Divisions
Much has been said about Scarecrow and Mrs. King, but very little about Lee's parents Jenny and Matt, despite the significant role their life and death had on his childhood, career, and relationships with others. This story helps fill in some of those gaps. I start at the very end of World War II, during which Jenny and Matt had met in circumstances extraordinarily similar to Lee and Amanda's, and begun a working relationship...and perhaps something more. But can their bond survive the hardships, paranoia, and divisions of an emerging Cold War?
I don't own Scarecrow & Mrs. King & I'm not making any money off this.
August 14, 1945. Cecilienhof Palace, Potsdam, Occupied Germany
The military and diplomatic staffers huddled around the radio on the desk. No one spoke save the Japanese announcer and a few interpreters quietly translating the announcer's words into Russian and Chinese.
"...To our good and loyal subjects," the announcer translated into English as Emperor Hirohito spoke.
"After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure."
The announcer paused for a breathless moment. All across the room, hearts pounded. Would this be the moment Japan surrendered, when this terrible war ended—or would the Emperor go back on his word and call for total war against the Americans?
The announcer continued.
"We have ordered Our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that Our Empire accepts the provisions of their Joint Declaration."
Cheers went up around the room. Champagne and vodka bottles were quickly produced. Hugs and firm, happy handshakes abounded. Here and there a few staffers kissed. Matthew Stetson grabbed Jenny by the hand and bounded out the door.
The past few months had been full of hard work. Representatives and leaders of the Allied countries had met at Potsdam amidst the ruins of Nazi Germany to tackle the enormous issues of trying to put a broken world back together after 6 years of savage, devastating conflict.
Now, with Japan's surrender, that work seemed to be paying off. The War, for all intents and purposes, was over. Jenny was filled with a giddiness and excitement she hadn't felt in years. The couple ran through the great hall, past the great round conference table, still littered with half-filled glasses of water and the occasional document, out of the palace's lakeside door and sat down on a bench overlooking the beautiful Jungfernsee lake.
The palace grounds, once a residence of the Kaiser, were a vision of the pomp and majesty of Imperial Germany, before Verdun and Versailles had destroyed the German Empire, and before Hitler and the merciless tide of The War had destroyed just about everything else.
They sat for a few intimate moments, silent, embracing each other. They could hear the lake's waves gently lapping on the grassy shoreline. They looked into each other's eyes.
"I have something very important to ask you, Jenny." Matt removed his hat and began to kneel down on the gravel.
Jenny' cheeks turned bright pink. Anglo-Saxon though she was, she could feel her hands getting sweaty. "You'll get your beautiful dress uniform filthy!" she protested weakly, too happy to really care. She trembled slightly. A smile appeared on her face, as a tear dripped down one cheek.
Three years of waiting, three years of keeping their relationship a secret, of muddling through the strains that a career as a covert intelligence officer put on a romantic relationship—all of it, over at last.
"Jenny, will you marry me?" Matt spit out.
He seemed as nervous as the young woman in front of him. But then he looked into those beautiful brown eyes. This was his best friend. This was the woman he loved. This was the one person on earth he knew he had to spend the rest of his life with. Similar thoughts were stirring in Jenny's head. 'Why wait another second?' she told herself. Get 'em while the getting's good. "Of course I will!" she burst out. The couple kissed and embraced, not caring who saw. "I've gotta catch you before you give up and go after some blue-eyed, blonde-haired fraulein," she quipped. "I've seen a few glancing at you..."
Loud pounding obliterated the rest of her words.
The dreamy image quickly vanished as Jenny woke up with a start.