May 27
“Go away,” he
shouted ang-
rif. You are
not my son. You
aie «member
of the KGB,
COME 10 SPY Ol
ne!”
Charlotte Ishkanian
van and Anna worked hard on ther farm
near a small village mm Moldova, Then the
Communists came. They arrested van and
sent him to Siberia because he was a rich”
fandowner. They ordered Anna and the family
of the farm.
Anna and her five children took what few
possessions they could, and went to five with
her brother, Te was a difficult time tor them,
tor none of her relatives had room for six
more people.
Meanwhile Ivan was put to work cutting
trees in the Siberian forests. He was w hard
worker and very strong. but without good toad
he crew thin and gaunt.
Unexpected Visitor
Years passed. and Grigori one of Tvan's
sons. was stationed with the mihtary in
Siberia, Grigor located his Tather and went to
the prison camp to meet hime. but he did not
recognize the tdl thin man who wis pointed
out to hin, “Father, itis your son, Grigor, Af
last I have tound vou!”
Ivan stared at the uniformed man standing
hetore him. Finally he said. do not know
vou Angry he shouted. “You are not my
son. You are the KGB. come to spy on me!
Grigor was stunned. He was only 5 when
his Father was taken away. and now he was a
strong voung man of 200 How could his tather
know him? He sought to assure his father that
he was indeed his son. “Father, Tan Grigor, |
have three brothers and a sister” Then he
named them.
Father thought a minute. then asked.
“Where did we Tive?” His son named the vil-
Lage. "Anyone can know that.” Father sand.
Then he asked questions the KGB would not
Banished to
Siberia
Know: “What did Teall your mother? Where
did Thang my coat? Where did T sit at the
table” Grigor searched his memory for the
answers, He had been so young when his
Father was taken away, But Gricort answered
and added information about the home and
Family.
Finally van was convinced that this was his
son, With tears glistening in his eves, he
hugged Grigor. The longings of T3 vears
tumbled out of the older man’ heart. And
cagerhy Grigort filled him with memories of a
family he hardly Knew.
One by one Grigori described Luntly mem-
bers. Tatiana, the eldest was married and had
(wo children. Toan tdohny wis also married.
and had won. Georg applied to study at the
university, but authortties denied him admis-
ston because his father was im prison.
For two weeks Grigor staved in the prison
barracks with his father, They tdhed in whis-
pers Tong into the night. When Grigor had wo
return to his army post. he hugged his thers
thin frame and walked toward the prison
cates, He looked once more at his Tather
standing near the barracks. waving uncer
tanh. Would they see cach other again’?
The Trip Home
Five vears later, when Ivan was no longer
strong. he wis released trom prison. He tound
Crrrgor’s address, scrawled on a scrap off
paper. and wrote. asking his son to meet hin
at the train station, Would Grigori be there?
He couldnt know,
When the tram jerked mio Kishines, Tvin
stepped to the door of the train car. Eagerly he
searched the faces mothe crowd tor one he
hoped he would recognize.