Newborn Nazi

by Rhoda D'Ettore

  "I'm much obliged. I feared you would not accept another mouth to feed." Jane was relieved.

  "No such thing. Worst case, we stop feeding Richard!" Katie responded with a laugh.

  Richard nudged his sister playfully and said, "If you make more of that awful stew you made last week, that won't be a problem! I forfeit my dinner willingly!" The two threw rags back and forth at each other like children, and it was quite entertaining for all.

  After the family's acceptance of her pregnancy, Jane was quite relieved and that night, she wrote to her husband still in Ireland:

  My Dearest Husband,

  I have been at a loss for the words to inform you of certain recent events. The Lord above has seen fit to bless us with another child, and I estimate it should be arriving within six months. I do understand this is an inopportune time for such a blessing, but I trust the Lord will provide. I hope you are able to secure passage sooner than first expected, as I do miss your smile as well as your heart.

  Liam is enjoying being here, and loves playing with the children. I have been working day and night, hoping our combined savings will ensure a better life for our children.

  Eternally Yours,

  Jane

  Tower of Tears Chapter 9

  A Father Lost

  Mary Catherine overheard the conversation regarding Jane's pregnancy. She was becoming increasingly suspicious and a little resentful because it seemed as though all of these new people were coming into the home, and yet there was never any talk of her father. It was like he just disappeared, and these new cousins were there to replace him.

  She approached Katie, "Mother, I wish to discuss a matter with you in private, please." Katie was still cleaning up from the evening meal, but recognized the serious tone in her daughter's voice.

  Katie pulled a chair out from beneath the table, and sat down. Mary Catherine sat as well, feeling nervous, yet indignant, "Well, what is it girl?" asked Katie.

  Mary Catherine cleared her throat, she understood that children were supposed to be just children, and adults decided what they were permitted to know. However, she was a very smart and observant child. "Mother, has something happened to father? He has been gone too long, and although the younger children have not noticed, it has been troubling me."

  Katie had not truly prepared herself for questions from the children regarding her husband. She had been in a state of denial herself for almost a year, but not knowing what to tell the children was the hardest part. What answers could she give when she had none that would satisfy them? She decided to play the tough, stubborn woman who presses on, "Never you mind about your father. You know he loves you. When his work is done, he will come home. Now go do your work, and finish up the kitchen for me."

  Mary Catherine was not satisfied by this, "But mother, we should be---" Katie smacked her across the face with a quick slap which resonated throughout the room. It was the first time Katie had ever lain a hand on any of the children. It was not in her nature to do so. Mary Catherine rubbed her cheek, almost crying. Her friends often got smacked for disobedience, but it was not the custom in their home.

  Katie shook her finger in Mary Catherine's face and angrily retorted, "Now, finish your chores as I told ya, and leave the adult business to the adults. Open your mouth about such things again, and you'll get much worse."

  Mary Catherine did not understand, as she ran to the kitchen basin crying. Richard had only seen part of the exchange as he walked into the room. Mary Catherine had run past him, nearly knocking him down.

  "What's all this, sister?" Richard asked. He saw the smack and knew it was not the norm.

  Katie was wiping the table roughly, trying to get her fear and anger out in the only way she knew how. "She's a stubborn child! She needs to learn her place!"

  "But to strike her? That is not like you. What was her infraction?" He knew something was amiss.

  "I told you, she is a stubborn child," Katie said abruptly. She no longer wanted to talk about her husband or her children's fears that he would not return. She was not the kind of person who spoke of emotions--not even to Richard. She had always seen him as a child anyway, her devoted but much younger brother. What could he add to make her worries dissipate?

  "Aye, stubborn indeed. Just like her mother, that one is!" Richard walked away.

  Tower of Tears Chapter 10

  A Lonely Husband

  Ireland

  When Thomas had escorted his wife and son to the ship, he never expected to feel so alone. The moment they kissed goodbye, his wife and child seemed to disappear into a sea of people searching for a better life. He stood in the crowd trying to get one last glimpse of them, but they were gone. And with that discernment, he felt utterly alone.

  He was proud of his wife for going, and truly thought this was the best arrangement. He had no one in America on whom to rely for assistance with housing, employment, and information. He did not want to impose on Jane's relatives for such things. Also, with Jane and Liam gone, he had room in their home to take in boarders while continuing to farm the land. He felt safe knowing Jane and Liam would be with family, and wanted to concentrate on saving as much money as possible for a new life. He also knew of Jane's mother's dying wish for her to go to America, to join Eva and be happy.

  They had discussed Thomas going first, but Jane would not be able to work the farm while he was gone, nor take in boarders. She hardly spoke to any of her siblings, not out of malice, but from lack of time. Michael was the closest to her, and he could never care for his own farm, then come and work theirs if Thomas was gone. Also, a large portion of their savings would be coming from the new boarders. Jane most certainly could not take in two strange men. It was not respectable. Having her go to America first was the best arrangement.

  It had been several months since Jane and Liam had left, and he missed them both dearly. He missed her laugh, and the touch of her skin. He hated lying in bed at night without her warm body lying next to him. It made him feel less of a husband, less of a man. He also missed Liam's bright and sparkling personality. The child was so incredibly smart, it must have been from his mother's side, he thought.

  At the end of every long day on the farm, Thomas came home to an empty home, no laughter, no wife, and no children. Even the boarders were gone, more often than not. One evening he was happy and excited when his horse gave birth to a new foal. He raced from the barn to the house, yelling for Jane and Liam, "He's here, he's here! The new foal is here! God be good!" When he burst through the door, he suddenly remembered his home was empty. They were gone. Thomas could not remember a time without Jane, and the loneliness and separation was tugging at his heart. He needed to smell her, to touch her face. He needed to see her smile when he called her name.

  He often thought about the year when they were betrothed. She was so sweet and innocent as he chased her through the fields trying to steal a kiss. He thought about their first year of marriage. He loved bringing home fish from the stream and watching her cook it. Her cooking--always so wonderful, somehow anything she made seemed to taste better than anyone else's. She could have cindered the whole meal, and he would have eaten it out of love, and noticed none the difference.

  He walked along the lake, remembering a time before Liam was born and he had convinced her to go for a moonlit swim. He could still hear the interaction in his head, "You must be mad, Thomas McClusky! I need not jump in that water to prove my love!" she exclaimed. He chased her along the embankment, picked her up and fully dressed, jumped into the water. He was laughing when she screamed from the shock of the cold water. "Just you wait, I'll get ya when ya sleep!" And so she had. The next winter, she waited until he was in a deep sleep then dumped snow all over him. He woke with a scream and then tickled her, then they made love on the floor instead of on the freezing wet bed.

  As he walked back toward the house, he thought about his boarders. Having two boarders was easier than he thought. They were footmen of the English lord who lived in the m
anor. The community was aghast when the Englishman built a Great House on the land, then demanded the locals pay him rental fees. It was a true Great House with dozens of bedrooms, scores of servants, and endless conveniences the local folk never had. The land had been in their families for generations, but the government allowed the lord to demand payment and threatened them with eviction if they refused to pay. The townspeople felt helpless, which is why Thomas and Jane felt it imperative to move to America. They needed to do something to get away from the tyranny of the British and the so called lords.

  However, there were two good things about having the English lord on the land: the footmen were guaranteed to be paid every week, and they were hardly ever in Thomas' home due to the long hours they worked. Most of the staff of the manor lived on the premises, however these two men wanted a little more privacy, so the lord granted them permission to live outside of the home. The lord insisted on just one condition: they must pay for any food they should eat while they were in the Great House. If they did not want the benefit of a room, then he refused to provide them with the benefit of board.

  Thomas entered his home, looking for any connection to Jane. He saw the pots she used, the bed in which she had lain, the floor she scrubbed. And yet he felt no connection. He kept her favorite dress, a dress that still smelled of her, and he slept with it under his pillow at night, every night, hoping to dream of his love.

  As the months drew on, Thomas found himself with extra time and money. Instead of saving it up as he should have, his loneliness brought him to drinking. He began visiting the local tavern at least once a week, which then became more and more frequent. He was no longer satisfied with the company of a used frock. He needed a true embrace, a real person, warm-blooded and loving with whom to share his life. When he received news of Jane's pregnancy, he used that as yet another excuse to celebrate. That was not truly the case however, he just wanted a drink. In truth, the pregnancy scared him. If she were able to raise the children without him, then why would she need him any longer? The situation played upon his self esteem, and he needed to feel wanted and needed--by a woman, not an empty dress.

  Preview: Goin' Postal: True Stories of a U.S. Postal Worker

  Available on Kindle, Paperback & Audiobook

  (Comes with a second story, The Creek)

  If You Hear Yelling, HIDE

  Gertrude had been working for the United States Postal Service for a few decades, when she insisted that her niece, Jessica, apply there. Any job Jessica had prior to the Postal Service was “menial” in Aunt Gertrude's eyes. It did not matter that Jessica managed stores, or at one point, even owned a business that had 80 employees. Gertrude just lectured about how the economy could change, and that Jessica had no guarantee of a future or pension. After years of being belittled, Jessica decided to close her struggling printing company, and give in to Aunt Gertrude's suggestion. The idea of suddenly not being responsible for decisions, for the livelihood of employees, and being able to rescind the stresses of business ownership was quite appealing. It was a decision that changed not only her life, but opened a whole new world that she did not know existed.

  Jessica approached the Personnel Office, pulling on the heavy door which led to the tiny little room that had nothing in it but a glass window--- the kind of bullet proof glass that you expect to see at a police department or bank. An older woman sat behind the glass, and when Jessica approached, she rolled her eyes and huffed. Politely, Jessica asked, "Hello. Could I please have an employment application?" The woman ignored her. Again, she stated her request. Again, Jessica was ignored. Finally, Jessica tapped on the glass window to get the woman's attention, to which the woman responded, "Do you see me typing on this computer? What do you want?" Wow, that was warm and welcoming! Again, Jessica requested the application. The woman replied, "You have to be at least 18 years old to apply here. Come back next year, honey!" The woman turned back towards her computer screen. This woman's customer service skills are among the best ever!"Ma'am, I can appreciate that you have a difficult job, however, I would like to ask you once again for an employment application. I am 25 years old, I own my home, am married, and until recently owned my own business. I appreciate your concern for my employment eligibility, however, you would be able to return more quickly to your computer if you just give me the application." With that, the woman slammed an application onto the counter and pushed it through the slot in the glass window. Is this REALLY the place someone wants to work if people like this are the norm?

  A few months later, Jessica got the call for the interview process. She was told to report to a hotel conference room, which, when she got there was more like an assembly line. There were hundreds of people crowded in a various rooms, all in different steps of the hiring procedure. The first step was filling out a ton of forms, then Jessica went into another room where the drug tests were being held. After being patted down, she was told to fill a little cup with urine, while the restroom stall door remained opened, and a big nasty looking nurse stood in the room. After the cup was filled, the nurse inspected the UNflushed toilet, then patted down Jessica again to check for test tampering.

  The next step was the background check. A man who claimed to be an FBI Agent held a laptop, asked for Jessica's social security number, then instructed her to place her palms flat on a scanner connected to the laptop. After a few seconds, a message flashed on the screen "No Known Warrants/Arrests". Wonder what would have happened if there was something found? Would a SWAT team come rushing in? She then had to go through a physical exam by a doctor, and lift at least 70 pounds of weights. The final step entailed a short interview with a man who gave a bright, toothy smile. He explained the position, the expectations of USPS employees, and told Jessica that the USPS is a great place to work. He went on to explain it can be an excellent second job, and that the number of work hours and shift assigned were negotiable. Boy did he get most of that wrong! The entire process took about four hours, and when she left she wondered if the job was even worth it.

  Two weeks later, Jessica was hired at the United States Postal Service's Processing Center as a temporary employee known as a "Casual". This position is the bottom of the ladder, was just above minimum wage, and received no benefits, vacation time, or sick leave. In a Processing and Distribution Center which operates 24/7/365, it is the casual employee who works six days a week, and is forced to work 60-72 hours a week during federal holiday weeks (including Christmas Day). In order to get a "permanent" job, Jessica would have to take a written exam which is only given every couple of years, so she figured that she would work there until the exam. After a three hour new employee orientation, the group of 50 new employees were herded like cattle out of a conference room and through metal security spindles, similar to the ones found at city subways. The twisting of the spindle clanged with a sound like a prison gate saying, "You are ours now! You are trapped!" When Jessica approached the door to the building, she saw a hand written sign on the door, "Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here". What? That is from Dante's Inferno! Is this the eighth ring of hell?

  Entering that door was like entering an entirely new world. Nothing Aunt Gertrude could have said would have prepared Jessica for what she would see. Initially, the whistles and beeps of the machines made her feel as though she were in a science fiction movie. A loud intercom system overhead was constantly bellowing names and phone numbers. Forklifts were zipping around, lights were blinking, and the noise was so loud, Jessica could not hear herself think. As Jessica looked around at the different types of machines that were sorting millions of pieces of mail, she wondered how anyone ever got the mail at all--let alone on time. It was then that she looked up at the thirty foot ceilings and saw the security cameras, similar to the "eye in the sky" types that are used in casinos. There was a catwalk around the walls of the building that had slats of mirrors periodically. It was obvious that these were for U.S. Postal Inspectors to view employees to prevent theft. In addition, there were directional micr
ophones pointed to the employee work floor. Note to self, never discuss personal information such as yeast infections or constipation with a co-worker!

  Soon, Jessica learned that every person who worked there was completely different, but all were accepted for their differences, and gelled together as one whole unit. In a building of 1000 people, a close knit community formed, which was more like a family than a workplace. There were so many extremely intelligent and well-educated people there. Several were former teachers, nurses, professors, and even Ivy League graduates. Many were military veterans who had spilled blood for our country and commanded a great deal of respect. The ages of employees ranged from 18 to 80, and all seemed to bustle the mail in a cohesive manner, ignorant of any difference of age or culture. Many of the employees were Filipino, Chinese, African American, Hispanic---and the gender ratios were fairly even as well. With all of the diversity, with all of the differences, these people were like one body.

  Just walking around, Jessica could tell there was a thick sense of tension in the air, an urgency to meet truck dispatch times. There were all sorts of alarms going off, bells ringing, forklift horns honking, and yes--- even people screaming. It was almost like a city. A city alive with a purpose, with a people, and often a mind and language of its own. Walking through that door made Jessica feel like an ant in the middle of a freeway of vehicles passing by. Jessica felt a lump form in her throat from the fear of the unknown.

  One of the first people that Jessica met was a man named Joshua. He looked like an anorexic Santa Claus. He had these piercing blue eyes nestled upon big puffy red cheeks. His salt and pepper gray hair circled his face in a nicely trimmed beard. But it was when Joshua smiled and laughed that he really gave his Santa persona away. When things delighted him, he let out a hearty "Ho Ho HO", and immediately anyone around him found him to be a pleasant man. Jessica and Joshua talked for some time while sorting sacks of mail, until she said to him, "Darn, I forgot to record a new documentary on tonight-- Russia: Land of the Czars".