Max Maxin

By Harold Huberman

"Max Maxin" is a novella. Around the period of 1907, the Jews were being persecuted by the Russians and the Poles. As a young lad of twelve years of age, my uncle was told by his father that. “He would have to leave his Country his village and his family.” So Max set off to walk to London from Poland to meet up with his uncle Chem. The journey took him almost two years. This is based on a true story. I have used my imagination as to what may have occurred to him on this somewhat strange and daring adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Nov 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546296027

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© 2018 Harold Huberman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   11/28/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-9603-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-9604-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-9602-7 (e)

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Glossary

For Gerry

CHAPTER 1

A small village in Poland, 1907

I was desperately trying to hold back my tears. I kept saying to my father, I don’t understand.

My father repeated his words for the third time. But this time, it was my father who was trying not to cry. He steadied his voice enough to say, We have no choice. Both your mother and I—it breaks our hearts. But what I have to tell you is terrible news.

He inhaled deeply and then said, There is no point in my beating around the bush anymore. I’ve been trying to protect you, but— He paused for a moment to catch his breath and straighten out his thoughts. And then he looked me dead in the eye. I suddenly knew how serious this had become. He said, You need to leave.

The words circled the space between us, the air now cold and thin.

What? I started, my voice not even sounding like my own.

He held my stare, and I caught him like we were both clinging to an invisible lifeline. And then his words came slowly and painfully. You will have to leave the family, the village, and the country. Confusion took over me as he continued. You must listen very carefully.

He went on to explain the situation to me. I tried to piece together his words like a fragmented jigsaw puzzle.

There is a corporal who’s played alongside me in the orchestra on the boat that ran down the River Vistula. I must not mention his name, but he told me in absolute confidence what is about to happen. People are being told to leave if they can.

But we can all leave together, I said.

My father sadly shook his head, knowing this was coming. My son, both your mother and I are too old to run. I watched the lines around his eyes crease as he tried for the first time to smile. But it is it too late to save our boy. Then he took my shoulders in his hands. But you must act quickly.

He told me that it was challenging to explain but he would do his best. And clinging to anything I could, I did my best to understand. I could tell that my father was indeed trying but he still glossed over the facts. Either that or it was all