Welcome to America
David Gubenko had left Russia when he was thirteen. Life in America was hard. At first he lived with his brother Jake and his new wife Lyba. Jake was his first employer. Jake paid David five cents a day. After Dave learned English, he moved to Buffalo, New York where he worked as a produce clerk. Here he made big money – fifteen cents a day.
Through the years Dave worked hard, changed jobs, and saved money. Eight years after he went to America, Dave sent for his sister Rose. When he left Russia she was eleven years old.
Anxiously he paced the train platform as he waited for her. The train arrived. The passengers stepped on the platform and hurried away. He peered into faces, but could not find his sister Rose. Finally only one tall good-looking woman remained.
Respectfully he approached and whispered, “Rose?”
Haughtily she turned her back to him.
Again he ventured a little louder, “Rose, I’m your brother David.”
Angrily she replied, “My brother David never looked like you!”
They were silent for a moment, peering into each other’s eyes, trying to see a thirteen-year-old boy, an eleven-year-old girl. Then they exploded into laughter, hugs and tears.
“Welcome to America.”
Bubbe Flo
Part of From the Old World to the New
along with: From the Old World to the New | Life in Koshovato | Zeide Shlomo and the Goat | The Boys of Koshovato | Sonya Goes to School | The Picture Bride | No Gambling Here | Choosing a Rabbi | Welcome to America | The Business Trip | The Reluctant Soldiers | The Rabbi is Not In | Pogroms | An Engagement Agreement | Zionism | The Border Crossings | Sonya Travels to America | A Meeting in Pittsburgh | My Hands Are Cold | The Passover Dishes | Coming to America | Rose Moves to New York and Meets her Beshert | The Visit | I Want Turkey | Abi Gezunt (As Long As You Are Healthy) | Aunt Lybba Comes to Visit | Visits to Stroudsburg | Passover Memories | Appendix | A little History ... A little Geography