Helen rolled over in bed. It was chilly, so she pulled the covers tighter around her. Faint sunlight hit her face, and so it was impossible to stay asleep any longer. Her eyes fluttered open and at first, she was unsure of where she was, but the event of the previous day refreshed her memory. She turned her head and she saw that Eddie was awake, getting dressed for the day. She lay there smiling at him till he turned around.

Eddie raised his eyebrows and grinned at her. "Well...good morning, beautiful." He said, making his way to the bed and sat down beside her.

Helen beamed up at him. "Have a good sleep last night?" She smiled and slowly closed her eyes and opened them, as she was still feeling tired.

"Oh yeah...You?" He asked.

"I'm sorry I had to get up a few times in the middle of the night...sickness seems worse at night. But like Mama said, its all in finding things that help..."

Eddie ran his fingers through her brown hair. He couldn't get enough of staring into those pretty, deep brown eyes and those cute, thin lips of hers. He let out a rough sigh. "I wish I didn't have to go to work today..." He gazed at her a bit longer. "But don't you worry!..." He grinned at her. "One of these days I'll take a few days off and we can spend it together."

"Like a regular honeymoon..." Helen smiled.

Eddie turned away from her. "I'm sorry..." She could not tell if he was angry or upset about it.

"Eddie...I didn't mean it like that...Eddie..." She whispered, grabbing his arm and settling her chin on his shoulder. "It's alright..." Helen smiled, and she sat there rubbing his stong arm and softly kissed his cheek. Kisses trailed up and down his jaw line. "I'm happy just being with you..." She whispered, and smiled when he turned his face to her. "Bunnie..." Helen smiled, whispering. She kissed him lovingly...and gave him a whisper kiss on the tip of his nose. "I didn't mean it...Forgive me?"

Eddie's lips formed a smile. "How could I be upset with you?" His fingers grazed her jaw line and touched her lips before he went in and kissed them.

"Now..." Helen smiled. "Let's have some breakfast. We can have some of the bread that Mama baked...with some jam...and I'll make you some bacon and eggs."

"Sounds good to me." Eddie replied.

Helen put one of his robes on and then went about the little kitchen, getting things ready for their first breakfast meal together. She set the table with the plates and silverware, and coffee cups. She set bread and butter and the jam down on the table. Then she busied herself at the stove frying the bacon and asked him how he liked his eggs. Eddie liked them over easy so that's how she fried them. The smell of the cooking food nauseated her a little.

He noticed. "You gonna be okay with that?"

"Just dandy..." Helen turned and smiled at him and then turned back to the stove, trying not to think about getting sick again.

"You going to eat some?" He asked when his breakfast was ready. He was sitting at his place at their little kitchen table. Helen had covered it with a pretty dark blue checkered tablecloth.

"I'll settle for the bread and butter and jam...Maybe I'll open a jar of the spiced peaches too. I'm afraid the rest will make me sick..." She buttered a slice of her mother's homemade bread and thought of buying flour and other ingredients to bake some bread of her own soon. She thought of meal plans for the rest of the week too.

"Gotta have something more than that, Helen!" His voice interrupted her thoughts.

"I'll eat something at lunch...I promise." Helen smiled at him. She sat down across from him at the table.

"I think I'll come back home on my lunch break and eat with you...What's here to eat?"

"Not much, I don't think...I'll have to make a trip to the grocery store today. I'll pick up something for our supper too."

Eddie reached into his wallet and pulled out $3 and gave it to her. "That should do it."

"Thank you..." She smiled at him after putting the money in her little purse. "Anything special you want? It is our first supper together..." Helen couldn't help but smile. She was beaming at the thought of cooking a darling supper for her and her new husband...Ideas swarmed her brain like honeybees around their hive. A small roast for just the two of them...she could buy potatoes at the little grocery store, and they had canned goods in the little brick house already. They would drink their coffee together with their supper and talk about his workday...His voice brought her out of her fantasy. "Anything you'd like..." He answered her question and smiled at her.

Eddie had finished his breakfast and grabbed his red coat and his hat so he could leave to go to work. "Was your breakfast alright?" She smiled, grabbing his coat sleeves and moved her hands, slipping her arms around his waist.

Eddie's full lips turned up in a saucy grin. "Made everything just how I like it."

"Good..." Helen smiled up at him. He gave her a quick peck on the lips and turned to walk out the door but stopped and looked back at her. "I'll be home around noon for lunch...Surprise me." He flashed that movie star-like smile, winking at her. Eddie told her goodbye and Helen stood at the door, watching him get on his bicycle and ride off down the street and turned on Elm street. Eddie didn't have a car yet, so he just rode his bicycle anywhere he went.

Helen closed the front door and went into the little kitchen. Silence settled around her, and she knew she was alone. She tried not to feel lonely, but she was. It was so quiet in the house with just her...Helen let out a sigh and put the thought of loneliness out of her mind. She had a house to keep up and make it a home. She had the breakfast dishes to do, kitchen floor to sweep, and their bedroom to make up. Then she had her grocery shopping to do...and all before Eddie came home at noon!

"Married nearly a day and I have work of my own to do..." She said to herself and smiled. She determined to be a good wife to Eddie.

Helen set off to work on the breakfast dishes first, getting water from the well pump outside. She set the tub of water on the coal heater to heat up. Helen washed the dishes, though the smell from the bits of old food made her sick thanks to her heightened sense of smell. She went on washing the dishes until the smell became too much for her. She gagged and coughed a little and took a seat at the kitchen table a moment.

"You'll be fine..." She told herself. "You're okay." Helen sat there and rested while another wave of nausea came over her. She ran outside as quick as she could and threw up, so rough it made her throat hurt. She stayed outside for a little while, just to get some fresh air, hoping she would soon feel better and this would pass...She used the well pump to clean up, and then went back inside and finished the dishes. Afterwards, she set more wood and coal in the little heater in the middle of the room.

(

Around 9:30, Frances was sitting at the kitchen table in their little L shaped kitchen, stirring a little sugar into her coffee cup. She and Fred were having their humble little breakfast of homemade bread with a little honey and butter.

"That's the second cup of coffee you've had since you woke up this morning, Frances." He teased, glancing at her.

"I like my coffee..." Frances smiled.

"You must...you have a cup as soon as you wake up, then again at 9:30...another at lunch and another at supper...That's a lot of coffee!" Fred chuckled, glancing at his newspaper.

"I like my coffee like you like your wine and beer!" She replied saucily, patting his arm.

Fred smiled and nodded, and went back to reading yesterday's newspaper. The Telegraph Herald and Times Journal...Wednesday, January 30th, 1935...HAUPTMANN IN TEARS - Rejection of World Court Entry Rocks Roosevelt's Control. There was a smaller article that told about Roosevelt's birthday. Dubuquers will gather tonight in four ballrooms to join thousands of other communities in the nationwide observance of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fifty-third birthday anniversary. Details on Page 2. Then a picture of Adolf Hitler caught Fred's attention. Hitler Begins Third Year As Dictator Berlin(AP)Spartan simplicity marked Germany's celebration Wednesday of the second anniversary of the Hitler government's rise to power. Without torchlight processions or flag parades, traditional expressions...Continued on page 4, Column 4

Fred turned the page and continued reading...

of Nazi jubilation, the nation signalized the occasion by showering benefits on its needy. In the spirit of the Reichfuehrer's heralded community of the people, food and fuel worth 23,000,000 marks (approximately $9,200,000) were distributed among the poor and unemployed under supervision of the winter relief fund. The only apparent manifestation of the reich's reconsecration was a profuse display of the Swastika, flags and banners, with which streets through Germany literally were canopied...

"Fred..." Frances said, trying to get his attention. He went on reading as he didn't hear her. "Fred...Fred!"

"What?" He looked up from the newspaper, startled.

"Well...what do you think of my idea?"

"What?...What idea?"

Frances sighed. "I asked you what you thought of me keeping boarders...we can make the front room up into a bedroom...I can charge for the room, and my cooking..."

"So you've thought some about this?"

"A lot...I figure I can help bring in a little something...don't you think?"

"Is it what you want to do?" Fred looked at her after glancing at his newspaper.

"Yes!" She smiled. "I wouldn't have brought it up otherwise..."

"I think it's a good idea..." Franziska, Frances mother said. She was living up in the little room upstairs.

Fred took a drink of his hot coffee and leaned back in his chair a moment. "Let me think on it awhile and I'll get back to you on it."

A hurried knock on the back door interrupted them all. Frances went to the back door and met a young man on the back porch.

"Mrs. Lay...the couple who lives out past Couler Valley need you and your mother...they sent for me to go fetch you..."

"How soon do they need us?"

"As soon as possible...things are progressing fast, I guess..."

"We'll be ready in a minute..." Frances left him on the back porch and went inside.

"Ma...get your coat. We're going out past Couler to deliver the Hassen baby."

"Their fourth, isn't it?"

"Yes..." Frances said, helping her mother into her coat and then she went into the other room to grab the things they needed and was back in the kitchen. Frances gave her husband a quick kiss. "We'll be back as soon as we can." She told him cheerfully. They said goodbye and out the door they went.

(

Helen spread the woolen blankets on their bed. She put the pillows on the bed and smoothed the top blanket, which was dark green. "Perfect..." Helen smiled, glancing around the room. There was the wide, long dresser of Eddie's that they kept their clothes in, his tall, fancy gun case with the drawers and hutch with its red velvet backing on the inside. Helen glanced at the clock and saw that she must run to the store, and be back to prepare lunch before Eddie came home. So she walked out of their bedroom and into the kitchen, and grabbed her little purse from the buffet table with the large mirror. It was one that her mother had in their home, and was given to her now. Helen opened the front door and noticed that the Iowa Dairy Company had made its delivery. Eddie had lived in the little brick house a few weeks before they got married, so he must have set it up, Helen thought. She placed the glass bottles that held milk and cream and the butter in the snow to keep cold, and walked down the street to the little grocery store at 731 Rhomberg Avenue. It was the Henry L. Kress, Meat Market and Grocery. Helen looked at the charming little storefront with the large glass windows.

She went inside and went to the counter, looking at all the different meats. Her attention turned to the thin cut of beef steak at 15 cents a pound, and she changed her mind about the roast for supper. Helen would make German Rouladen instead! Rouladen was a thin beef steak, salt and peppered, spread with mustard. Pickle spears or chopped pickle, and onion and bacon were layered on the meat, and then the meat was rolled up and tied with kitchen string. It was first seared well, then submerged and cooked in what would later be it's gravy...It would be perfect, she thought, since they both like German food. Helen started thinking of what she needed for the rouladen. Bacon...and pickles...and onion...and mustard...and she had salt and pepper already. She decided that with the rouladen, she would make boiled potatoes and red cabbage. They were some of the traditional sides to go with rouladen. She saw that the cabbage was at 3 cents per pound. A good buy.

She walked through the grocery aisles, grabbing things she needed and was thinking of what to buy for lunch. Her eyes searched for anything that would spark her interest...and then she locked eyes with a jar of pickled herring. Almost at an instant, she had a strong craving for it.

Helen walked on, talking to herself. "Don't just give in straight away...think! What for lunch... Luncheon meats and cheese..." She said out loud, thinking that would be good. "You know what.." She smiled to herself. "...I could put together a Kaltes Buffet!" Which was German. It literally meant cold buffet. She loved the idea...and so she bought different types of cheeses. Blue cheese and swiss and sharp cheddars. She bought luncheon meats and jars of olives, a box of crackers. She had jarred pickles at the house and other things that would be good for the little meal.

She walked on past the pickled herring and her craving for it was nagging her. It was clinging to her like a leech on her mind...She wanted that pickled herring! She felt like she just HAD to have it! Helen grabbed a jar of the fish submerged in the salty, sour liquid. She could almost taste it! Quickly, she grabbed another jar off of the grocery shelf... Helen couldn't wait to get home so she could have some of that pickled herring and set up the charming little spread for her and her husband. She paid for the food and the grocer bagged it into two large paper grocery bags.

"Thank you,-Mr. Kress, is it?"

"Henry L. Kress. I'm the owner..." He smiled. "And might I ask, what is your name, ma'am?"

"Helen Lay...No! Helen Walbrun!" She said, laughing at herself. "I got married just yesterday!...Silly me."

"Congratulations." Mr. Kress smiled.

"Thank you!" Helen smiled widely. "You'll probably see a lot more of me during the week. We live just down the street...Next to Burkart's Point Antique Store."

Helen soon left the little grocery and meat market and walked down the street to her new little house, carrying her purchases. A little, scruffy, mangy-looking dog was following her, she soon found out. "Well! Where did you come from?!" Helen laughed, setting the grocery bags down on the little front step, so she could pet the little dog. "Oh, you're a little sweetheart, aren't you?" The pup sat next to her on the step, content with being petted, wagging his scruffy little tail. Helen checked for tags on the little dog but there were none. "Poor thing must be a stray." She said to herself, petting the dog's head and ruffled his ears. "Would you like some milk?" Helen smiled at the dog, who's little scruffy ears perked up and he sat there wagging his tail. She went into the house, placing the paper grocery bags on the table, and came outside with a little tin bowl. She poured the cold milk into it and the little dog lapped it up. "Would you like a cracker, little doggie?...Huh, would you like a treat?" Helen laughed as the little dog's ears perked up again at the word treat. She gave the little dog a few crackers, gave him one last little pet, and went into the house to prepare lunch.

(

The young man drove Frances and her mother out to the little farm out past Couler Valley. Frances thanked him and then they went into the little farmhouse. Three little ragged boys sat in chairs in the little kitchen. The littlest one, about 3 or 4 years old, was crying, and his nose needed a hanky. He went to Frances and hugged her skirt. "I want Mama!" He bawled.

Frances took pity on the little one, she ruffled his hair and held him. "Your Mama is going to be very busy and needs you to stay out here and be a good little boy." She told him, and he clung to her. He was too young to understand what was going on, as was the next older boy...but the oldest knew.

"Mama will be alright...won't she." He said. More a question than it was a statement.

"Your Mama will be just fine." Frances smiled at him. The boy reminded her of Freddie at his age. "Stay out here. I'll be back to check on you in a little while." Frances told the boys and went with her mother into a little bedroom, the young woman was lying on the bed, her husband was sitting in a chair beside her, holding her hand. "I thought it best to stay with her..." He started to explain quickly.

"You're alright..." Frances told him.

"I'll be just in the next room..." The man said to his wife, and left the women to do their job.

"We didn't think you'd get here..." The woman stated, breathing heavily and in a little panic. "It's gone so fast, I'd thought I'd..."

"Now, now, now...calm down..." Frances' mother, Franziska soothed her.

"Yes...we're here now..." Frances told her. "You're in good hands." She said, patting her arm softly.

"Yes. We make a good team!" Franziska smiled over at Frances.

(

"Helen!...This is just like snack foods!" Eddie exclaimed, seeing the cold lunch buffet spread out on their little kitchen table.

"It is not!...It will be fine, Eddie! Something nice and light. That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

"And what's with the dog out on the front step?!" He exclaimed, opening the front door.

"Dog?" Helen gasped, smiling..."Oh he didn't!-" She started to say, but the little dog came trudging in, and went right to Helen.

"Oh Eddie...look at him!" Helen smiled, holding the dog up, her own eyes looking puppy dog-ish.

"I see him! Where did he come from?" Eddie chuckled.

"I don't know...he followed me home...oh look at him! He loves me!" Helen smiled, kissing the little dog's head and petted him. "He's a stray...I think...oh, look at his wittle face!" She said, looking at her husband with her brown doe-like eyes.

"Helen...we can't keep the dog..." Eddie laughed.

"Sure we can..." Helen smiled at him. "He has no home to go to otherwise...please?" She smiled at her husband, inching the pup's face closer to Eddie's.

Eddie chuckled and scratched the dog's ears. "I guess he is a cute little rascal." He looked back at Helen, who's brown eyes were pleading with him to keep the little scraggly dog. "Oh...alright." Eddie grinned, giving in. "We'll keep him...Seems like he won't go away anyway!" He laughed. "What do we name him? Scruffy?...Rat? He looks like a little scruffy rat." Eddie laughed. "Looks like he's got a little rat terrier in him too. A little Shepherd in him too, maybe."

"Mickey Mouse..." Helen grinned, laughing. "That's what we'll name him. Mickey Mouse!"

Eddie grinned. "Now, that's cute...Mickey Mouse it is, then."

"What's this?" Eddie asked, holding up an empty jar. "Pickled herring..." He made a weird face.

"I wanted it..." Helen looked guilty...but laughed a little. "Eddie?"

"What?" He sat down at the table, with Mickey Mouse in his lap.

"Can you run to the store and get me another jar?" Helen chuckled, smiling at him.

"Helen!" Eddie grinned. "You have one here already!"

"Please?! I have to have them!"

(

It went late into the evening, until the little Hassen baby was born. Another boy. Frances had finished swaddling the newborn and brought him to his mother right after. The proud mother gazed at her new son and then looked up at Frances. "Children are a blessing aren't they?"

"They sure are..." Frances smiled. She smiled at the little newborn and his mother. "Four boys..." The woman remarked, smiling. "So much for thinking this one was a girl!" She chuckled.

Frances smiled. "Would you like for me to call your husband in now?"

"Yes...and my boys." Mrs. Hassen smiled.

Frances called them into the room and they all came in quietly, standing around the bed, looking on. The middle boy looked at his mother and asked, "Can the next one be a girl?...I wanted a sister."

Laughter escaped Frances' lips but she covered her mouth and stifled it, a twinkle shone in her brown eyes...Everyone started to laugh too!

A/N: The Henry L. Kress grocery and meat market was listed at 731 Rhomberg from 1929 through 1948. The same place where Cremer's Grocery is now. My great grandparents lived just down the street in a little brick house next to Burkart's Point Antique Shop from 1935 to the early 1940's. I assumed they shopped there since it was so conveniently close.

The newspaper articles I used was an actual one I found on the internet! Technology is amazing isn't it? Who'd knew I'd stumble across newspapers from the 1930's, online!

From what I can tell, Frances sure was a coffee drinker! She liked her coffee! I am currently reading diaries of hers...and in them, she lists foods she ate in a day, calorie count and her weight. She was always watching her weight and trying to diet! Anyway, from what I figure, she had a cup of coffee as soon as she woke...then one at 9:30 breakfast is listed...then one at lunch...then one at supper.

Frances kept boarders in her home a few years after Fred had died, at least. She also worked outside the home, at a toy factory. She also babysat sometimes for a family...She was always working, doing something. Even on her vacation!

I have discovered recently that Frances and her mother, Franziska may have been midwives. I know for a fact that Frances was there for the birth of my grandfather, and I assume Franziska was there too considering she was living there at Frances' home at the time.

There was a farmer who lived out past a place called Couler Valley, back in those days in Dubuque. But I just made up the Hassen family for this chapter.

Mickey Mouse was a real dog owned by Eddie and Helen. But I am unsure how they came to own him so I used my imagination...If I remember correctly, Mickey Mouse the dog was a rat terrier/German Shephard mix. The other dog they had was a long haired German Shepherd/Pomerian mix, I believe. Her name was Roxy.

I get gaggy sometimes, washing dishes and smelling the bits of food that get stuck in the drain. Yuck!...I can't imagine how that would be for a pregnant woman! So I put that in...Idk, it just came to me.

Kaltes Buffet, literally means "Cold Buffet" in German. Smorgasbord type of meal, it is...We used to have it like I described it in this chapter, ...at my grandparents house. We called it, "Grandpa's special supper" it saved Grandma a night where she didn't have to cook!

Eddie rode a bicycle to get to places before he owned a car..which wasn't until the 1940's, I think.

Going to make some Rouladen pretty soon at our house...I want some sooo bad! Spaeztle too!...I have been sick with the flu this past week and have not been able to eat much...I want real food! lol.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for reading and please review! I love reviews!...You can send one even if you do not have an account on here! Don't be shy! :)