Refugee in search of a homeland

"The last time you came home was Christmas," said Gerda, who seemed to have not only grown physically, but also had matured a lot. "I'm happy to have at least one brother again."

"You must be hungry," Fräulein Lina interrupted the happy scene. "I've cooked you a nice dinner. You look like you could do with a bit of fattening. You too, sir, there are two spare chairs."

Oma's cook was just wonderful. Her meal tasted so good! "Like in the good old days, Fräulein Lina. I don't know how you can get a dinner like this together in these hard days." "I have my ways," she said mysteriously. She hadn't changed either.

The Bürgermeister, or village mayor, had allocated three rooms for our family: one for Oma, which also served as our dining come living room, one for Fräulein Lina, who shared her room with Gerda, and one where my parents slept. Mutter had organised a day-bed for me in their room.

Vater told the family about our plan: "The Amis can't be far. Dieter has only two weeks of convalescence leave. We are not going to report to any military office about him being a FLAK helper. Tomorrow Dieter is going to have a rest. Then on Friday we will go to the Bürgermeister and tell him that Dieter had been in hospital for his ear operation, and that we had to leave him there when we came here. He has now been discharged and from now on he will be living with us again."

"That's a good idea." Mutter didn't mind taking shortcuts. Vater would usually choose the correct way, even if it meant some personal sacrifice. In this case, however, it was his suggestion and Mutter of course agreed immediately.

"There is no point telling anyone about Dieter, especially when the Americans are practically at our door. If they found out, they might take him as a prisoner of war. And we don't want that, do we?"

All agreed with Mutter. "You must promise not to tell anyone, and I mean anyone." Vater was still uneasy about the whole business, but there was no other way.

After everyone had promised, I was ready for bed. It's been a long day for me. Mutter came upstairs to get my uniform jacket, to take off all the insignia, lapels, and shoulder straps, so that I would be able to wear it again the next day. I had no other clothes. She was going to try to get a shirt for me, as she disapproved of just wearing a singlet under my jacket. Vater's shirts were too small for me.

"Good night, Mutter. I'm really happy now. It's such a peaceful place here. A night without air raids, a whole night of uninterrupted sleep! It must be absolute bliss."

I didn't need a sleeping pill that night. Before Mutter had gone downstairs, I was already in dream land.

Some time during that night I felt someone pulling at my toes. I was annoyed: "What's the matter?"

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