"The movie based on Anne's book is showing in Darmstadt now," Margot announced to her family as she served the evening meal. Anne's novel, 'The Diary of a Young Girl', had been published two years previously and had quickly become a best seller. It was the story of a young girl and her family hiding from the Nazis during the war. Margot remembered the day she'd first seen it on display in the general store. She'd bought it, taken it home, and read it all the way through in one evening.
A disgruntled Peter had ended up having to prepare and serve dinner that evening.
"I saw the announcement for it as I was leaving the market today," she continued.
"Well, we'll have to go see it then, won't we." Peter grinned as he speared a piece of roast pork with his fork. Even after thirteen years of marriage, Margot still felt a little guilty about cooking it and even more so about eating it. Only the fact that it was one of her husband's favorites, and that she herself had found it delicious when she'd finally tasted it, caused it to remain a staple in the family's diet.
"It's starts Friday," Margot added. "I'd love for us to see it together as a family, but we'll have to get there early. It's sure to sell out really quickly."
As it turned out, the Gaebels were the first family to arrive at the cinema, and they ended up having to sit in the darkened theater for forty-five minutes before the movie started. Wilhelm and Miriam grew restless and began to complain, but their father quickly reproved them.
At last the movie started, and time seemed to stand still for Margot as she watched, spellbound. Silent tears began to roll down her face as she watched the Nazi soldiers break into the family's hiding place to take them away. Knowing that she had to keep her composure for the sake of her children, she bit down on her lower lip until she tasted blood.
As the family filed out of the theater, Peter's hand gripping his wife's tightly, not a word was spoken. All was silent on the drive home as well. Silently the children prepared for bed as their parents settled on the sofa in the living room. About twenty minutes later, Margot heard Miriam calling to her and went into her daughter's room. She found Miriam lying in bed wide awake with a worried look on her face.
"Mutti, did all those things in the movie really happen?" she asked.
"Yes, liebchen, they did."
A look of horror passed over the young girl's face. "But Vati was a soldier during the war! Did he round people up and put them in concentration camps?"
Margot gently brushed the blonde hair back from her daughter's forehead. "No, liebchen, your father had no part in any of that. It was he and your Uncle Nicky who saved me, your Tante Anne, and your grandparents from being sent to a concentration camp. Your father is a very brave man, Miriam. If he'd been caught, he would have been executed for treason."
Miriam looked thoughtful. "Vati's a real hero, then."
"Indeed he is. None of us would be here today if not for him." She turned to leave, but Miriam called to her again. "Mutti?"
"Yes?"
"Why were they putting people in concentration camps, anyway?"
Margot sighed. "There used to be an evil man named Adolf Hitler. He thought that all the bad things in the world were because of the Jews, and that if the Nazis got rid of all of them, the world would be a good place for everyone else to live in again."
"But that's crazy!"
"I know it is, liebchen, but it's all over now. Adolf Hitler is gone, and nothing like that will ever happen again." She started to leave again, but Miriam called to her once more.
"Mutti?"
"Yes?"
"What happened to Adolf Hitler?"
"He died, liebchen. He and all the other wicked men are gone now. The world is safe from them." She kissed Miriam's forehead. "Go to sleep now."
She returned to the living room to find Peter staring at the wall, deep in thought. He reached for her, and she went into his arms, where she nestled deep in his embrace.
"Is she all right?" he asked.
"I think so. Some things in the movie upset her. I tried to explain as well as I could."
His arms held her more tightly. "Are you all right?"
"I suppose so, although it really isn't fair at all, is it?"
His finger lightly traced her cheek. "Of course it wasn't!"
"No - I mean, here I am in a cozy warm house, with plenty of good food and a family who loves me, while so many of my people are lying in mass graves, forsaken and forgotten."
"Meine liebe." His voice was husky with emotion as he kissed the top of her head. "You have no reason to feel guilty. You couldn't help what happened to them, and personally, I'm very glad you survived, since I don't know what I'd ever do without you."
"The movie's showing in America and all the other European countries, but not here." Nicholas slammed the newspaper down onto the table.
"Why not?" Anne helped three-year-old Nicole down from the table, and the little girl ran into the living room, her dark hair bouncing on her shoulders. After eight years of marriage, their only child had finally came along, and both Nicholas and Anne were very protective of her.
Nicholas consulted the newspaper once more. "Says it was banned because of all the former Nazi party members who are now alive and free and living in West Germany." He gritted his teeth. The subject made him so angry he wanted to explode every time he thought about it. "I'd like to hunt them all down and shoot them!"
"You'd only end up in prison yourself." Anne walked up behind her husband and began to massage his shoulders. "At least they lost the war. My people survived, and now they even have a country of their very own."
"I know." He smiled. "I'm really proud of you, you know."
"Thanks. I'm proud of you, too."