The rainbow never sets

"Hello Mutter, this is Helmut. What's for lunch?" She greeted Helmut warmly and said: "You must be starving. Just go into the dining room. Olga has left you something nice. See for yourself."

Klärchen, our cook, had left us soon after the German occupation. She had bought a shop in Rackwitz, her home town, where she was selling haberdashery and materials. A large slice from our childhood went with her. We visited her in Rackwitz several times. Later on she got married, and she stayed in contact with Mutter until just before she died.

Starch Factory, with workers' house in foreground

After lunch I said to Günter: "I'll take Helmut around the starch factory first, and then around the yard and tell him a bit about our farm."

"You do that. I'm going to the yard to talk to the foremen. They usually tell me what went on during the past week."

Helmut and I strolled off, past the yard and through the gate that lead to our starch factory.

"Let's start where the potatoes are stored. This huge pit can store tons and tons of potatoes. Can you see the drain there running along the bottom of the pit?"

"It's all covered by pieces of timber, except that one segment over there."

"Yes, that's where the potatoes are shoved in and a strong jet of water flushes them forward to the washer. Come, I'll show you."

"Does this factory operate all year round?"

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