“The Kiss of Life- It’ll Help You”
In the dead of night, the noise of the Golden Girls drowns out and I thought I’ll actually get some sleep tonight. But, that is not the case, for these people have a different plan.
I heard, “KATZKA!” My eyes suddenly opened. I turned and saw this slim boy, dressed in a long sleeve white shirt, that was ragged. He wore baggy pants and he wore shoes that looked like they were falling apart. He was a tall man, with scraggly brown hair and deep brown eyes. I’ve never seen a formal photo of him, but this was interesting. I noticed him coming towards me.
“You don’t recognize me?” He asked.
“No, I replied. He took one of my hands in his.
“Dawid, or David Sierakowiak, you have heard of me?” He asked. I nodded.
“Good, you must wonder what you are doing with me? “ He asked.
I remembered the way I blurted out with Helene and I didn’t want to offend him.
“You lead the way,” I say, holding out my hand. He took my hand and he led me through the streets of somewhere I was not familiar with.
“We’re leaving here!” He said. He took my hand and we were soon at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
“I thought you might like to see a prettier place than the Lodz Ghetto,” He said.
“So, we were at the Lodz Ghetto?” I asked. He nodded.
“Why did we leave there?” I asked.
“I didn’t want your mind to get sad at the sight of it — please! Let’s be somewhere more cheerful!” He said.
“IT would have been ok, I study things like that!” I told him. He suddenly grabbed my shoulders and looked me dead in the eyes.
“NO! I didn’t want to show you that! Understand?!” He said, firmly.
“Please! You’re hurting me!” I said- as I felt his grip on my shoulders get tighter. He soon realized he was holding me too tightly.
“Oh my goodness! Did I hurt you?” He asked as he let me go.
“No, you’re fine, it just hurt a little,” I said.
“Well, we’re here because life is like Art- everyone has a different outlook on it,” He said as he looked at me. I didn’t say anything.
“You know Poland is filled of Art- it’s beautiful,” He said. I looked at him.
“Dawid, is there something you wish to tell me or show me?” I asked.
“You don’t want to assume- so you’re asking,” He said. I nodded.
“I know, it’s ok- well, I am here, because I feel like we don’t get acquainted much,” He said. I nodded and our eyes met. His eyes changed from brown to blue.
He took my hand and he led me outside. We saw a city, but it wasn’t New York, it was Lodz.
“We’re back where you’re from?” I asked. He didn’t answer.
“Dawid, where are we?” I asked, getting worried. He spun me around to face him and he slammed his mouth against mine. I didn’t have time to react. He kissed me, how could I have not seen that coming? He held his hands on the sides of my head.
“God, I’m sorry, but I wanted to give you the kiss of life. It’ll help you in times when you’re going through despair,” He said. I was too stunned to speak. I felt a little sick.
“What?” I asked. He looked at me and I felt like he was going to do it again, so I said, “Dawid, I understand, I get it, thank you!”
“Do you really get it?” He asked. I nodded, acting like I did.
“No, you don’t , your mind is still scrambling, trying to figure out why I had done that to you,” He said. I stood there.
“I gave you a gift- Life- Katzka- you should not take it for granted. Tomorrow is not promised. I gave you a gift, to help improve your life,” He said.
“What does kissing me have anything to do with it?” I asked.
“It’ll make you feel better. When you kiss your loved ones, you’ll remember that gift I gave you. Oh! Dear! I Can’t hold onto you for much longer! But remember the gift of life Katzka! It’s precious!” He said, as he put me to sleep.
Dawid’s diary, I do own a copy of, and at the Holocaust Museum, I bring his diary with me. I know he died in the ghetto, but he chose to shelter me from that. I don’t know why he wanted to do that- be he gave me a gift and I’ll remember that.
