The Day the Flowers Died (23 page)

Their lips lingered in quiet spaces for moments, before Rebecca
didn’t feel anything but his lips chasing away everything that hurt
inside of her until passion compelled her to lunge toward him,
knocking him back onto the blanket. His hands caressed her arms;
her fingers outlined his eyes, his nose, his lips.  His
fingers brushed her long dark hair dangling over her shoulders and
then they brushed her high collar bone and the white lace of her
pale blue silk blouse until he found her supple breasts.

Her lean legs wrapped themselves around his body and Eli rolled
her over so that they lay side by side. A breeze blew through the
trees, ruffling the leaves and tousling their hair. Rebecca’s
orange scented perfume filled Eli’s sensations and he drew a breath
of ecstasy before Rebecca delighted him with her lips on his chest.
His hands moved up her legs under her fluffy white skirt. Her
stomach rose and dropped, rose and dropped in anticipation. Their
bodies twisted in configurations the trunks and roots of trees had
only ever seen.

The prudish upbringing of Rebecca’s life disappeared. When she
lay next to Eli on the brown blanket she felt anew.  A part of
her sank when her mother and father left her that day from the
Munich apartment, but within Eli’s arms, a new piece of her grew
and at the wedding she could feel all the pieces inside of her
making sense. Here with him sharing this picnic, she felt whole
again.

Fate brought all the pains to her for a reason, for this reason,
to be with him now.  They held each other as the afternoon sky
shifted its brilliant colors into darker shades of evening. They
needed no conversation between them.  They needed no other
sounds.  They only needed to be close to one another, to feel
each other’s touch and rest under the peaceful German sky.

* * *

A new fervor in the air of German streets came from many Nazis
hoping for the success of their party in Reichstag.

Schleicher’s inability to offer the answers needed in parliament
sent the desperate public searching for new leadership. Reichstag
was a teetering canoe in a stormy sea. Throughout December and
January after Schleicher’s appointment as chancellor, Hindenburg
wanted Papen in governmental office, trusting him above all the
others.  Consequently, in secret meetings, Hitler negotiated
to have Papen share power with him if he was declared
Chancellor.

On the twenty-ninth, Hitler perpetuated a false rumor that
Schleicher was about to arrest Hindenburg and stage a military
coup.  This pushed Hindenburg to give the chancellorship to
Hitler.  Schleicher’s inability to obtain dictatorial powers
kept the country at the brink of anarchy. Hindenburg reluctantly
accepted a Hitler Government on the contingency that Papen retained
power in one of the eleven important cabinet posts, all dominated
by conservative parties, thus balancing the Nazi’s power.  The
Nazis retained only three of those posts and Hindenburg hoped for
the best.

January thirtieth, 1933 a new face of German history
began.  Adolf Hitler, with tears rolling down his cheeks,
emerged from the presidential palace as Chancellor of
Germany.  Admirers surrounded like a flock of seagulls all
wanting a taste of him. The car drove away with Hitler shouting,
“We've done it! We've done it!” The Nazis flaunted their troops and
power in a sea of marches smashing into the country like a heavy
storm.

Days and nights of celebration continued with burning torches
casting ominous light on red hooked cross symbols of racism and
terror clad on tan shirts. Red and gold Nazi banners reminded
everyone Germany now belonged to them and, like shadows of darkness
they stretched, covering the German country.  The slow beating
drums in the cities trembled in the minds of all those who opposed
Hitler.  He took an oath heard on the radio by all of
Germany.  Eli and Rebecca cringed at his insidious
deceptions.  His words would not fool the many already
suffering discrimination and brutality by his hands and the hands
of those he controlled.

Adulation poured from the crowds when he vowed, “I will employ
my strength for the welfare of the German people, protect the
Constitution and laws of the German people, conscientiously
discharge the duties imposed on me, and conduct my affairs of
office impartially and with justice to everyone.” Hitler marched
through the Brandenburg gate and along the Wilhelmstrasse to the
Presidential palace.

Cops, once his adversaries, wore swastika armbands like wielded
weapons.  The rhythmic pounding of jackboots, drums, and
military parade music beat into the dizzy minds of everyone at the
ceremony and everyone clinging to the radio.

The month ended with words from various men denouncing Hitler as
Chancellor, witnessing the sinister violence of the man. 
Strasser, a former leader alongside of Hitler, broke away from him,
declaring, “Whatever happens, mark what I say.  From now on
Germany is in the hands of an Austrian, who is a congenital liar
(Hitler), a former officer who is a pervert (Röhm), and a clubfoot
(Goebbels).  And I tell you the last is the worst of them
all.  This is Satan in human form.  Göring is a brutal
egotist who cares nothing for Germany as long as he becomes
something.”

A telegram delivered to Hindenburg from Ludendorff, who had been
for Hitler in the military in the twenties and had since changed
his mind, stated, “By appointing Hitler Chancellor of the Reich,
you have handed over our sacred German Fatherland to one of the
greatest demagogues of all time.  I prophesy to you this evil
man will plunge our Reich into the abyss and will inflict
immeasurable woe on our nation.  Future generations will curse
you in your grave for this action.”

But despite the words from various opponents of Hitler, the
Chancellor within weeks would become absolute dictator of Germany
and propel a series of events resulting in World War II and the
eventual deaths of approximately fifty million humans, many of whom
he deliberately exterminated in concentration camps on German
soil.  The fertile grounds that once offered life for many
would become graves to bury the increasing dead.

Upon the announcement, many vacated Germany: writers, musicians,
great thinkers, doctors, scientists, including the pacifist Albert
Einstein who would effectively help end the war to come with his
scientific efforts. Einstein fled the country, vowing never to
return, asserting that he “shall live only in a country where civil
liberty, tolerance, and equality prevail.”

The floods of influential people in vehement disagreement at
Hitler’s successful Chancellorship emigrated west, finding a refuge
that would eventually turn many others away and send them back to
the feared German country they had departed.

The heated news brought Rebecca to her knees and Eli picked her
up and held her against his chest her breath labored.  Pushing
away, she walked downstairs, taking each step in disbelief at the
turn of events from November to January, somehow yielding Germany
to Nazi power.

No one could have seen and no one expected this.  Her body
became tense and muscles froze as she felt starved for fresh air;
air she knew wouldn’t be fresh much longer with the rank words from
the Nazi party unfiltered in the streets.  She scraped across
the cobblestones in her black shoes while her black button up dress
swayed over the sidewalk and then over the grass. Gazing at the
flowers that once brought her peace, she discovered the flowers
were dead, trampled by Nazis in their celebratory parades. In place
of spring’s budding flowers, they left behind only dirty prints of
heavy jackboots.

Monday, February 27, 1933

The crackling fire from the burning Reichstag building woke
everyone.  The attack on Reichstag equaled an attack on
Germany for many citizens. Despite Nazi plans to destroy German
democracy, Hitler blamed the Communists for this wanton
destruction, which many willingly and naively believed. 
Regardless of who was to blame, parliament burnt to ruin and along
with it, the republic.

The hands of one man wrote a new instrument for government —
suspending civil liberties, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly,
freedom of press, accomplished by the issuance of a Reich
Presidential decree.  Those who opposed this new legislation
were brought to a set of special courts which Papen enforced by
signature to the decree, including revoking the right to
appeal.

 Nazis paraded on the streets.  Considered pests in
Germany before the chancellorship of Hitler, now citizens welcomed
them as the police.  No one who despised them tested their
impatience, lack of mercy or brutality, or one would be beaten or
disappear.

Harsh words poured from Nazi tongues and often they kicked and
punched like undisciplined children who wanted candy.  They
dragged rebellious citizens off to jail.  Unwanted shops,
offices and business were vandalized and discouraged. The mark of
the Nazis, like slaves branded, burned into the minds, the streets,
the cities of Germany.  Their presence overshadowed the lives
of German citizens and even the air seemed heavier to walk in,
strangling those who wished to depart from it.

* * *

Rebecca awoke the next morning and brewed tea for herself and
Eli while he slept.  They had to ready themselves for the work
day ahead.  When the kettle whistled, Rebecca poured them each
a cup of tea and sliced a bit of lemon to drop into Eli’s. 
She admired the diamond ring on her finger, clenching her hands
together and caressing the ring with the palm of her other
hand.  Though small, the diamond symbolized their commitment
and their love, a silver band, a circle that never ended.

She smiled as she set the cups on the table and called out to
Eli, “Rise and shine.  Your tea is ready.” Eli rolled over,
swinging his arms, pushing himself out of the comforts of the
double sized bed.

“Coming, my dearest Rebecca.” Eli enjoyed emphasizing his
adoration for her and had been referring to her as his dearest
Rebecca since they returned from their honeymoon.  Rebecca
loved hearing it.  Eli threw on his long black robe and
wobbled to the table to sip his tea before washing in the large
bath basin in the bathroom.

She waited for him on the sofa in her white hospital attire and,
when he exited the bedroom dressed in his grey suit with a white
button up shirt, she placed his plate of eggs and toast on the
table in front of her rare television.  They ate breakfast
before he drove her to the hospital, then continued to his father’s
firm.

Another office window was smashed; its broken glass littering
the floor.  Eli picked up the stone and set it on his
desk.  Only a few lawyers stayed with the firm and they
remained in their office, finishing up work.  The firm’s
carpeted hallways were barren of the life it once knew, quietness
and stillness taking its place.  Ezekiel hired Aaron a few
months earlier and now Aaron sat in the office across the hall from
Eli with the door closed.  Eli invited himself into Aaron’s
new office where Ekkehard used to sit.

“How are things with you?” Eli inquired and Aaron faked a smile
of contentment, a smile Eli knew too well, stretched across his
face like hard clay.

“Good.”

“What’s wrong?” Eli insisted.

“What do you want me to say? Things are terrible.  I don’t
have the job I was hired out of University to do because I’m a
Jew.  Our country is being dictated to and controlled by
fascist racists.  The parliament has been burnt down and,
along with it, our civil liberties.  Who knows how much longer
we can continue working without being attacked by the Nazi
patrol.”

Aaron took a deep breath and then glanced out the window behind
him overlooking the breaking city.  “I’m not like you,
Eli.  I can’t look at people and see the best.  I can’t
look at Germany and have hope for the future.” Aaron shuffled the
papers in front of him.  “I’m a realist and it’s time to get
out of Germany.”

“What do you mean?”

“Einstein left, Jewish musicians, artists, writers, thinkers
have all left Germany.  They can see what’s coming.  With
Hitler in charge, there will never be equality for Jews. 
There’ll never be peace for you and Rebecca.”

Eli’s face grew stern and red and Aaron went on.  “What
will become of the two of you? What happens when the Nazis find out
about your marriage?” Eli’s thick brows twisted in concern, of
thoughts he long had himself.

“What do we do?” Eli sat in the chair across from Aaron.

“I know you love her.  So, you need to do what’s best for
her.  The two of you need to get out of here.  You need
to get her out of here.”

“How?”

“There’s a ship, the Hamburg American Liner, that leaves for
America every month, but you won’t be able to purchase a ticket
without the proper paperwork.”

“What do we need?” Eli wiped his forehead.

Aaron rubbed his chapped lips before speaking.  “It will be
easy for Rebecca.  She doesn’t have a passport, but her mother
is American and her father is German.  You can request her
American passport from the America embassy, disclosing her dual
citizenship.” Eli’s lips released their clenched form.  “Then
you present her passport to purchase her ticket and she must show
it again before boarding and at immigration upon entering
America.”

“And myself?” Eli worried and Aaron moved in close.

“You will need to apply for an American visa.  You’ll need
your birth certificate, a certificate of good conduct from the
German police which includes the police dossier, your prison
record, military record, and any other government records as well
as a German Police permit allowing your departure.”

Aaron pondered in thought like he often did in court. 
“Additionally, you will need to obtain two affidavits from American
citizens sponsoring your entry into America and give proof of a
substantial savings in your bank account.” Aaron spoke like he was
reading a list, a list he himself had become familiar with in his
own inquiries.