On the Antsla Station

       On the Antsla station tracks stood three cattle cars filled with people. I arrived in Antsla at 11 o'clock. Trucks with armed guards were continually bringing more people. Among them was the Karu family. The Karu family's last wish was: "Remember us and write about our tragedy!"

       Our family was also on the list. Father, along with Lepik from the roadside farm, had been in the Defense League, and had also held that position in the Agrarian Association, and had kept hired hands. Besides, he had been in the cavalry in the War of Independence in 1918 - 1920. This all was more than reason enough to be taken away! Someone even warned us ahead of time. But we didn't know what to do with this information. Especially, since no one really knew what these deportations would actually entail. No one believed that innocent people would really be carted off to be imprisoned in Russia.

     Mother and Father prepared our bags ahead of time. They contained food, clothing, and money. And then we just awaited our fate. We were terrified. For us, the children, this seemed to be a natural catastrophe, which even Mother and Father couldn't prevent.

      But that time, fate smiled upon us.