The News
News is a word which could be used in a general statement as in the news is not good. Or it could be more specific as in reporting on a specific event. It could also refer to the gathering of information, especially secret information.
As Georg became closer to home, he began to think about all the news he had learned that day and what he could share with the family. Seeing Maria waiting outside for him made him smile.
As soon as he emerged from the car, they hugged and kissed. Georg then asked. "How are the children?"
"They're fine, sweetheart. I'll let them tell you what happened in school today."
"I'm anxious to hear. Let's go find them."
"First let me tell you Friedrich called. He wasn't sure what he heard about Austria was really true. I told him what you had told the others. Then he reminded me he was riding home with Jim's parents for Easter break. Darling, we need to make that time as happy as we can."
"We will."
As soon as he entered the mansion Gretl and Marta came running to him. He stooped down to give them each a hug.
"Daddy, I sang Edelweiss for my class and so did Gretl."
"And Dad, Mister Mike had an assembly for us. He told us what happened to Austria and the chorus sang, Edelweiss. Then he invited us to stand with them and sing it again. After the assembly was over he asked us how you found out.
"We told him about the phone call and also that you reminded us of the last line in the song. He also told us our teachers would help us concentrate on our lessons and they did.
"Did you learn anything new today?"
"A lot Louisa, after dinner I'll share a few things."
Even their Jewish friends wanted to hear what Georg would share. After the dishes were washed and put away, they gathered in their living room.
"First, it's all true. The new army Hitler now has, which by-the-way was against the treaty which ended the Great War, walked into Austria amid cheering.
"Who remembers the story of the Pied Piper?"
The hands of all the Jewish people went up as well as Liesl, Louisa, Brigitta and Maria.
"The people of Austria are just like the people who willingly followed the Pied Piper out of town; not knowing where they were going. They will soon learn they must honor Hitler as if he is a god. And all the leaders of the provinces will be replaced by his friends from the group which he named the Nazi's. And I also learned Hitler will follow through on his idea to do away with the Jewish people."
Georg phrased it this way instead of using the word exterminate, which he had learned from Maria had been the word she had heard used by listening to men on a street corner while waiting for her friends Sabbath service to be over. They had described Hitler as a modern day Herod.
"Georg, what do you think will happen?" Peter asked.
"Hitler will continue to take over countries; Czechoslovakia will be next and then probably Poland. He will continue all the way to the English Channel and the North Sea. The only country which will not fall to him will probably be the Soviet Union. And he hopes to bomb England into submission."
"And what will the United States do?"
"President Roosevelt wants to stay out of the war; it will help England by building airplanes, ships including submarines, tanks and other necessities of war."
"All this is so very troubling. We need to pray often for all the people this will affect." Peter concluded.
"Maria, that's why Pastor Paul was at the synagogue today. He and Rabbi Jacob want to set a time each day for everyone who can will come to the town square and pray together.
"Children, they will come to your schools and offer prayers after morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance."
"That's wonderful Peter. I'll probably walk with Marta and Gretl and stay to hear the prayers."
"And Maria, my day has begun with the Navy Chaplain offering a prayer. It helps us be grounded in the knowledge peace will eventually come."
This ecumenical group of people would now focus on the religious celebrations of Passover and Easter. When Friedrich came home, he had lots to share about the university and his classes. It was a happy time and helped them all to forget about Hitler.
Hitler did exactly as Georg had described. Czechoslovakia was invaded by Hitler's army and Poland was next. The Italian leader Mussolini sided with Hitler. And another war in Europe had begun.
Although this ecumenical family was safe, they would pray often for peace to come. They never knew about the nation of Japan and its evil Warlords. And that America would come under attack by the Japanese in a surprise bombing of its base in the Pacific.
That day, President Roosevelt told Americans, would live in infamy. A true world war had begun.
All this family could do was pray. They would pray for all the men engaged in the actual fighting. And of course, that it would end soon.
And there were happy times too. Several of their Jewish friends married and moved from the mansion. There were babies born, including a son for Georg and Maria. Friedrich had graduated from the university and was employed by a hospital in Baltimore Maryland which was doing medical research in a new field of discovery of drugs which could kill bacteria like the bacteria which caused Scarlet Fever.
Liesl had found something else to do. She was hired by the Secretary of the Navy as his receptionist. A position which had been left unfilled after all navy personnel were needed elsewhere.
She became friends with Paul Adams. After a year of dating, they married. And they also got an apartment in Washington DC.
Soon the mansion was too big for Georg and Maria. The navy had homes on a list of approved houses; on that list was a home there in Gilead. It was the perfect size for them. Kurt and the girls attended the same schools.
It was there Georg and Maria would live out their lives remaining as deeply in love as they were on their wedding day.
The End
Final Thought
Edelweiss and the red, white and blue had become entwined. For Georg and Maria and all their Jewish friends it was like a happy marriage.