Over

Date/Timing: 16 December 2006
Setting: Oma & Opa's house; Hamelin, Germany
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Opa sits down next to Hermann, places a thick book—the family photo album—on the kitchen table in front of himself.
Hermann pushes aside his textbook, attends.
Opa smiles, says, „Have I ever told you about my Aunt Danya?“
„I don't believe so.“
He hums, opens the book to a page he'd marked with his finger, indicates a person in the central photograph. „This's Danya.“
A woman in a very fashionable outfit—at least Hermann /thinks it's the proper style for the period—with the square Gottlieb jaw and an intimidating, level gaze looks back at him.
„She was my father's older sister; about the same age difference as between you and Karla, in fact.“ He smiles with warmth at Hermann. „If you can't tell from the picture, she cut /quite the figure in Munich in the twenties.“
„With an expression like that, I can imagine.“
Opa chuckles. „My father conceded the family business to her, even though he was the oldest son. 'She'll run it, but I'll run it into the ground,' he said. Had a head for business and brooked no nonsense, she did.“
„She sounds a bit like Oma.“
„A bit, maybe, but Danya wouldn't have put up with my foolishness nearly as well—or as long—as your grandmother has.“ Opa grins and shrugs.
Hermann smiles back.
„Well, the whole family lived in a Jewish neighbourhood, living their lives, until the National Socialist Party started winning elections.“
Hermann's looks back to the album. 
„My parents saw the Hell which was coming, packed their most important things, sold the rest, moved to Switzerland, started over. I was too young to understand why and what happened next ....“
Hermann's ribs tighten on his heart and lungs.
„When we came back—after the war—the family ... nearly everyone and everything was gone.“ Opa shrugs. „So we started over, again.“
Hermann breathes carefully.
Opa turns pages.
„Was—“ Hermann clears his throat. „What happened to Danya?“
Opa takes a deep breath. „As you know, Gottliebs are nothing if not stubborn—“
A weak laugh eases free around the lump in his throat.
„—so she stayed.“
„Oh.“
„She was twice damned,“ he rasps, shaking his head and pointing to another picture. „Here she is with her partner, Rivka.“
Hermann swallows.
His gaze falls to the picture.
„Rings,“ he breathes.
„They 'married' themselves. The rings were their promise to each other.“
Hermann rubs his eyes.
Opa turns pages, traces a silhouette with his fingertip. „This's the last picture of we have of them. My second birthday.“
Rivka and Danya (/smiling!), chubby toddler on her hip gazing up with worship.
„Bastien told us about your young man,“ says Opa softly.
Hermann's mind fills with static.
„Honestly, we twisted his arm /until he told us.“
Hermann ....
„You live in a better time than Danya did, much more accepting.“ Takes Hermann's hand, gives it a gentle squeeze. „We'll love anyone who loves you, like my parents did Rivka and we do Sabine. Never doubt that.“
„Than—“ Hermann swallows again, still croaks, „Thank you.“
„Now, if only we could convince your father to do the same.“
Hermann offers a watery smile.
Opa releases his hand, pushes back his chair. „How about a pastry?“
„„Those are for breakfast!““ hollers Oma.
Opa rolls his eyes, mutters, „I swear that woman has a sixth sense when it comes to my diet.“
„We've been married fifty-three years, Lovey: I don't need powers to know what you're up to.“ Oma leans on the entryway, arms crossed and eyes laughing.
„As I said, Hermann, not many would put up with my foolishness for this long.“
„Maybe I love you /because of your foolishness.“
„If that's the case—“
„The pastries are still for breakfast.“
Opa sighs.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Hamelin (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Klaus
Category:Klaus (ficlet)
Category:Bastien (mention)
Category:Sabine (mention)
Category:Adina
Category:Adina (ficlet)
Category:Edan (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Lars (mention)
Category:Pages with comments
2006 12 16
Category:Celestial Mechanics