Touched by Fire
Page 14
Aunt Miriam puts her hand over my mother’s. “I know how much he loved you, Elsa,” she says. The handkerchiefs come out, and that is when the real conversation begins. Why are they crying, after such a lovely tea? Uncle Kolya says that I may choose some pastries to take back for Helga and me!
“Miriam,” Mother says, “after Yuri died, times were very difficult. I was left alone with a baby. There was no work, often not enough food to eat.…” Mother dabs her eyes. I have never heard her speak of this before.
“In 1927, Germany was not like it is now. When I married Georg, it seemed the right thing to do. Peter needed a father and a real home,” Mother says.
“Yes, I can see that much has changed. You must wonder why Kolya and I have come to Germany, and why we wanted to meet you,” Aunt Miriam says. Mother nods.
Aunt Miriam continues, “We are here to bring Kolya’s brother, Lev, back with us. We sail from Southampton, England, on the White Star Liner RMS Georgic, in three days.”
Uncle Kolya says, “I own a printing and small publishing press. My brother is an expert bookbinder and printer of Hebrew texts. He will be a great help in my work. We have a spare ticket for Peter, if he would like to return to New York with us. That is, if you permit it and if he wants to go.”
Aunt Miriam says, “Elsa, I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to raise a half-Jewish child in Germany, at this time. There would be no problem with obtaining a visa for him. Peter is the son of a war hero and the nephew of American citizens. We would be taking him for a visit, to meet his family. Elsa, if you agree to this … holiday, Peter’s stay can be extended permanently. He would be educated with his cousins and given every advantage. We have a home in Brooklyn, New York, and a summer cottage in Maine. The children camp, swim, and ride. We all want Peter to come with us. We would do our very best to make Yuri’s son happy. We can keep him safe, Elsa.”
I’m not sure I understand. Are they saying I can go to America? I look at Mother.
She says, “You have taken me by surprise. I don’t know what to say, Miriam, I am overwhelmed. I had no idea.…”
“Do you mean leave, leave Germany forever?” I ask Aunt Miriam.
“I don’t know the answer to that, Peter. I think it would be for a long time, until things are different here. Now, Uncle Kolya and I are going to go out on the balcony to look at the beautiful view of the city. You and your mother can speak in private and discuss our suggestion.” They leave us alone.
“Peter, I am sorry. You are very young to have to make such a hard decision. Yuri always regretted that he did not go to America. I loved him very much, and I love you, and whatever you decide, I will understand.” Is Mother letting me choose? I take a deep breath. I hope she won’t be upset. I don’t need to think about my answer at all.
“I want to go very much, Mother. I’ll miss you and Helga and Maria, of course. I’ll write to you often. Perhaps one day, you will come to America for a visit.”
Two days later, I am packed and sitting in the car between my uncle and aunt. It is the start of our long journey. My stepfather was delayed in Munich. Mother made me say good-bye to him on the telephone. We are both glad not to have to see each other again. I wave to Mother and Maria and Helga, until they are out of sight.
“Uncle Kolya,” I say quietly, so that the chauffeur does not hear me. “I saw the Nazis burn books. I stood right by the fire and watched them.”
“I know. No need to be afraid anymore, Peter. In America, we print books. We do not burn them.”
Aunt Miriam says, “When Yuri and I were children, your grandfather used to say, ‘In America, they don’t let you burn.’ ” She and Uncle Kolya look at each other and smile.
I lean back against the car’s leather upholstery and dream of all the things I will be allowed to do in America – play with my cousins, go to school and not have to sit in the back row, just because my father was Jewish. I can choose who and what I want to be.
Mother said my father wanted to go to America. I think he would be happy that I am making the journey. I’m going for both of us, Papa.
The End.
AFTERWORD
Family Markov, their friends and neighbors, and the people they encounter during their lifetime are imaginary. Their experiences in their quest for a better life are similar to those of many immigrants. Their story is played out against a backdrop of real events, side by side with the public figures of the time.
The following characters in the novel are based on themselves: Max Blanck and his wife, Bertha, Isaac Harris, Anna Gullo, Dinah Lipschitz, Isidore Abramowitz, Eva Harris, Samuel Bernstein, Louis Brown, Joseph Zito, Gaspar Mortillalo, Officer Meehan, Joseph Wexler, and Lena Goldman.
After the tragedy of the Triangle Waist Company fire of March 25, 1911, public outrage led to the creation of the Fire Investigating Commission. Two years of deliberation resulted in twenty-five new rules, which were passed into law in the state of New York. These included the following.
• The installation of automatic sprinklers
• Mandatory fire drills
• The regulation that doors are to open outwards and to remain unlocked during working hours
• The regular inspection of fire escapes for both maintenance and safety
• The regulation that fire escapes are not to end before reaching ground level and are to allow easy access, without furniture or sewing machines, obstructing exit doors
Max Blanck and Isaac Harris were brought to trial on December 4, 1911. Three weeks later, an all male jury acquitted them of manslaughter, in a verdict of NOT GUILTY. Blanck and Harris waited years before they agreed to pay seventy-five dollars for each of the 146 lives lost in the fire. However, the men’s reputations were ruined. The days of the Shirtwaist Kings came to an end in 1914, when their partnership ended.
Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power in Germany in January 1933. The one-day boycott of Jewish businesses, and the burning of twelve thousand books deemed “anti-German,” began a regime of terror that ended with the death of six million Jews.
April 5, 1933, saw the arrest of many of the inhabitants of the Scheunenviertel, the Barn Quarter. On November 9 and 10, 1938, during the pogrom of Kristallnacht – the Night of Broken Glass – over ten thousand Jewish inhabitants of the quarter were arrested and deported. Homes, places of worship, and shops were burned and looted. The life of a once-vibrant community was erased. Street names were changed, and no trace remains of what was once there.
Thanks to the wisdom, encouragement, and patience of Sue Tate, my editor, and to the entire Tundra team for their ongoing support. Love and thanks to my family for always being there for me.
Also, my grateful thanks to
Dr. Michael Berman
Deborah Hodge
Sarah and Reuven Levine
Ellen Schwartz
Nicholas Selo
Dr. John P. Wade
A.J. Watts