the shop but I was able to save a
few dollars. As for my cosmetic needs, Polly gave me a discount. The next evening Polly suggested that we go to a dancing school that she knows of. That sounded fun so she picked me up after work. The dance school was only a short distance from our job and when we arrived it was packed and the music was loud.

I like it here, this place was alive compared to the rest of this town. I watched the people dance and then someone asked me to dance and I had fun, he was a terrific dancer. Later, I found out he was the teacher and his name was Al. he was quite tall with straight brown hair and glasses. I thought he was very handsome. That evening I danced a lot with Al and he complemented me on my dancing, this made me feel special during the whole evening. When it was time for me to leave he said, "You're going to miss the best part of the evening."
"Bed time for me." I said smiling. Then he suggested that I come by Saturday afternoon and he would give me free lessons. I thought that was nice so I couldn't refuse that so I told him I would. I was excited, not so much for the lesson but to see him. I dressed my best and fixed my makeup and hair carefully and when he saw me his eyes widened. He came up to me and said that I looked lovely. He opened a cold drink for us and started to play music, a tango, and did he dance divine! He showed me several different steps and I fell right into them.

Afterwards he commented that he wished everyone could learn
as easy as me, although, if that happened he wou1dn't have any students. After the lesson Al took me for lunch and asked me

if I was interested in working two ours in the evening with students they need practice dancing, he said I will pay you well, “How Well" I asked. Two lira an hour said Al, I told him that sounded very inviting, I said I will give it a try and if I like it I will stay, he said fair enough. I felt excited going home now I will be able to buy some clothes and get an apartment for Gisi and 1. I liked my extra job and I was able to save some money not as much as I thought, but I wanted so many things, I had so little. A1 was satisfied with my work and told me how well I did, everything was going fine except I started to loose a lot of weight, and every night I fell in bed exhausted .

The beauty shop was getting boring, I have been there over a year
and I felt I haven't learned a lot,and I was getting no where and
I started to loose interest. One morning when I came in the place was a mess,there was hair all over the place from the night before and no one cleaned it, I went to my booth and started to comb my hair, when my boss came over and made a remark that she doesn't
pay me to do my hair, I got angry and looked her straight in the eyes and said,you don't pay me to clean either, you don't teach me very much, all I do is wash hair,at this she put her hands on her hip and said if you don't like it you know what you can do, I looked at her with disgust and turned around and picked my purse up and said good bye, and left. I went to see my friend Poly next door in the drugstore and told her what I did, Poly said there is a lot
of other places to work, I started to cry but I wanted to be a beautician. I went home and cried myself to sleep. It felt good not having to get up in the morning, and I was glad to leave that job. In the afternoon I went to see Al and asked him if I could work more ours since I didn't have a job anymore, he said you can work as many ours you want. I had saved enough money for a cheap apartment which I had no problem finding, it wasn't in the best neighborhood but that's all I could afford right now. I bought a bed and blankets, there was no cooking facilities, but I didn't know how to cook anyway.I went home to my foster family and told them I was moving out, I thanked them for taking care of me all this time the lady hugged me and wished me well. Than I went to see my sister and I told her about my changes and the apartment, and I asked her if sh would live with me. I told Gisi first come and

see the apartment, I could tell she was not to impressed,but
a few minutes later she said I will live with you, I jumped up and down with joy and kissed and hugged her. I was so happy Gisi was going to live with me that I sang all the way to work and worked with great enthusiasm.I felt things where going to be better from now on, I don't have to watch the time anymore, I can
come home any time I please, no more rules. Gisi moved in and found a job cooking, between her money and mine we made it, not as good as I hoped, but I can work more hours if needed.
I told Gisi to come Sunday and meet Al and my job. She said she would like that. That night I told Al that my sister is coming to meet him please make a good impression,she is a little square, so no drinks in front of her, A1 laughed I wiill be as good as a priest. I was
nervous when Sunday came,
A1 greeted us at the door and said smiling this must be Gisi, he took her by the hand and gave her a tour of the school,and had a cold drinks on his desk, Gisi asked him a million questions, and he knew all the answers, after that Al invited us for lunch to a nice restaurant,the food was good and so was his conversation, Gisi got totally impressed by him, and I was glad. On the way home she smiled and said a nice fellow, he made be a good catch, he works is there anything going on that I should know, not jet Gisi I said but I am working on it.

The next day when I went to work , I said Al you where terrific, I could have kissed you,he looked at me and said why don't you,my eyes opened wide and before I could say anything he came over and gave me a kiss to remember,I was so shaken after I couldn't say anything,Al finally spoke I wanted to do this the day I meet you,I smiled and said so did I, with that we kissed again, I started to shake with this new feeling of kisses that I never had before,
and it scarred me, when he finale let me go, I said we better stop

this we have a school to run. I was glad when the student arrived for his lesson.When the lessons where over Al asked me out for dinner and dancing, on the way he said I like to show you off, you are a good dancer and you are beautiful,and I am starting to fall in love with you. And it is also good for us to be seen in clubs.

people will get to know us and we will get more business,I agreed it mite help,it seamed like from that day I was his girl, I loved all the attention and admiration I received from the people and Al,I loved my knew life stile and I was in love with Al and his dancing,and he was so romantic he drove me Tracy. He started teach me a lot more and we worked hard to find knew figures for our dance routine. We performed charity work,and danced on some
 occasions in the night club, our school was growing and the personal advertisement did us good. Some night club owner from Tel Aviv watched us one evening and asked me if I care to come to  Tel Aviv and dance on a contract, the money the offered me was twice as much as Al paid me, but I declined, without Al I am not worth anything, I was scarred more than anything. He left me his card and said if you change your mind look me up. I was flattered of this offer, maybe I am better than I think, but Al needs me, I could not leave him besides I was in love with him.

Gisi and Al got along real well, he was just like a brother to her, and that meant a lot tome,some times she would go night clubbing with us, Al taught her to dance and his friend Jimmy would come along and practice with Gisi. I loved Jimmy like a brother,he was a little heavy but very light on his feet when he danced. And he almost went every place with us we where like a little family.

Everything was going well and I loved being with Gisi,we used to sit hours and talk.One day Gisi came home she told me she got fired from her job, she took some food home for our dinner,she was so upset,I told her not to worry there is other jobs.

The war was going in full swing, and that seam to be the main topic of everyone, the British where recruiting the Jewish people from Israel and everyone wanted to help to win the war, one day my sister came home telling me she joined the Army, I was heart
broken, she said I am sorry Lucy I tried to find work,and I am tired of living in this dump you cal apartment,I didn't know what to say.
I thought she was happy, but I was wrong, and the place was a dump, but I was so happy to be with you I didn't care what it looked like. I tried to join also but they told me to go home and come back when I am 18, That was two years away, I cried all night in silence, I didn't know what I am going to do without Gisi, she was like a mother and sister in one.

I tried to be happy for her when the time came and she had to go to camp. I went to the bus station with her and held her tight until the bus came, she promised to write, we kissed goodbye. I stood watching the bus until he turned the corner, I cried all the way home.

As days went on and I became very lonely and frightened. I have never been all alone, I started to have nightmares about my brother and mother and the concentration camp, I was afraid to go to sleep. I started to spend more time with Al, and depended more and more on him.
One evening after being out pretty late and too many drinks I asked Al to stay with me, I was afraid to be alone tonight, so he came to my room, and I fell a sleep in his arms immediately, this was the first good night sleep I had since Gisi left. Al left early in the morning and I went back to sleep. When I came to school that evening I felt good, I had a small hangover but not bad.
When we went out for dinner that evening I only had one glass of wine, on the way home I told Al that it felt wonderful him next to me, and I wished he could stay every night, he smiled and said it was nice, when we got to my place I asked him to stay a little while,he came in and sat on the bed and started to kiss ,and it felt good to be in his arms,all of a sudden Al jumped up and said I cant go on like this wanting all of you you are driving me crazy I am a man I am human, don't you want me? Yes I answered but I am afraid, He said I promise to be gentle with you. We kissed and hugged, and I thought I was going to explode with our passion of hunger, needless to say he gave me a night to remember. The next day I told him, now you belong to me body and soul, he laughed and said you„ always did. As the days went on I enjoyed my new experience of love making and I liked it and encouraged it. As days went by Al started to talk about us getting married, so I asked him when and he said in six months, we first have to save some money for a decent apartment in town. I started to to work harder and talked the students into taking more courses and gave prices away for every new student they brought in, and we where doing real good, I had so many students and not enough hours, I had to hire extra help. I was in heaven as we walked home one evening, I told A1 once we are married I would have you in my bed every night, he laughed, you'd probably kill me, I have something to look forward to.

Six months had passed and I told Al we should have plenty of money now. Al said yes, we did real good and I am going to look for a place for us, I was so happy in a few days I am going to be married, and Al be all mine. A week went by and I hardly saw Al, I was beginning to wonder, so I closed the school one afternoon and started to look for him; I found Jimmy in the coffee house, as I walked over to his table he looked nervous, I said to Jimmy where is Al, he said he went home to his parents house, why? well it is a long story, please tell me Jimmy, O.K. I might as well you will find out anyway, Al has been playing poker for a long time but this time he lost all his money, well I answered, here goes our wedding, thank you for telling me, I handed Jimmy the key from the school, tell Al I went on vacation, I kissed Jimmy goodbye and left. I cried all the way home and went to bed.The next morning I got up still mad as I can be but lucky enough to have saved a little money of my own, I called up some friends and asked them if they wanted to go to the dead sea tonight,they thought it was a great idea, they were going to rent a a small buss and 10 of us will go. In the meantime I heard that the W.A.A.F. is accepting applications for recruits, I went there and the took my application and told them I will be 18 in a month,

I don't know if they believed me but the didn't say no. When I returned to my room my friends where there already. I was so happy to see them I didn't expect them to find transportation so fast. We stopped at the market and got some watermelons and started to go , I felt happy its been a long time since I went any place exciting. We sang songs and joked all the way, we got there at midnight, the moon was out and it looked almost like daylight, you can't swim
 in the salt sea all you do is lay on top of the water, it is so heavy with salt, but it feels good this warm sea, you cannot go at day time, it is over 110 degree or more sea level, they claim this
sea heals Psoriasis. When we had enough we showered and started to eat our melons, which tasted sweet like honey. One of the boys had a harmonica and we all danced the Horra till we where exhausted.
Most of as went to sleep on the way home.We got home about 4 in
the morning, and I had one of my most memorable evenings.. I slept like a baby that night.

I just started to wake up when I heard a knock at my door, at first I didn't answer but he kept pounding and said I know you are there, I finally said wait a minute Al, I put my robe on and opened the door. He came in and started to shout at me, how dare you leave the school, I looked at him for the first time in a different light, then slowly I said didn't Jimmy tell you I am

On my way back I started to think about Al and me, I know I lost
my trust in him and it can never be the same, it's over, maybe this is for the best, I am really not ready for marriage, and I am tired of dancing, the glitter is gone, only work remained, maybe I am growing up, I wished Gisi was here to help me solve my problem.

I have to start taking a different direction with my life, well I
will worry when I get back, maybe something good will happen.

When I went to my apartment I found a letter at my door, it was from Gisi, I was so happy I ripped it open and read it over and over, she told me about Egypt and what an exciting city Cairo is, and she is coming home tomorrow on a short pass of 3 days, I was so happy I jumped with joy. I started to clean up my room, and went to the market to get some rolls so we can have something when she gets here, I went to sleep peacefully. She arrived about 10 am and when I heard her walk I ran to the door and opened it wide, she looked so smart in her uniform, we kissed and cried, I felt now that she is here all will be well. We sat on the bed and held each others hand as we talked, I told her she could have not chosen a better time when I needed her the most. I told her about Al and what has been happening, and that I need her with me to give me courage to break it off, she loved Al but said if that is what you want.We went out for lunch and talked some more then we went to the school, when Al saw us he greeted us with a big smile, he was surprised to see Gisi and hugged her, my heart was,pounding and my hands were clammy.and I was nervous. I finally said Al its over I am not coming back, first he pleaded with me then he promised me the moon and the stars but I stood firm and said no, its over,he said I don’t believe you, you still love me, and you will come back to me, and I will be here waiting for you. I said goodbye and we left. After we left I said thank you Gisi I couldn’t have done it without you. When we got back to our apartment there was a letter from the Air Force, when I opened it it said they accepted me, I jumped for joy, and showed it to Gisi and said thank you God. When I took Gisi to the bus this time I said I would see her soon in Cairo, and we both were happy this time.. I went to my cousin Rachel and Max to tell them goodbye, and the few friends I had.

I went for a month of training near Tel-a-Viv and when my training was over the send me to Cairo, how lucky can I get I will be able to see Gisi every weekend.

While in the service I met an American and just before the war ended I got married and ended up in America in 1946 in April when I was almost 19. It took me 9 Years to bring Gisi here, we are still apart but at least we are in the same country and I can see her when ever I need her, and call her as often as I like.

I will never forget Israel, they gave me 'life' the best they could in those days, they had so many Immigrants to take care of, and so little money to do it with.

Hitler left a big scar, which will never be forgotten. I hope you like my little story, of part of my life.
                                                                  - Lucy Pacheco



(The preceding pages and images were provided by Lucy's daughter Susan Francisco and published here with an assist from Vincent Willis.)

Auntie. Gisela once told me the story of when you both went out into the dead. Sea one night.  Built a bonfire and floated in the. Dead. Sea.  Looked up at the starry sky and dreamt of your futures.    You are. Misse