In this photo there is grandmother Ida Baicher; from left to right is her older son Michael Baicher, my father Arkadi Baicher and his sister Frieda Baicher. This photo was taken in Moscow in 1913.
My grandmother was strict with the children. Since my father was not an obedient boy, he was often punished and the only person who forgave and sympathized with him was my grandfather.
My grandfather was a wood dealer like his father. He was very successful and provided well for his family. He had a wood storage in the center of Moscow. His family rented an apartment nearby. He was shot with a point-black firing rifle in his home in 1922.
Some men wearing sailor uniforms came to his home and demanded money. There was no money and they killed him before his younger son, my father's eyes. My father, was traumatized. He screamed and couldn't calm down for a long time since it all happened before his eyes.
My grandmother Ida and grandfather Yuli had three children. Their older son Michael was born in 1902.
Their second child was a girl. She was born in 1903. Her name is Frieda, and her Jewish name Freida. She shall turn 100 this year.
My father was the youngest. He was born in 1906.
Michael was a very smart and determined man. He completed grammar school. Being a Jew, he had to win a competition to be admitted.
He had to write a three-page dictation without a single mistake and he did it. He fit in the quota for Jewish students in Russian grammar schools. Later Uncle Michael entered a Mining College.
Aunt Frieda also studied in grammar school. Since grandmother and the director of the grammar school were friends, she was admitted without exams.
She failed to finish grammar school due to the revolution that took place in 1917. My aunt was inclined to humanitarian subjects and she painted well. She took painting classes, but the revolution ruined it all.
