|
| |
Mike Briscoe's essay was the most
entertaining essay received by the Youth Committee, so he was awarded a
certificate for "The Most Entertaining Essay."
Mike is the son of Jim & Sharon Briscoe and the
youngest of five children in a family that is roughly
half-Irish and half-German from Russia. He grew up on a farm 16 miles from
nearest small town and is now a freshman at Dakota State
University. His hobbies are hunting, fishing, football, NASCAR,
and, occasionally, writing. He plans to major in Computer Science and
would love to be able to stay in SD after graduation.
Mike says, "Ep & Hilda Sieler talked to my German II
class this year and mentioned the youth essay contest. It was really quite
interesting as previously I had only been interested in my Irish
ancestors. I learned that my great grandmother Engel (a German Russian)
had come to America knowing no English; but, with a German-English
dictionary, somehow made it work."
|
Dieter Weber stretched and yawned. He was growing
weary of this Russian windbag's rhetoric."So you want me to pack up my
family and leave our farm to go farm for the czar?
"Da, exactly." For his own part, Dmitriy Arkadeyevich Popov was sick
of having to pitch this same tired deal to one cold, stone-faced,
humorless German farmer after another. "The Rodina needs skilled
workers, and so I am so very pleased to present this opportunity to you.
Your lives will be enriched tenfold, and we do not even require that you
learn Russkiy. Keep your language, your religion, your culture, and
bask in the benefits of being a Russian citizen."
"Ach ja, having ourselves and our children drafted to fight at
the czar's whim who could pass on such a wonderful opportunity?" This came
from Hans Furchtner, a very proud man whose farmland bordered Weber's, who
didn't like the idea of leaving Deutschland for any reason, especially not
at the request of a Russian, whom Hans trusted no further then he could
heave them by the leg.
"Nyet, you and yours will be exempt from the mandatory military
service as I have already stated." Popov reminded everyone. Thinking to
himself, "You damn ignorant fool! How many times must I repeat myself
before he listens? I cannot wait to leave this miserable unfriendly
country and return home to my family."
"Nein, I do not accept this. I will not move my family on the
word of a Russian, who is barely a step above barbarians, as is your whole
country!"
"Yob 'tvoyu mat! You are nekulturny swine! To call
Great Russians barbarians, nyet, you are the barbarians, arrogant
barbarians!"
Hans rose to his feet, spat at Dmitriy's feet, and
marched to the door. "I will have no part in this, and if you all are not
fools, neither will you. The word of a Russian means nothing. Nothing!"
After his abrupt departure, an awkward pause settled in
the room for several minutes before... "Well, Herr Weber? Will you stay or
go? Either way 1 need to know now." This was a lie, but Popov was sick of
Germans altogether and was leaving with or without this stupid farmer.
Dieter pondered the events of the last ten minutes and quickly
concluded that Furchtner was blinded by his prejudice, that the large
foreigner made a good pitch, and that moving east wasn't such a bad idea
after all.
"Ja, we go."
"Excellent tovarisch! Take whatever time you
require to uproot, and I will lead you east. East to a brave new existence
for you and many of your far-sighted countrymen."
|
|
This essay is copyrighted and no parts of it shall be
used by others in any form without permission of the author.
|
|