Clattering Sparrows (16 page)

“It was rumored that 15,000 persons died in the two Kiev hospitals from radiation poisoning during the months immediately following the Chernobyl accident. Many were deliberately covered up by recording their illnesses as other than radiation sickness, and many others were originally misdiagnosed and went untreated until it was too late, as was the case with Josef.

“The nightmare years that followed saw both Nikolai and Alexi battle outbreaks of cancer time and again, and Yuri’s wife who was pregnant at the time gave birth to a daughter who showed signs of mental deficiencies caused by radiation, as well. Nikolai and Alexi died two months apart in the same hospital with me at their bedsides ever the grieving mother. I almost lost my mind, but again Yuri was at my side even though he had troubles of his own.

“When they found a tumor on my spine earlier this year, I became determined to spend whatever time I have left to reach Josef’s family in America and let them know what happened to him.

“A couple of months ago, a crew arrived in Kiev to interview victims of the Chernobyl disaster for a special broadcast. The day they arrived was not one of my better days, but I implored my doctor to accompany me to the interviews armed with pain killers should I need them, and he agreed. I think he felt sorry for me.

“When I was interviewed, they immediately told me they would like to air my story. So here I am today in America in New York City. Before I return home, I will be examined by doctors at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. They are optimistic that they may be able to help me in someway or at least alleviate the constant pain, and although I welcome and appreciate any medical help I may receive, my priority remains finding Josef’s family and hopefully also learning of my uncle’s whereabouts.

“I will forever be indebted to Unsolved Mysteries for graciously choosing me to present my story in the hopes of finding my father’s younger brother whose name is Leon Frankel, the family of Anthony Russo, and the girl in the picture known to me only as Judy.”

Robert Stack’s closing words, “If you have any information or know anything about Leon Frankel, Anthony Russo, or the girl in the picture, please contact our phone center at 1-800-876-5353, and maybe you too can help solve a mystery. Good night and thank you for watching.”

At the bottom of the screen above the number to call were the names Leon Frankel, Anthony Russo, and the dimple-cheeked picture of a smiling, eighteen-year old Judy (Levine Singer).

19

AS THE SHOW ENDED and the 11:00 o’clock news came on, neither Ira nor Jon moved. They sat staring at the television in awe at what they had just seen and heard. For several minutes neither spoke a word, each lost in their own thoughts.

Jon spoke first. “Ira, what are you thinking?”

“I’m just collecting my thoughts about what to tell Judy. I know about Tony Russo and how she felt about him. It’s been at least ten years ago that his sister contacted Judy to tell her that the Navy had declared him officially dead and ended their investigation of the matter.

“My real worry is what impact this news will have on her now. She’s been so sick, and getting through her treatments and feeling better have finally made her like her old self again. I just don’t know. Maybe I’m just overreacting. On the other hand, my gut tells me that this will finally put an end to his disappearance once and for all. You knew Tony, didn’t you?”

“I knew Tony well. We went all through high school together. His father took his own life right before graduation, and Tony took his death pretty hard. He picked up his diploma early, and by the time graduation day came, he had left town and joined the Navy Air Corps. After receiving his wings, he was on leave in New York visiting his sister when he ran into Judy who was in her first year at Barnard. When he went missing a few short months later, she was pretty upset.”

Ira thought for a moment and said, “I have to tell her tonight. Anyone watching the program would certainly recognize her picture especially associated with the name Judy. I would rather she learn about the program from me, and not one of her friends who might call.

“I guess we should have written down the number, but I can call the TV station and get whatever information I need. Perhaps I can get a tape of the show as well. Since it’s not a show I usually watch, the thought never entered my mind to record it.”

“Ira, maybe Sara can get the tape and the information through CBS even though Unsolved Mysteries is aired on NBC.”

“That’s a great idea. I didn’t think of that. Their game should just about be over. Let’s go to your house and talk to the girls.” Ira turned off the TV.

When they got to the house the game was just breaking up. Judy looked surprised to see Ira. “Hi honey, did you come to escort me home?”

Ira smiled. “I sure did, but first I’d like a cup of coffee. Sara, is there any left?”

Glancing at the almost empty pot, I replied, “I could go for a cup too, so why don’t I just make a fresh one, and we can put the set away while it’s brewing.

Frustrated that we had so many wall games tonight, I think we ate and drank a little more than usual.

After Judy and I put the set back in the case, the guys collapsed the table and chairs and put them in the garage. The coffee pot beeped just as I put the last of the glasses and plates in the dishwasher.

I poured a cup of coffee for each of us and as we sat at the kitchen table, Ira and Jon began to tell us about the Unsolved Mysteries Special. Taking turns, they related the story to us just as Irina had related it to the viewing audience. As Ira approached the end, he hesitated and said, “She’s hoping to find the family of Anthony Russo and the girl in the picture known only as Judy to her.”

Knocking over her coffee, Judy fell off her chair into a dead faint onto our kitchen floor. We all jumped up at once, and as Ira and Jon went to Judy’s aid, I ran into the laundry room for the ammonia. When I returned, uncapped the bottle, and placed it under her nose, she came to immediately choking at the strong scent.

Ira helped her up and we moved into the family room. For the next two hours and yet another pot of coffee, we went over and over Irina’s story. At one point Jon asked if anyone wanted something stronger to drink. We were all in a state of shock. So many uncanny and unbelievable stories were uncovered after the War, but Tony’s plane had gone missing on a routine reconnaissance flight albeit during the cold war over the USSR.

Finally as the hour became later and later, Jon said, “I think we should all get some sleep and start putting the pieces together in the morning. Then before we do anything else, we should try to get a copy of the show so that Judy and Sara can view the program and hear the story firsthand.

“At the end of the show Irina stated that she would be coming to Bethesda to be evaluated at the National Institutes of Health, and hopefully we could arrange to meet with her while she is here.”

Throughout the evening Ira, Jon, and I had done most of the talking and speculation, and it was mainly about how the four of us should go forward, but finally Judy offered some thoughts of her own. “I haven’t spoken to Maria since she called after her meeting with the Navy when they ended their search and declared Tony legally dead. Now that I think about it, over ten years have gone by since I’ve spoken with her.

“I’ll try to reach her in the morning to see if possibly she saw the broadcast. She’s the only family he has left, and I would think she would certainly want to meet Irina especially since she’s presently in New York.”

The initial shock was beginning to wear off, and we began rationalizing. Ira and Judy left for home, and Jon and I went up to bed. We both went in to check on Jake; he was sound asleep. It was late and Jake was an early riser, so I could only hope for a few short hours of sleep at best.

20

THE NEXT WEEK WAS both a frenzy of excitement and frustration. I contacted NBC in the morning to get a copy of the show and was told it would take at least two weeks, if in fact we could get it at all. I did however get the number of the phone center that had flashed across the bottom of the screen.

Judy called Maria first thing the next morning only to learn that their number had been disconnected, and no forwarding number was available. She then began her search through the U.S. Postal Service to see if there was a forwarding address. Evidently it had been over eight years since their move, and with mail only forwarded for one year, she hit another dead end, but she did make contact with a supervisor who said she would look into it and see what she could find. A few days later, a callback from the supervisor revealed that she had also come up empty handed and could offer no suggestions to go forward.

Judy called Jenny Kiatta and Billy McAvoy, and I called my father in Florida, but he wasn’t home so I left a message. Neither Jenny nor Billy had seen the show but both were as amazed as we were, and Judy told them we would keep them advised.

As we continued to reach out to friends and relatives who knew Tony, and to try to form some kind of plan to move forward, my Dad returned my call. I briefly told him about the Unsolved Mysteries Special, filled him in on the content, and told him that Judy and I had been playing Mah Jongg and hadn’t seen the broadcast, but that Ira and Jon had. He told me he had been out for the evening but that he had taped the show because of his interest in Ukraine. I knew my father had relatives who had immigrated to this country from Kiev at the turn of the century, but the thought had not occurred to me. After viewing the tape himself, he made a copy and sent it to us by overnight Fedex. When it arrived early the next morning, with tape in hand, the four of us sat down to watch.

Jon fast forwarded the tape to the second hour and we pored over Irina’s every word. At the end, he rewound and reran the tape, again and again, as we continued to study and reconcile in our minds her heartbreaking story.

As we sat watching the tape, from time to time I looked over at Judy, but she showed no emotion whatsoever. I could only imagine what thoughts were running through her mind. We hadn’t discussed Tony for a long, long time, and I truly believed that she had moved on when she met Ira and put him in her past. I do know she couldn’t help but wonder what happened to him, but Jenny, Billy, and I were equally as puzzled and concerned. We were The Fabulous Five, and the missing link was painful to us all. At last Jon turned off the VCR, and for a few moments, we sat silently lost in our own thoughts and feelings.

At last Judy looked directly at Ira and said, “I want you to know that when you came into my life it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you with all my heart and soul, as I love our children and grandchildren. I wouldn’t change one thing in our life together—everything has been perfect, and I count my many blessings every day.

“I never doubted that I loved Tony Russo, but I came to realize after he went missing that much of that love was based on infatuation and the fact that my parents disapproved of him. I was young and foolish and by mistaking passion for love, I almost ruined my life. When God sent you to me, I was given another chance, and it was then and only then that I realized what true love was really all about.

“Through the years the infrequent calls between Maria and me were generated by news from the Navy, not because I wanted to hold onto my last link to Tony Russo. I put that part of my life to rest long ago Ira Singer, and I just wanted to reaffirm that to you today.”

By now of course Judy and I were both openly crying, but Ira and Jon were a little tearful as well. It was almost noon, and we needed a break. I rose from my chair and said, “Give me a few minutes and I’ll put lunch on the table, and we can decide when to make the call and what we want to say.”

As we sat down to eat, we veered away from conversation about the broadcast. Judy and Ira had recently welcomed another grandchild and were brimming with pride. Jon and I never tiring of boasting about our own, related Jake’s latest achievement.

When I placed dessert on the table and poured the coffee, Judy said, “I feel as though I have at long last found solace. Learning that Tony didn’t die all those years ago, that he married, had two sons, and was content with his life offers consolation on one hand, but the dismay of his ultimate fate and suffering on the other hand is quite difficult for me to come to terms with, even now, over thirty-five years later.”

Then Judy startled me by turning to Jon. “Knowing my dear friend Sara as I do, I’m quite certain that she never told you the entire saga of Tony and Judy. I was in my first semester at Barnard, miles away from my parents, living on my own in Manhattan, and had recently turned eighteen, when I met up with Tony in New York. Although Jenny and I had dinner with him that first night, for the next two weeks, it was just Tony and me.

“At first we were hesitant. As you know, Tony joined the Navy and left town before graduation under terrible circumstances. Barely eighteen when his father killed himself and his mother suffered a debilitating stroke, he wanted to get as far away from his troubles as he could. After receiving his wings and on leave in New York, he began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

“Running into each other in the city was like a dream come true. There was no one around to tell us we couldn’t see each other, and with only two weeks before he had to report to Pensacola, we spent every available moment together. My classes started early in the morning, and by mid-afternoon, I was generally free. Just being with Tony gave me energy I had never experienced before, and I aced my studies, homework, and exams time and again.

“One evening the week before Thanksgiving, Tony took me to Anna Maria’s, a small Italian restaurant on the lower East side. As we drank glass after glass of wine and ate the delicious pasta, Tony told me he loved me. I had waited so long to hear those words from him, and now that he had said them, I was overjoyed. Was it the wine? Was it the excitement of being with him without my parents’ warning voices in the background? Was it love? Was it passion? Was it irresponsibility? I believe it was all of those and more, and before the evening was over, we made love.

“We spent Thanksgiving with Tony’s sister Maria, her husband, their daughter, and baby son. All too soon, his leave was up. He left the following Tuesday for Pensacola and was assigned overseas to Germany. It was the last time I saw him. From mid-January until the end of the month, he was in special training for the reconnaissance flights that were due to begin the beginning of February. Although we continued to write, our phone calls were put on hold during that time.

“Quite busy with my studies and preoccupied with writing to Tony, it wasn’t until January that I realized I had missed my period. Actually, I felt quite good and with the absence of morning sickness and any other discomfort, there was nothing to arouse my suspicions. When I missed my second period, a visit to a doctor in the Village confirmed my greatest fears. I was indeed pregnant and due mid-August.

“The day before Tony left on his fatal flight, he called and I told him I was pregnant. Honestly, he was much happier about it than I was. Although he assured me that we would work everything out and that the three of us would be just fine, I remained skeptical.

“When Tony went missing, I became totally unglued. I know I drove Sara crazy, and I’ve apologized to her many times over, but in reality she was my savior. I had no right to place my burdens on her, but I had no one else to confide in. I never told my parents about meeting up with Tony in New York, and I didn’t plan to tell them about the baby, just yet. I was, however, in constant contact with Tony’s sister who lived on Long Island and at whose house we had spent Thanksgiving. Since we weren’t married, Maria was the only source through which I could receive any news about Tony. But there was no news. He seemed to have disappeared off the face of the earth.

“As day after day, week after week passed with no word of him, I came to the conclusion that the time had come for me to stop dragging my feet and make some serious decisions. Revealing to Maria that I was expecting Tony’s baby took a huge weight off my shoulders. Thankfully, she came to my aid immediately. I was fortunate that my pregnancy posed no problems and that I didn’t show much, and when I came home for spring break, no one was the wiser.

“When I returned to New York, Maria told me she had made arrangements for me to stay at the Florence Crittenden Home for Unwed Mothers in Rochester, New York, at the end of the semester to await the birth of our child. When she and her husband offered to adopt the baby, I consented. I considered them ‘family’ and the decision felt right to me. If all went well, there would be no need to divulge anything to my parents.

“On August 17, 1955, I gave birth to a boy. When I awoke, I learned that he had died of respiratory failure less than an hour later. At first they refused to let me see him, but as I grew increasingly hysterical, they consented, and as I held his tiny lifeless body in my arms, I cried for my latest loss. Although I was barely nineteen years old, I felt as if I had already lived a lifetime.

“When I left New York and returned home, I decided once and for all that I had to put Tony Russo out of my thoughts. He was still missing, and although I did want to learn what happened to him, I was confident that he was dead. Never did I have the feeling that he was alive somewhere, and would one day come riding back into my life on a beautiful white horse, and we would ride off into the sunset together.

“Whenever I spoke with Sara about him, in her infinite wisdom she pointed out to me that Tony had not come looking for me, for her, for Jenny, or for Billy. A chance meeting with Jenny in Manhattan actually brought him back into my life and only back into theirs with news about him through me.

“At the time, I viewed it as a sign that fate meant us to be a couple, but was he possibly still running from his problems when we met up in New York making all that happened between us too much for him to handle? We will never know, but as far fetched as it sounds, that may have played a part in his amnesia lasting so long. Taken out of his milieu and referred to by a different name, there was nothing to spark a recall of his past.

“In any event, Sara’s words were not wasted on me. I know now as I did then, that every word was spoken from her heart, and never once did she hurt my feelings when she both frankly and honestly appraised my situation. Her goal was to get me back on track, and she certainly did that. I owe her so much.

“I returned to Barnard and got on with my life. When I met Ira, he became my world. We just clicked. When he asked me to marry him, before I accepted, I told him all about Tony and the baby, and if he still wanted me, my answer was ‘yes.’ As you know, the rest is history.

“Jon, I can see by the look on your face that Sara indeed never betrayed my confidence, and that is why I preferred to tell you myself.”

Jon walked over to Judy and gathered her tightly in his arms. “Thank you for your candor, but there was really no reason for Sara to confide your story in me. Your friendship started long before we met, and promises in-confidence that had no bearing on our life together were certainly best kept between the two of you.”

For the remainder of the afternoon we discussed what each of us thought we should do. In the end it was decided, that Judy would make the call to the show’s phone center, identify herself as the girl in the picture, and set up a meeting with Irina, as well as, inquire if they had been contacted by anyone in Tony’s family. If they had, then possibly they could put us in contact with Maria.

We all agreed we didn’t want any discussions to take place by phone, and that if need be, we would travel to New York, and not await Irina’s arrival in Maryland.