Eva relaxed. Krista, her helper. She didn’t really have the money for another bottle; her budget was very tight. But she needed it. But now she had money from Elena. “Das wäre wunderbar,” Eva said. She took out her stationery and an envelope, then retrieved the stamps she had bought on the way to Elena’s, and the two women sat at the table.
“I’d like to try to dictate in English, but sometimes, I know I won’t have the words,” Eva said.
“It’s okay. I can translate for you,” Krista said, her hair still unwashed, her purple sparkling sweater gray under the armpits.
“Can I get you a coffee?” asked Eva. She didn’t want to make coffee, but she should offer the girl something.
“Nein danke,” Krista said. “I had one right before coming over, with my mother.”
“Okay,” Eva said. “Let’s begin.” She dictated, Krista wrote, and then Eva gave her money to get her wine.
“I’ll put this in the mailbox for you, too,” said Krista, “and bring you your wine.”
“Das ist so lieb von dir,” Eva said and without thinking, hugged the girl. Today seemed to be a day that her thoughts were not her own, or that someone was thinking for her. Soon it would be over.
Chapter 5
Dear Maggie,
I was so happy to get your letter. I think it’s wonderful that you want to come back to Berlin. And congratulations on finishing university. You must be proud of yourself, and your mother must be proud of you too. I saw Elena, and I know she is not very reliable about writing letters or calling, but I can say that she would be very happy to have you stay with her. Of course, I wish you could stay with me, but you know I don’t have much room here. We can visit frequently—more easily than when you were here last! Now that the Wall is down. I hope you’d like to. There will be no 24-hour rule for you returning through Friedrichstrasse, but this I’m sure you are aware of.
Things have changed much since the Wall came down. I am happy to see Elena without much trouble and there were always things I liked about the West—some hand lotions, and so on—but my neighborhood has become quite awful. It was never this way before. There is crime now and it makes me very sad. Sad for the world, and sometimes scared. Also, there is garbage and litter on the streets, and in my neighborhood, this too is particularly bad. The buildings, which the GDR didn’t take the best care of, are now often left to crumble and burn. Of course, new things are being built all the time. I shouldn’t complain. But it is a lot of change, some good, some bad. Many people have left, but not everyone. Krista and her mother are still here next to me. Do you remember them? Krista remembers you and looks forward to seeing you.
Have you heard of the singer Nina Simone? If I could ask one favor of you, it would be to bring me a record of hers. Of course, I most likely could find it here now, too. But I know she is American—but she also, like me, hated America, the racism, the capitalism, and moved to Paris, did you know?—so maybe it is very easy and inexpensive to buy her records there. I lost a record of hers, and badly miss it. It had the song “I Loves You, Porgy” on it. I think it is the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard.
Please call on the hall phone. Here is the number—001 49 3 453 7769. I so look forward to seeing you. I am sure you could make a good life here. Or just a good year. I have the most confidence in you. And I am happy you are in love. I didn’t forget that! And I look forward to meeting your man, too.
Viele Busserl,
Tante Eva
Chapter 6
December came. Krista knocked, calling, “Eva! A letter!” Drying her hands from washing clothes in the sink, Eva let her in.
“Komm, setz dich,” she said to her.
Krista asked, “Darf ich dir vorlesen? It’s from Maggie.”
“Yes, please do. I’m going to finish washing. Then I’ll sit with you.”
Eva went to her wardrobe and opened the small drawer and took out the letter opener. Krista read:
Dear Tante Eva,
I was so happy to get your letter! I got it only two weeks after you sent it. Can you believe it? It used to take months. And sometimes, my mother told me, you never got her letters at all.
I am living at home in the suburbs with Mom and Dad and working as a waitress at a restaurant called Friendly’s. It’s not a lot of fun and it shouldn’t be called Friendly’s. The customers are often not friendly and the tips are not that great. But it’s a job, and I’m trying not to spend any of my money so that I can soon come to Berlin! Living at home is helping me save—I don’t have to pay rent—and also, my parents are feeding me, which helps me save, too. But I hate the suburbs. I can’t wait to be in a city, a real city. Not that Chicago isn’t a real city, but it’s not Europe.
I think I’ll have enough money by January. So, that is when I am planning on coming. I will write Elena again. I haven’t heard from her and so I worry that it won’t be okay for me to stay. But if you say it is, I will believe you. Also, it’s possible Thomas will come with me as I mentioned, I think, in my earlier letter. Anyway, thank you so much for welcoming me, and for talking to Elena.
Thomas is living in Chicago with some of his friends. I get to see him pretty regularly, though. He is older than me, did I
