The Day the Flowers Died (20 page)

“This feast is going to be a lot like Passover for you with lots
of words, prayers and lengthy patience before eating.”

Rebecca nodded, understanding the formalities with a patient
expression.  “It’s a lot like Catholicism.  We have many
particular rituals to abide by as well.  It’s nothing a
lifetime of growing up in the Catholic Church can’t handle,”
Rebecca teased and pinched Eli’s puffed cheeks, which had become so
from the cold.

The family decided to forgo going to synagogue since the last
appearance presented risk to Eli’s well being.  The two
entered the quaint home and made their way to the dining area with
Ada by their side.  Like at Pesach, Deborah had prepared many
dishes for the family to enjoy; however, on this occasion Ada was
able to assist in the kitchen after having fully recovered. 
After leaving Eli and Rebecca to sit at the table, she returned to
her duties with Deborah in the kitchen.

The white cotton table linens with maroon silk napkins decorated
the large room.  The table groaned, loaded with decadent
dishes of apple cake, beef stuffed peppers, chicken soup, brisket,
Peacock vegetables of zucchini, squash, onion, peppers, garlic,
parsley, and spices.  The palatable smells seeped from the
platters and over Rebecca’s nostrils, leaving her mouth watery.

Ezekiel opened with prayers from the prayer book.  Eli
glanced at Rebecca and spoke in a quiet manner, “the Hallel,”
knowing she wanted to learn the correct wording. The recitation
came from the book of Psalms and read in hebrew, a reading which
Rebecca would have recognized from Catholic school if read in
German.  The wood stool to the left of the dining table held a
collection of three green plants  wrapped in bamboo and a
fruit. A date palm branch, a willow branch, a myrtle branch and a
citron fruit. She pointed to it and nudged Eli’s shoulder.

“What are those for?”

“For tomorrow morning, the Four Species are bound and waved to
symbolize dedication to God… .We normally would have a tabernacle
dwelling outside the home to eat in during Sukkos, but times are
too dangerous for such traditions.” Eli lowered his eyes to
Ezekiel. 

After the Psalms reading ended, the family performed the washing
of the hands and Ezekiel gave the blessing before eating, much like
Rebecca had observed at the Passover.  After all the rituals,
Ada served the food and Rebecca and Eli both filled their
plates.

After the feast, Ezekiel walked with Eli and Rebecca to the
living room and sat down to talk.  Deborah swung out of the
kitchen after putting a few of the dishes in the sink and joined
the conversation.  Despite the comfortable easiness Rebecca
enjoyed with them, the sight of Ezekiel’s worrisome face agitated
her nerves. Her body became tense and her hands squeezed Eli’s
thigh.

“You wanted to talk with us, Papa?” Eli began the
conversation.

“Yes, I just wanted to tell you, Eli, that despite my
disapproval of wanting my only son to marry a Jewish woman and,
despite my belief that the emotions between the two of you would
fade, I can see now that your feelings for each other are
strong.  I can also see Rebecca is a sweet and lovely young
lady who loves you, and I would rather have the two of you as part
of my family then push you out,” as he said you he looked into
Eli’s eyes, “and never know if my son is safe and alright.”
Rebecca’s body relaxed and her hands softened their grip.

“Thank you, Papa.” Eli stood and kissed his father on each
cheek, then Ezekiel returned the affections to his son’s
forehead.

“With all the chaos of the country, it makes no sense for us to
not stand together.  There’s enough division already.” Ezekiel
grabbed hold of his son’s hands and squeezed them before letting
them go. The wrinkles from Ezekiel’s hands showed a long life.

Deborah stood, hugging Eli and then Rebecca before speaking,
“I’m so glad to see you, Eli, join us this year, remembering our
traditions.  You’ve been quite neglectful in the past. Maybe
Rebecca is good for you.  It’s important to never forget where
you come from.” As Deborah nodded, affirming her statement, Eli
recalled the many times in the past years where he had skipped
observing the Jewish feasts. Of late, though, the violence and
persecution created an urgency to reaffirm who he was to himself,
to his family, and to Rebecca.

Eli and Rebecca departed from the house late, heading back to
their apartment.  This ride home was different from previous
ones because the approval from Ezekiel warmed and eased their
hearts, making them believe their love could survive this
country.

Sunday, November 6, 1932

The week filled with political unrest, continued violence and
disruption on the streets, especially with the anticipated upcoming
results of the election Sunday.  Cheers from thousands lined
on the streets echoed for Hitler throughout Munich and Germany
whenever he spoke.  Rebecca and Eli tried to avoid his
presence along with his supporters, but living in Munich gave ample
opportunity for the two to collide.

Eli came to work midweek to find a window in his father’s office
smashed.  Ezekiel entered a few minutes later and saw Eli with
a broom and dustpan, sweeping up the glass.

“Good morning, Papa.”  The sound of glass rattled into the
dustpan and accompanied his greeting.

“Good morning.” Ezekiel paused for a moment to study the
situation, hands on hips.  “I hope that’s a gift from the
Nazis.”

“What?  Why?”  Eli’s head jerked and brows
furrowed.

“Better them than a client mad at us.” Ezekiel and Eli chuckled,
then Ezekiel turned toward the door.  “I’ll get some plywood
to board that up.”

“No.  Let me.  You’ve got a client in half an
hour.  After I take care of this, I’ll get the Scholtzen brief
ready for you.”

Ezekiel nodded, placed his hat on the coat rack by the door and
went in search of a morning cup of hot tea.

Towards the evening, Eli’s room filled with Rebecca and his
friends listening in on yet another set of results from the
Reichstag elections.  Bodies moved to and fro, anxiously
awaiting the news.

Though Robert and Rosalyn wanted to see a Communist government
emerge, they would be content if any party but the Nazis took
control.  Jacob thought a Liberal government might be best,
but had never been one to focus on politics if it took time out of
his swing.  Eli had voted for the Social Democrats every time
elections had been called. Rebecca normally followed her father’s
persuasions, but this year had been alongside Eli in support of
him.  Rebecca’s parents were Catholic and Rebecca knew her
father would want to vote for the Centre party, but her mother
enjoyed appearances, and the Nazi Party had power and her mother
had influence over her father.

This November election differed from the elections of July,
because the Nazis lost much of their momentum from middle class
citizens.  So, when Eli, Rebecca and his friends sat around
the radio to hear the outcome, the faces in the room displayed a
sense of achievement.

The radio announced the results with a different speaker from
July’s elections. Eli and Aaron stood while Rebecca and Jacob
sat.  Robert and Rosalyn gripped each others hands.

 “The National Socialist German worker’s party loses two
million votes with one hundred and ninety six seats.” A heavy cheer
filled the room and then quickly quieted to hear the rest of the
results…

“The Social Democratic Party drops slightly at one hundred and
twenty one seats.” The voice paused and then answered… “The
Communist Party gains 2.6 of the votes to one hundred seats and the
Centre Party drops just slightly to seventy seats.” The faces
around the room shifted in stunned disbelief for a minuscule moment
and then filled with long grins.

The announcer finished… ”A good day for antifascists, a bad day
for the Nazis.”

Everyone’s pleased faces with the Nazis losing two million votes
lightened the room. Eli passed around tall wine glasses and Jacob
poured a bottle of bubbly white Champaign.  Drips of the
bubbles slipped over the sides of the glasses and washed over the
fingers as each took a sip and cheered the demise of the Nazis.

“To knocking those Nazi bastards out of parliament!” Aaron said
and his face filled with relief instead of his usual stress and
intensity, because though there was still no working government in
Berlin, the Nazi Party just fell thirty four seats further from
leading it.

“To the Communist and Social Democratic rallies which tested the
streets of Germany!” Robert said and Rosalyn clicked her glass to
his.

“To a hopeful Democracy and liberty!” Eli shouted and Jacob
responded, “Hear, hear!” The clinking of glasses filled the room
like a musical game.

The Nazis slid down the ladder rungs on November sixth, but they
found a way back up to power.  On November seventeenth,
Chancellor Papen told President Hindenburg he was unable to form
any working coalition and resigned.  Two days later, Hitler
requested he be made Chancellor, claiming only the Nazis could be
relied on.  He was denied.  On November twenty-first,
Hitler approached Hindenburg again with the support of the
country’s most influential industrialists, bankers, and business
leaders, signing a petition to appoint Hitler Chancellor.

Hindenburg called Papen and Schleicher into his offices to help
him find a solution.  Papen suggested eliminating Reichstag
altogether, using military and police to control crowds and
suppress political parties, much like the days of the Empire with
conventional, upper-classes ruling.

Schleicher disagreed, demanding he would get a majority in
Reichstag with Nazi support.

The two fought for power until Hindenburg nominated Papen to
take back control.  But Schleicher had the support of the
military and, if Papen insisted on his plan, Schleicher warned the
country would fall into chaos.  Hindenburg declared Schleicher
Chancellor with tears plummeting from his eyes and handed in
Papen’s resignation, which shocked the country.

My dear Papen, you will not think much of me if I change my
mind.  But I am too old and have been through too much to
accept the responsibility for a civil war.  Our only hope is
to let Schleicher try his luck.

- President Hindenburg.

Schleicher made a better choice than Hitler for Hindenburg, and
Papen did not have enough power to gain a majority in parliament or
retain the Chancellorship.  It was the only decision the
President could see with the military in Schleicher’s pocket.
Hindenburg preferred Papen to Schleicher, though. When Schleicher
still offered no movement within the standstill government, behind
the scenes, Hindenburg encouraged negotiations between Papen and
Hitler to find a resolution.

* * *

At the end of November, on Saturday the twenty-sixth, after all
the political intrigue, Ralph and Deseire drove through the city to
arrive at Rebecca’s undersized apartment. Rebecca expected them
early and prepared a few soft muffins and tea for their
arrival.

The previous night, she tidied up her room, hanging clothes
which had been ignored and giving Eli back some of his garb which
had found its way into her closet.  She spent much of the last
night washing and dusting her tables and cabinets, refusing to
settle for clean.  Immaculate.  It had to be immaculate
or she would never hear the end of it from her mother.

Rebecca clad herself in a long flowery dress of purple and pink
and wrapped a heavy pink scarf around her neck because of the cold
November chills passing through her window.

Ralph pulled up into the parking lot in his expensive
vehicle.  Next to the other cars, it sparkled in elegance, yet
with haughty contrast.  Ralph walked alongside his wife to the
front door with its broken latch.  Deseire fiddled with it
before they stepped through, rolling her eyes at the condition of
the place. Though not unsuitable for Munich, she didn’t want to be
seen someplace like this: unkempt, common.

Their knock startled Rebecca in her seat near the kitchen table
which she decorated with a vase of lilies.  Deseire slid the
door open and Ralph lifted out his arms to embrace Rebecca.

“Becky! Come here.” Ralph rushed toward her and she leapt into
her father’s arms.

“Papa, it’s so good to see you!”  It had been years since
their only other visit when Rebecca first moved to Munich. 
Their arrival now strained her words.

“The place looks much different from what I remember.  You
have so many more flowers around your room.”

“I’ve bought a few new pieces of furniture and have decorated
it.  I have Marigolds, Edelweiss, Cornflowers, Roses and many
more.” As Rebecca mentioned each flower, she showed them off with a
gesture of her hands.  Ralph followed her, admiring all the
varieties she had taken care of in winter.  “When you first
visited, I didn’t have any time to do anything to the place.”

“Well, it looks pleasant,” Ralph complimented.  Deseire’s
eyes darted around the room, partly disapproving and partly
suspicious, looking for any sign of Eli.

Ralph walked up to the unique box along one living room
wall.  “Does the television still work?” He rubbed his hands
over the top and played with the knobs.

“Yes, thank you, Papa.  It works quite well.  Everyone
enjoys it.”

“And your Jewish friend…Eli…he enjoys watching it too?” Deseire
questioned, but her tone was not rough and displeased, but rather
surprisingly curious.

“Yes, sometimes, he and his friends come over and we all watch
it or just listen to the radio…or talk.” Rebecca answered,
remembering the many lovely evenings she spent here with Eli and
his friends.

“That sounds nice, dear,” Ralph commented.

“Please, sit down for tea.  I made some muffins for you
two.  I wasn’t sure how hungry you’d be but I know how you
get, Papa, when you travel.” Rebecca scurried to the kitchen and
arranged two plates on the table while Ralph took off his heavy
brown winter coat and hung it by the door.  Deseire lifted her
white wool scarf off her neck and let it dangle in her hands over
her shoulders and cream colored lace dress which wrapped around her
slim arms.