I could hear fireworks, but my family stayed with me in the basement this time.

 

Nobody was smiling.

 

This time they listened to me and stayed away from the loud noises.

 

It was early the following day when they packed two small bags. My Mom, two Sisters, and I got into the back of a big white truck.

 

As I sat on Mom's lap, I saw others like me - keeping their families safe. Nobody made a noise; the only things we could hear were the truck's tires digging across the roads and sometimes more fireworks.

 

I had to go to the bathroom, but I kept still; we shouldn't go outside.

 

Whenever we stopped, I could smell metal and oil from people outside. Sometimes someone would come and see us; sometimes, they wouldn't open the door.

 

When we left the truck, it was morning again. I could smell many more people now, but now they smelled like bread and food and sweets and soup.

 

No more metal people.

 

I walked around, leading my Mom and sisters through the crowds.

 

Sometimes I'd stop and let it be known that I was here now.

 

Others were here too. But they would be sure that I was here now.

 

And it felt so good...

 

We boarded a big train, and once again, many more people. There was barely any space for us, but we found a way.

 

No more firework sounds.

 

They're safe.

 

I'm here.

 

 

 

My name is Bzdyszcz but my friends call me Taco.

 

I'm with my Mom and two sisters.

 

We're from Ukraine, but living right now in Poland. We're waiting for our Visas to go to Canada.

 

Even though I'm the new Man of the House, my Mom will be working to make money to buy us food and pay for our new home.

 

I'm asking for help to buy the airplane tickets because, although Canada's support is excellent, they haven't created a program to airlift us from Poland to Canada yet. So we still need help to pay for our three tickets (plus my spot).

 

**the human who helped me write this is also helping by selling home-made strawberry jam on his company's website. More details can be found his company's FB page here https://www.facebook.com/wrofood/posts/492848085675743 **

 

**more human stuff so that everyone feels comfortable with their donation:

 

Gaston Sitbon is creating this GoFundMe campaign.

 

Besides his name and mine (Taco), I would rather keep my Mom and Sisters' names private.

 

The money will be sent to Chicago because he is American, and GoFundMe doesn't offer Poland as a country where funds can be received.

 

Once the campaign is finished, 100% of the money received will be given to my Mom and my Sisters and me here in Wroclaw Poland.

 

The money will be used to travel to Canada, and anything that might be left over will be used to start our new lives.