My Substitute Father
One day, a stranger appeared and mother explained that I had to accept him as my father for the duration of our journey to America. This I absolutely refused to do and tantrums followed -- I kicked anyone who came my way. Mother tried and tried to explain the reason but to no avail. I was given several thrashings and she threatened to leave me behind. I hated this man but I hated my mother more.
I learned later that mother couldn't obtain the papers that were required for leaving the country without some man who could act as head of the family. Since this man was also going to America, he was willing to accept us as his family, for a certain sum. Otherwise we would fall into the clutches of the police. But I had to call him father. So whenever he came I would crawl underneath the bed and wouldn't come out until he was gone.
Editor's Notes: Use the search facility, here, to locate other references to emigration procedures in the memoir.
