Reflections: Three Girls - Three Women

About the Book

Verkineh Bedrosian's fifteenth birthday started like any other day of the past years. She arose at six in the morning. She prayed, meditated, and dressed in the humble apparel sent to her from London. After attending to her morning chores, she joined her friends and classmates for breakfast in the dining room. Meals were always taken in silence, another of Miss Burgess' rules. As the older girls quietly ate, Verkineh observed the table where the little ones were seated. It seemed like only a fortnight had passed since she and her friends were as young as these recent arrivals to the School. Now Asghig and Verkineh were in charge of grooming and helping the youngsters through the formative years. Armenouhi would entertain them, while they became oriented to their new surroundings. Verkineh also noticed that Digeen Vartouhy's hair was now completely white, and her footsteps had become slow. Some mornings she could barely walk. Dr. Haratounian had told the ailing matron, "Rheumatism and hardening of the arteries are part of the aging process. We are not getting younger, my dear woman." Digeen Vartouhy was grateful that the staff empathized with her condition. She continued her kitchen duties slowly. However, the meals were always prepared and served on time.

As she looked around the room, Verkineh also observed an excited gleam in Asghig's eyes, one that spelled urgency. Was she sick? She had always been the delicate one. Breakfast was finally over. While the two girls walked to their classrooms, Asghig confided to Verkineh, "Grandma told me that she and Miss Burgess are planning to meet with the young Secretary to the Mayor of Constantinople, Mr. Sarkis Yerganian. I think he wants to be introduced to me! Imagine! Oh, Verkin, I'm so thrilled," Asghig whispered.

 The Armenian community of Constantinople knew young Sarkis Yerganian very well. He had opened dialogue between the Turkish government and many a Christian family. He was twenty-five years old, and educated in Paris. Tall, handsome, and extremely well-built, Sarkis was the only offspring of a wealthy Armenian rug merchant. The young man decided that he was ready to be married.

The young ladies in MISS BURGESS' SCHOOL FOR GIRLS surmised that at a certain age, their marriage would be arranged with Miss Burgess' approval. So, when Asghig told her friend about the conversation she had with her grandmother, both girls were innocently happy and extremely excited.

After evening prayers, Asghig and Verkineh met with Armenouhi in the reception room for a brief social period, granted to the older girls. Here, Armenouhi heard the exciting news. Armenouhi became elated! She stood before them, and with great dramatic flair, recited passages from Romeo and Juliet. She acted the scenes to perfection. Verkineh and Asghig were breathless. How talented and beautiful their mutual friend was! Aware that their enthusiasm would be misunderstood as being "silly", the three girls withdrew to their rooms.

Verkineh could not fall asleep right away. She thought about the talented Asghig, who had reached her sixteenth year a month ago. In two weeks Asghig would graduate. Her beautiful soprano voice was known throughout the Armenian community. In fact, for the past year, Miss Burgess had allowed Asghig to be chaperoned to the Armenian Church every Sunday morning. As the soloist, she was accompanied by the Church choir during the celebration of High Mass. Armenians and Greeks would attend the services regularly to hear her lovely voice. "Aha! This is where Sarkis Yerganian has seen and heard Asghig. No wonder he has fallen in love with my Asghig," she thought. That night, Verkineh experienced feelings she never had before. Would she have a "Prince" fall in love with her, too? She immediately dismissed these thoughts. She could not sing like Asghig. She did not recite poetry like Armenouhi. Her mind was always too logical. She questioned everything! By her standards, she w

About the Author

Ms. Bohjelian, a first-generation Armenian-American, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both her mother and father migrated to the United States from Turkey in the early 1900s and miraculously escaped the first Genocide of the Twentieth Century when, in 1915, the Turkish government annihilated over two million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. Elizabeth was fortunate to be nurtured by loving, intellectual parents. She listened to the stories of the Genocide from relatives and family friends. Her childhood and adult life were greatly influenced by these outpourings as well as the political and social discussions that prevailed in her home. Thus, two novels materialized. Elizabeth lives in New Jersey. She has two sons, a daughter, and four grandchildren.