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Stalin – my temporary father
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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When I was in first grade, I saw a photograph of a girl who looked
to be about seven. She had blond curly hair and Stalin was holding her next to him, dressed in his generalissimo uniform, with
many medals on his chest.
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The Director’s Daughter
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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When I searched for daughters of political prisoners, willing to talk about their experiences, one of the criteria was age 5—12 during the 1950s. Mrs. K. responded with a letter stating, “… I would like to participate even though I am older than the requested elementary school age. My father was imprisoned for 5 years from 1949 to 1954 in Leopoldov, Ruzyn, at the end in Rocov [notoriously cruel prisons]. If there is an interest, I would like to talk to anybody. With sincere greetings and wishing all the best, (signature).”
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Fairytale Story
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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When Mrs. O. arrives at the hotel, she orders salad with a comment, “I’ve got to lose some weight.” She suggests she will begin with her childhood, informing me “What I am going to tell you is what I heard from my grandma. I don’t remember because I was a baby when my dad, as a forester, found a wounded man who was shot by the security police. He gave him shelter at our home. Then he brought in two young physicians to treat the wounds. The two physicians, for that medical emergency care, were arrested shortly after and hanged.”
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The Girl from Prague
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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When Mrs. M. mentions that she is nervous about the interview, I tell her that I share her feelings because she is the first of the respondents I am interviewing. I suggest starting with her childhood memories. It is now 10 a.m.
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Two Sisters – Mrs. J.
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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Miss. S. leaves the room and comes back with her younger sister Mrs. J. The three of us chitchat for a few moments. I reassure them what matters are their individual views on the events, rather than whether their stories match. The older sister leaves the room and the younger sister and I sit at the opposite sides of the dining room table. Mrs. J. is nicely tanned from her seaside vacation abroad.
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Two Sisters – Miss S.
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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Looking for Miss S’s home with a pharmacy sign among the two storied houses painted with pastel colors makes me feel as if I am transferred to a world that I only read about in old Czech novels. I am imagining her father opening his pharmacy’s door in the mornings many years ago. Then most of the town people, that passed his house, would greet him with respect before asking for advice about their ailments. Then his social position would have equaled that of the town’s priest, the mayor, and the school principal.
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Politician’s Mom
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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This interview takes place in one of Prague’s most famous cafés. Mrs. D. and I find a place away from the window tables occupied by tourists, speaking many different languages. I remember the times of my youth here. During the years of Stalinism, one would turn when hearing someone speaking a foreign language. Now it is almost the reverse.
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The Mayor
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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Mrs. F’s house is near the center of this quaint village. The door is flanked open by a smiling middle aged woman, welcoming me warmly and leading me to a large light kitchen. A cross decorates the wall opposite the door. As we enter the kitchen, Mrs. F. tells me her husband is going to be with us while we talk.
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The Fighter
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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From Mrs. P’s letter I am aware that she is afraid to travel. She is waiting in front her apartment building. Her manner of speech is rapid. She acts hurried. We climb four flights of stairs to her apartment.
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The Traveler
- Category: The Daughters' Stories
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The chance
to meet Mrs. V. has been uncertain from the beginning. She has retuned from visiting her son and daughter in the U.S. two days ago;
they emigrated after the fall of communism. Over the phone, she let me know that she could talk to me only for one hour. She had too
much work after being on vacation.