Maryann (standard:drama, 210 words)
Author: Maureen Stirsman	Added: Oct 21 2003	Views/Reads: 3683/1	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
‘Maryann’ is my grandmother’s story from Poland, 1901 to Pennsylvania, 1949—through death of children, a mine cave-in and war. This is her survival and her search for God. The book will be out November 9th.

MARYANN 

Prologue Erie, Pennsylvania July, 1949 

Her bony, arthritic hands pulled on the soft, strong cord made from an
old cotton dress. She struggled to pull herself up with her ‘good' arm. 
Her ruffled dust cap was askew on her fine gray hair. “Anna, Anna!”  
Mary called. 

“I'm here, Mom,” Ann answered from the kitchen. “I'm right here.” Mary
spoke a combination Polish-English. “I'm tired.”  She put her hand on 
her forehead. “I'm so tired.” 

Ann wiped her hands on her apron as she hurried into the sick room. The
smell of the apple pie in the oven clung to her. She fluffed her 
mother's pillow and covered her frail stroke-tormented body with a 
lavender and white quilt. “Try to sleep a little, Mom. Soon supper will 
be ready. Lee is having fish but I fixed some nice, baked chicken and 
mashed potatoes for you. Try to sleep some. The mail will be here soon. 
Maybe there will be a letter from Helen.” 

The din of rattling dishes and the soft sounds from the kitchen radio
drifted into the small bedroom. Warm summer sun spilled around the 
closed Venetian blind. She was so tired, so very tired. She put her 
head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. 

...


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