The firemen wielded their axes with skill and force. The door
splintered under their powerful blows.
Dense smoke poured out of the doorway. The firemen advanced through
the small, smoke-filled kitchen of the basement apartment. In the
tiny bedroom, in the corner of the drab bed a two-year old child was
crying. On the floor a box of matches lay scattered, while the straw
mattress was smoldering and emitting the dense smoke. One of the
firemen swept up the child in his arms, while his comrades doused the
flickering flames and sparks.
Paul -- that was the child's name -- was taken to the apartment of
one of the neighbors, to wait for the arrival of the mother.
Afterwards, the neighbors gathered in the yard, talking angrily about
her carelessness. She not only had an illegitimate child, but also
was irresponsible in bringing up her son. It was fortunate that they
noticed the smoke. All the men were at work, and the women were not
strong enough to break down the door. One had the presence of mind to
run across the street to the grocery store that had a telephone.
Luckily the efficient fire department of Budapest was able to respond
in time. Otherwise much of the apartment building could have burned
down...
Suddenly a loud scream pierced the air. The mother came home from her
cleaning job. She saw the smashed door, the burnt mattress, the smoke
still clinging to the walls and furniture, and her child missing. She
nearly fainted, and almost had to be carried to her son now playing
happily in the court yard.
With immense relief she clung to Paul. She could even take the
neighbors' angry scolding for her carelessness. If only she did not
have to work so hard, she would be a better mother.
She thanked God for saving her son. He was the only thing that she
had of value in her life. Now even some of her meager belongings were
ruined in the fire. And she had to endure the stern warning of the
neighborhood policeman, who came by to investigate the incident.
As darkness fell she was still clinging to her son, now peacefully
sleeping in her arms. She was remembering the other misfortunes of
her past.
Roza was the youngest of four daughters of a poor Jewish family. She
was fated to be given away in an arranged marriage once she reached
child bearing age. This was the custom of the traditional community
of the small town in the Hungarian countryside. But World War I
interrupted her foreordained fate. The entrance of the United States
into that bloody conflict caused the defeat of Germany and its
allies, which included Hungary. Romania was on the side of the
victorious powers, and invaded the defeated country. During the chaos
of this occupation Roza, at the age of 15, was raped by Romanian
soldiers of the occupying army.
Although not her fault, the violence done to her ruined her life.
Considered disgraced by her conservative community, she was no longer
suited for marriage. Roza followed the example of the unwanted
daughters of poor Hungarian families in the rural districts. She
moved to Budapest, the center of business and industry -- and also of
exploitation. Forced to make her living as a servant, she suffered
the usual fate of young, uneducated and therefore innocent women. She
was seduced by the son of the family where she worked. Paul was the
fruit of this love affair. Although the relationship started out as
something of a love affair, it was terminated soon after Paul's
birth. Because of the social disparities of the lovers a marriage was
not possible. At the age of 25 Roza started to raise her son, with
but little support from family or society.
Continue
Return to
Contents