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Katya

The old church is co air and slip into h my clothes and chills my skin I try to close my eyes and pray, but it is is

“Hello, Katya”

Recognizing the voice, I snap , Father”

The priest bea soon for America, won’t you?”

I resist the urge to take a step back I have never fully trusted him and tried my best to avoid him since he liftedhard between his legs as he bounced hs “In three days,” I answered softly

Father Georgiou nods “You reat opportunity for you and a wonderful thing for your parents, not to e, and this blessed Church”

I bow esture of respect “Yes, Father”

He fingers the cross at the end of his rosary chain “Well, tell your parents I ht pop in tomorrow at teatime I have a special treat for thehter for the good of our community”

I smile politely “Yes, Father”

“You won’t forget us when you are in the land of milk and honey, will you?” he teases, a twinkle in his eye

“Of course not,” I say solemnly

“Good” His face becorave “Because your parents will be very sad if you do”

“I’ll write back all the time and send money when I can”

He nods and looks pleased “Good girl I know you’ll ht I better be off I need to prepare forsermon tomorrow Continue with your prayers, child, and I’ll see you at your parents’ house” He raises a playful eyebrow and waggles his index finger as if I’hteen in three days “You never know there ift for you too”

“Thank you, Father”

The sound of Father Georgiou’s hard, black shoes echo in the silent church as I sit down and bow my head The sound stops when he passes into the inner chambers

I bow my head and reat honor and a wonderful opportunity for rateful I’h to have been chosen to represent e Once I have donejob To that end, I have been taught to speak English froram

But I can’t help thinking that in three days, on Delivery day or D-day, I will be sent off to Ah-end, carefully cultivated livestock Like one of those Japanese black cows that become Kobe beef No one will say it out loud, but that is exactly what I a anyone in the village knows about him is his first name Anakin

It’s been like that for alhteenth birthday is given away every five years During other years, girls froirl froot

When I elve years old ht I was accepted into the progra a monthly stipend which is supposed to continue for the next ten years and from that day onwards, not a day has passed when they’ve not reation to remain pure and unsullied My entire value is based on that

I tellmy parents If not forto o to the coast where it’s war my sister’s photo when she turns twelve

There is a shuffling sound behind me and I look around to see someone else has entered the church

Mrs Ko the standard kerchief around her head, but hers is silk I suppose she can afford it since it was her daughter who had her D-day five years ago

I shut ive prayer one last chance, butto my prayers, anyway If He were, there would be no delivery day for me Eventually, I slip out of my pew and head for the exit

Tojust inside the exit She looks anxious and frightened “Katya,” she begins, a tremor in her voice, “I feel I need to warn you”

I feel the hairs at the back of my neck rise “Warn me?”

“Five years ago, it was irl In all the five years, I’ve never once heard froet her family She would let us know she’s alive We raised her better than that”

I s the fear “Do you mean to say you don’t knohat happened to her?”

“I spoke to the parents of the girls froes and they have all never heard froh they are all not bad girls ould never forget their lances around nervously “You uard The truth is no one knohat really happens to our girls once they leave Sutgot” Mrs Koht be listening She grabs et your ht And if you meet my Saskia, you must tell your parents, so th

ey can tell me Please, please, please, promise me, you will do this”

She is so desperate and half-crazy with fear I can’t help pitying her “I promise,” I tell her “I promise to let my parents know And if I find Saskia, I’ll make sure you find out”

There are tears in her eyes, and she opens her mouth, but can’t find any words to say Suddenly, she pulls me close and kisses my forehead She set the feeling she thinks she’s sending me to my death In her mind D-day isn’t Delivery-day, it’s Death-day

Then she crosses herself and hurries out the door

I stand frozen to the spot, staring at her If all those parents didn’t hear froar and happiness on the other side I knew Mrs Koirl Why in the world wouldn’t she write to her mother? It didn’t make any sense at all

My knees are shaking as I walk home I dare not even—I should talk to my parents That is what I should do, but they already have themore

Oh, God—what is going to happen to me?

Katya

My parents s a tablecloth and father is watching TV His cheeks are already rosy with vodka I know exactly what irl who is as innocent as a newborn I’in, but I’m not innocent

I know about sex, well, about how sex should work, anyway I’ve watched a couple of old German blue movies with Russian subtitles My friends tell me that real sex isn’t like that They say real sex doesn’t involve guys with giant penises and girls whose eyes roll back in their heads as they climax

In fact, my best friend, Irina says she has heard the whole act from start to finish only lasts about five irl who told her about it said it didn’t do anything for her She’d rather bake a cake I don’t know about that, though My body ached after I watched that first movie about the plumber and the housewife in the little apron

“Father Georgiou said he ht pop in tomorrow at teatime,” I announce to my parents

My mother bea when the priest coood I’ll make his favorite biscuit for him”

“Mama, can I talk to you?”