I wriggle out of Otto’s hold to finish setting up the space before anyone else arrives. I asked everyone to get here fifteen minutes before Danner arrives so we can give him a big surprise.
Otto’s parents, my parents, and Felix’s all arrive within seconds of each other. The moms jump right in to help Gerty and me and the fathers center themselves in the middle of us all, not wasting a moment to begin their work-day chatter.
“My parents should be here any second now,” she says, staring down at her watch. “They’re always late.”
“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “We have time.”
I tack one side of a streamer up to the arched entrance, balancing on a wobbling chair.
“So your brother will be living with you?” I hear from the booming conversation behind me.
“Yeah, he’s uh—he’s always been the one without a clear direction in life. My other two brothers knew exactly what they wanted before they finished school, like myself, but Dietrich, he’d be in outer space studying the stars if he could.”
“Long-term family guests always change the dynamic in the household,” Felix’s father, Herr Weber says. “My wife’s brotherstayed with us for a couple of months and—I’ll just say, I’m glad he found a job in Austria.”
The men all share an understanding laugh.
“So what will your brother be doing for work?” Papa asks Herr Berger.
“Well, funny enough, following no direction for so long, he did actually settle down a few years back and went back to school to obtain his medical degree. He’s been hired to research for a private governmental agency, promising him the world and more. I couldn’t turn him down when he asked to stay with us. This opportunity could benefit our entire family.”
“Oh, you don’t say,” Papa presses for more information. Papa likes to ask questions and by doing so, seems to manage to stave off questions he doesn’t feel like answering about himself and his job that he doesn’t care for.
“Yes, the agency he’s working with has asked him to build a team. Various roles are needed and I’ve spent time in every department of the chemical plant, they’ve told my brother I’d be an asset to their team. So, I think I’m going to take the leap,” he says, his voice veering off into a high-pitched question.
“Any opportunity nowadays is a good thing. I’d take it and run,” Papa says.
“Absolutely,” Felix’s father says. “Good for you.”
“I’m hoping I can convince my Otto to lean in this direction too. The kid has had his heart set on becoming a pilot, but I think we all know where the world is heading now and I need him to settle down with a stable job and career.”
“I thought Emilie mentioned something about him starting medical school in the fall,” Papa says. “Is that right, sweetheart?” It’s become obvious to them that I’ve spent far too long tacking up this one streamer, but I didn’t want to miss out on this conversation either.
“That’s what he said,” I reply, hopping down from the chair.
“She’s right. He was accepted and will be starting in the fall just like Emilie. I think it’s a good path for him to follow, especially with the promising opportunities my brother continues to talk about.”
I move to the other side of the arch to finish tacking up the streamer. Otto doesn’t seem too excited about the new direction he’s taking, but anytime I ask him why he changed his mind about becoming a pilot, he says he’d like something more stable for his future. It’s clear his father has been filling his head. I can understand where he’s coming from, but a dream is a dream, and why should we give up on doing what we want to do just because our country says so?
Just as I hop down from the chair on the other side, I spot Danner’s parents, Frau and Herr Alesky, arriving—or just Frau Alesky and David. Herr Alesky doesn’t appear to be with them. Maybe he isn’t feeling well.
Frau Alesky spots me and directs her attention to meeting me at the wall partition. “Thank you so much for arranging this celebration for Danner,” she says, a tear forming in her eye.
“It’s our pleasure. Of anyone, Danner deserves to be celebrated,” I say, keeping my voice down.
Frau Alesky takes in a staggered breath and stares up toward the ceiling, her eyes filling with tears. “I wouldn’t miss celebrating my son’s birthday,” she cries softly. “But—” she exhales and cups her hand over her mouth, “Abraham—he left early this morning to pick up a loaf of bread, and upon returning home, he was met by two Gestapo. They…they arrested him.” Tears fall from her eyes as she shakes her head. “They took him away from us. He just went to get bread.”
My heart leaps into my mouth. I can’t stop myself from picturing the scene—how horrifying it must have been. I try to respond but the words feel stuck in my throat. “Why—no—no they couldn’t—why…” My words squeaking as I press my handto my mouth. “Herr Alesky has never done anything wrong. Not ever,” I argue as if she has any say. She obviously doesn’t.
“It’s not fair,” David says, his expression pinching into tight lines. He sniffles and swallows against the pain evident within his red cheeks. “The Gestapo aren’t just taking people—Jewish people—to prison. They’re sending them off to labor camps.”
This can’t be happening. Danner must be so worried and distraught, and we’re here ready to surprise him with a birthday party.
Frau Alesky pulls in a heavy breath and releases the air slowly so she can try to compose herself. “The Gestapo said he had a traffic violation on his record, and it was means for an arrest.”
Herr Alesky rode his bicycle to the farm most days. The car was only used if someone had to go out of town or across the city, and there couldn’t have been a more careful driver than Herr Alesky. I can’t imagine him breaking a traffic law. “That’s absurd. He couldn’t have?—”
“He seemed to know what they were talking about, but it’s hardly means for an arrest. He said he would take care of it, and he’d be home in a couple of days, not to worry—his famous words.”
