The Child From Berdichev

Alik was born on the symbolic day of January 22, 1950 and lived in town called Berdichev for almost all first decade  of his life or more accurately nine first year. He learned about the place where he was born and this date only later in his life, when the memories became bleak and distant.

The first memories were from one room tiny apartment located in the center of the town. It consisted of a small room nine square meters and real miniature corridor which had a heating stove, sort of kitchenette, if you will. The living room itself had a rectangular shape large with one large window looking on the central street.

Until the end of 1953 Alik family was still able to manage somehow in this small room. The family consisted of mother Mina, grandmother Hava and older brother Dima. The apartment was a living, eating, working and sleeping room with sofa converted for a night sleep to a bed.

The folding table and stools were serving as dining part of the room during the day. There was no running water or any toilet