Nothing really happened.
This woman is in her 40's maybe.
Calling herself a lawyer.
The building we started to enter, was once an old church.
Everything looks... as if it were going to break at any moment.
Sitting in a half full waiting area. Black chairs and a black table in the middle of the room.
Mrs stiff comes inside the room and says out loud >>Gigggia? <<
I close my eyes and breathe out in annoyance.
>>Alia. <<
I whisper, as I stand up with my sister and walking out of the room with her.
>>Please follow me. <<
She says. We walk together to the left and inside an office. Her office. Which is poorly decorated.
Only two black chair on the right of a greyish table where on the left side are lots of folders. Papers and books. And her Lenovo Laptop, open.
The Windows are closed but even though outside it's 110 f, I'm freezing in this room because it's so cold.
>>Please take a seat. << she points to the two chairs. I'll take the inside and my sister the one on the outside. As I sit down, I look at her and nod.
>>All right. But our name is pronounced Alia. not gigggia. Alia. <<
I say as politely as I can. We are with her now for four months. And she never pronounced our last name right.
She never even seemed to try.
That's weird and that's why I'm here today.
My sister and I are the first time together in this office.
She told me multiple times, how her appointments went and what she told her we will do about our current citizenship situation. "We will have to go to court" she told me.
I sit down now and look at Mrs Stiff. She doesn't seem to listen to what I have to say.
>>Well. Do you guys have the translated documents. <<
I grab my backpack and put the in english translated documents on the table. She looks skeptically at the slips of papers.
>>What language is that? << I look at her blankly.
>>English. <<
Answers my Sister friendly. Too friendly for my tastes.
>>Good, I'll give you another appointment in... two months. I'll need the documents in German. <<
She types something on her computer. I'm starting to get mad.
She didn't do a thing. Not once. Always sending us away and then back when she suddenly has new things she needs.
Until now, she hasn't done a thing for us.
>>I asked you if we should translate it in English or German? But you didn't answer my Email. <<
My sisters states, starting to get upset. >>I answered. <<
Mrs Stiff claims. I look at my sister.
>>No. You didn't. I can show you. <<
My sister takes her phone and starts scrolling.
Mrs stiff takes her phone away and starts looking herself.
I know that my sister isn't lying.
She knows it at some point too. She stops and then continues typing something on her Computer.
>>Maybe it got deleted. <<
she murmurs.
>>What is the plan. If we now get the documents translated to german, when is the date at the court? <<
I interrupt her lies. >>Court? <<
She asks.
What would happen if slap a Lawyer? I know that I don't have to be a lawyer, to know what would happen.
>>Yeah. <<
I say angered.
>>This case will not go to court. I will send the documents to the immigration office so that you can get a residence permit. <<
>>We already have that?! This should be about our citizenship, that the government won't approve. We were born here and-<<
>>This, I'm aware of it too. I'll always contact the german naturalization office, to make you two stateless. So you can get the german naturalization. <<
I stare at her in disbelief.
>>But I'll tell you this will take years. <<
She adds and avoids my glaze.
>>And then two more years until we get an appointment for the naturalization. Minus another year and a half until it gets approved. <<
I state. She remains quiet.
>>I'm so sorry. But I can tell them that you two tried everything possible to get the... the... citizenship of the country your parents are from. <<
>>We have been with you for 4 months now. And you don't know our last name. Nor first names. Nor the country that deprives us of citizenship. And you haven't done anything until now. Sent us away. That's what you are going to tell us now?! <<
I'm out of tune. Angry and that's exactly what she sees.
>>Well... that and that you guys have to pay me 1400 Euro if I start this case. <<
We storme out of the office.
I can't believe it.
Four months wasted.
We are back at the beginning.
We take the bus ride back home, where I cry silently while my sister listens to music.
All this because it's so important what race I am.
It feels like a never ending cycle.
Maybe it would be better if I would just... not exist.
