Polish Child Refugee

 In class we are learning about refugees. This story is about an orphan coming to New Zealand, and also describes how a refugee may feel in this situation. Although this story is not true, it is based on true events. I hope you liked this story.

Hubert woke up in a cold sweat. He had had a horrible dream. A dream in which he would remember all his life and one that would make him sad and distraught every time he remembered it. He had a dream where bombs had just stopped falling and he went out to find his Mum. In his dream he saw bodies that littered the ground and came upon one that broke his heart. His mother. She was lying on her stomach in a frail state. He turned her body, ever so carefully over, so she was facing him. “I’m sorry… for leaving…. you” his mother whispered. “Shhhhhh, Matka, shhhhh” he whispered back, tears streaking his dusty face (Matka means Mother). “It will be okay” he said soothingly to her, although they both knew that was a lie. His mother smiled gently and then went limp. And that's when he woke up. 

Here’s the thing you need to know about Hubert, he wasn’t always an orphan. Actually his dream was not a dream but a memory. Although he never knew his Ojciec (Father) he had his mother, well until recently. The reason he was now sitting up in his bed with at least five other people in the room was because of the bombs that have been dropping everywhere. Hubert decided to take out a book and read with a flashlight as it wasn’t dawn yet. He loved books, they calmed him. All the other kids at the orphanage thought he was weird, but he was just smart. He didn't have any money for books, but he found one on the sidewalk a couple of days ago. It was a little tattered and grimy but he could read it nonetheless. 

The problem with books, to Hubert, is that once you finish reading it there's no other use for them except to be put in the fire to keep you warm. I mean, sure, you could read it until you get endlessly bored of it or until you’ve memorised every sentence, word for word, but what do you do with it when you’re done? Exactly. It had been hours since Hubert had started reading, although it felt like minutes to him, and the crack of dawn started to show. Then the sun came up a bit more and Hubert realised his room mates would wake up any minute. Hubert got up and hid his book, then he made his bed, brushed his teeth and made his bed. Just as he predicted, his room mates woke up, did the exact same routine as Hubert had, apart from reading a book and then hiding it, and they then all lined up and waited for their caregiver to come and inspect the room. This whole time Hubert hoped that he hid his book well enough, because if she found it it would be headed straight for the fire. 

Suddenly the door slammed open and Dorothy (Dorothy translates to God’s gift but that’s pretty ironic since she’s more like a demon) burst through the door. “Today,” she said, looking at them with her face wrinkled like they were disgusting vernon “there will be no inspection today. You will be going to New Zealand as refugees. ALTHOUGH YOU DON’T DESERVE IT, they have invited some of you to come over. They’ve set up a camp and you shall be going by boat. Pack your things for tomorrow” and with that she stomped out of the room and slammed the door shut. Hubert and his room mates were silent and looked at each other in surprise. They were going to New Zealand? On a boat? Tomorrow? They were so shocked that when the bell for breakfast rang they barely noticed. 

“What… just…. happened?” Hubert's best friend, Adelmo, said with a pause between each word. Adelmo translates to strong and persistent. He was not strong, his arms resembled noodles, but he was persistent and energetic. He always told Hubert that one day they would leave this wretched place and live somewhere better. He was so confident when he said it, but now that it’s actually happening, he has nothing to say. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Hubert Couldn’t get those words out of his mind. Suddenly a boy came into their room, a dreamy look on his face. “They’re speaking names out in the hall so people know who’s going and who’s not. I hope it’s me!” Hubert and Adelmo gave each other a grin that said ‘race ya’. They scrambled out of the room and raced each other to the hall, even though they weren’t allowed to run down corridors. The other boys were woken from the dream-like trance and ran after them. They all knew that everyone would already be in the hall.

The principle, of some sort, just started calling out names as they ran in. The buzz of children

talking excitedly faded away as she started calling out names that would be leaving in the

morning. “Aurelia,” she said in a loud clear voice, ‘clap, clap, clap’  “Alina” ‘clap clap clap’  “Armand”

‘clap clap clap” “Hubert” ‘clap clap clap’ Hubert couldn’t believe it! He was going to go to New

Zealand! He waited for her to finish the names and once she did she continued to say that they

were going to some place near Pahīatua in Wairarapa, wherever the heck that was. But Hebert

could hardly hear her. He noticed that Adelmo’s name wasn’t called out. His friend, his only friend,

didn’t have his name called out! Adelmo wasn’t going. He looked at the boy next to him and felt

sorrowful. Adelmo stared back and with tears in his eyes said “Well, if I’m not going, at least you are.”

The next day Hubert had packed his things, some clothes, pictures of his mother, and his book. There

were so many people there, at the dock, waving goodbyes and already boarding the boat. They were

that eager to leave? He was told more than 800 people in total were on board and most of them were

children. 800! Hubert was at the dock and he was saying his last goodbyes. Once he got to Adelmo

his eyes filled with tears and he whispered “I’m sorry..” but Adelmo just stared. After a couple minutes

of staring Adelmo saluted. Hubert gave a shaky laugh and saluted back. When he could bear it no more

he jumped on the boat. He was devastated that Adelmo wasn’t coming. He silently cried while other people

were enjoying their triumph. He couldn’t get Adelmo out of his mind. Not before long he drifted away, not

knowing if he would ever see Adelmo again.

A loud noise interrupted his dream, and they were already at Wellington harbour! The Prime Minister, Peter

Fraser, was aboard giving a speech. Hubert didn’t catch much of what he was saying because he was taking

in his surroundings.The sun shone so brightly that Hubert had to take a couple minutes to adjust his eyes to

everything but when his eyes focused his breath caught in his throat. His eyes hazed at the sun beaming on him.

This place was amazing! They’re were tree’s everywhere, and they were so lush and green! And there were

beautifully coloured birds on top of those lush trees! Words couldn’t describe. Hubert wished, in that very moment,

that his Mother and Adelmo could see this. “They would have loved it” Hubert whispered with a ping of sadness and

remembrance. He then realised he knew no one here and felt frightened. As beautiful as New Zealand was, he knew t

hat he would miss everyone at the orphanage, even miss Dorothy. He was still thinking about this haunting fact, when a

lady came up to him. “Would you like some sweets, my dear?” she said softly. Hubert jumped in his seat. He looked at

her and she looked at him with eyes that resembled hot chocolate. “Y-yes please” Hubert mumbled. The lady looked

surprised, “You speak very good English, young man.” She then handed a handful of sweets and walked off to go ask

the other kids. He was still watching after her as a man came up to him. “Well, what do you think?” It was prime minister

Peter Fraser! “U-uh it’s v-very beautiful” Hubert said, tripping over his words. “Sir,” he added quickly. Peter Fraser chuckled

and said “Thank you, I hope you like your new home as much as you do the surroundings." He stalked off and Hubert was

left alone to bathe in the sun and ponder his thoughts. 

After that day Hubert wrote letters to Adelmo and the other orphanage kids that didn’t come along, he described how

beautiful everything was, and how nice the people were. And although they never responded with a letter of their own,

he knew they were reading them. Don’t ask how he knew, he just did.