There is no Freedom without Dwarfs
 

Photo: Mieczysław Michalak

Red wings were flashing in the distance, and militiamen were carrying a banner they had taken from demonstrators, which read ‘Red Borscht.’

The number of people arrested was growing. The command ‘Arrest the reds! Arrest the reds!’ could be heard issuing from a Nysa. The militiamen were circulating in the crowd, observing what people were wearing. They were were alert, spotting the smallest element of red clothing. Close by, a lady in a red hat was being led away; further in the distance was another lady in red gloves and a fellow in a red scarf. Major and Comrade Jarek passed a group with red bowties and bows. They reached the clock.

‘Was the mask of Lenin on the bow of the cruiser?’ asked Comrade Major.

‘Yes,’ answered Comrade Wardęga.

Nearby on the street lay the October Revolution’s Eve star and the remains of the props from the red carol singers. Alongside them glittered the portraits of the icons of the revolution. A crowd was forming in the distance. A fresh militia unit headed in that direction.

‘So it isn’t the end!’ said Comrade Major.

Several young ladies near the clock demonstrated great invention. They had painted their nails red, and some of them were holding their fingers up, letting them dry in the light breeze.

Major looked around. Someone with a dog bearing a red bow was passing the weary militiamen. A crowd was gathering in the underpass.

A slogan was being shouted from a megaphone: ‘Militiamen are requested to go into the underpass! Militia, please enter the underground!’ The crowd burst out laughing on hearing this.

Description of the Eve of October Revolution happening in 1988, from the book Lives of the Orange Men by Waldemar "Major" Fydrych

HAPPENINGS by Major