Fifteen years in a childhood paradise

dining table, it really looked like a lawn, so green and so real."

"Then she put some of the coloured easter eggs in. Why can't we have another Easter Lawn this year?"

"Because it takes four weeks to grow, dumbell." "Oh, I forgot. I wonder if we will get another chocolate easter bunny, like the one that was put in the easter lawn then? He was so tall that he looked right over the lawn."

*

It was Easter Saturday 1934. We had been painting eggs just as we were doing then.

After we had finished colouring the eggs, we both rushed out, for there was still more to be done. We still believed in the easter bunny.

"Where are we going to make the nests this year?" I asked Günter. "Where always," was his short reply.

'Always' was near the low shrubs, parallel to the road which ran just beyond the fence. The shrubs we played 'hide and seek' around. We collected lots of soft moss (to make it more comfortable for the bunny, I suppose) and shaped two lovely nests with it. If we could find a flower, like a daisy or dandelion, we would decorate the nest with those. When we were satisfied that all was just fine, we left the place with great hopes for the morning.

After this there was not much else to do, so I meandered to the boat shed by the lake. I often walked around the park by myself, along the water, and one of my favourite spots was the boat shed. During winter the boats were put away, but in spring they came back. It was a great joy for me to see the boats again, the large black one, and the white which was sleek and easier to handle for one person. I jumped from one boat to the other and had great fun. Then I stood on top of the seat of the black boat and started rocking it. It made big waves and that was even more fun.

Suddenly Opa appeared with his dog Nellie, whom we called das Mistvieh among ourselves, a rather rude and vulgar expression. She was tiny and always yapping. Needless to say, we didn't like her.

I stood still, as a thief caught in action. "What are you doing there?" he asked me, and I could not see a twinkle in his eye.

"Just playing," I said as casually as possible. "Are you allowed to do this?"

"Hm, yes." "Does Vater know that you are here?" Grateful for this suggested excuse I said quickly: "Yes, he allowed me to play here."

With that Opa turned and left me. I wasn't too happy with the whole

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