Safe Place Series: The Von Koch's Patisserie (Otzing, Germany)

1a: April 3, 1939, Otzing Germany

It felt like any other day should. Sheets of rain poured from the sky and the smell of  sustenance in the air, it made Ulesse feel great. He clutched a bag of food in one hand and his briefcase in the other, making his way through the winding cobbled streets.

He felt his toes grow ice cold from the torrential down pour and his knuckles take white from clutching his briefcase so hard. Staring intently at the ground in front of him, he saw the shadow of a man step into his vision. Ulesse looked up to see a soldier, in a green suit with a red patch on his arm. The man had blue eyes and blonde hair. Ulesse remained calm, this was not his first encounter with a guard before. But still his heart raced.

"Where are you going, young man?" He asked in perfect German, holding his baton to his side.

"Home." Ulesse responded, in dull monotone.

"What is in the bag?" asked the guard, pointing a long finger at the now drenched bag of goodies that Ulesse had happened to find at the market. Watter runoff from the gutter above the two men splashed at their sides.

"Nothing much, sir." Ulesse responded, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

The soldier looked at Ulesse with a blank exspression, his eyes wandered to Ulesse's jacket to the bright yellow Star Of David, hastily sewn on by his wife, May. The Soldier gave Ulesse a look of disgust.

"Get home, curfew's almost over."

With a curt nod, Ulesse was on his way once again, his dress shoes already soaked, he felt his brown hair plaster to his forhead.

He was greeted by a warm house and a fire in the hearth. Ulesse peeled off his shoes and socks, hung his sopping coat on the hanger by the door and set the bags on the table.

"May?" He called into the home, to hear only the echo of his own voice down the hallway. He noticed an open envelope on the kitchen counter, it was hastily torn open, like a childs nimble fingers would have done.

Ulesse gently took out the tan notice from inside of the envelope, and read

-

Dear Mrs. Bosgovich and Mr. Apfel,

There will be an all Jewish meeting in the town hall on April 5th to discuss the traveling of Jews to a different area to work. If you are not there, you will be arrested immedietly and taken into custody. Please bring with you your immediate belongings, silver, gold and any jewelry.

-

Ulesse's heart stopped.

"May?" He called again, his voice cracking with worry. He raced down the hallway to find May throwing her tearing her clothes out of her closet, tears streaking down her round face.

"May, May," Ulesse wrapped his arms around her shaking figure, when she pushed away thats when Ulesse knew May was truly scared. May isn't dependent of Ulesse, she only agreed to marry him if she could keep her last name and job, to which Ulesse agreed happily, but May almost always accepted hugs.

"You saw the letter." She said bitterly, looking out the bedroom window, crossing her arms, "I know this situation is way worse than it seems."

"What do you mean? What else could they take from us?" Ulesse replied gently.

May turned to him, her short black hair ruffled slightly. Her green eyes were watery but had a sharp look in them. Her thin lips where pressed together like she was holding back a cry.

"I don't know," She said, "but we need to get out of here, I know where we can go."

Ulesse reached for May's arm "May, just listen-"

"No! Ulesse why don't you understand!" She screamed, "Wer'e going to die!"

Her voice echoed down the hallway, and silenced the home. It was Ulesse's turn to speak, but what could he say to that? Instead he got up and took out his worn brown suitcase with his initials U.J.A carved into the brass handle. He silently packed his clothes and belongings into the case, his slim fingers edging the shirts and pants into the velvet corners.

Once they had gotten done packing, May put out the fire and Ulesse wrote a fake note and left it crumpled on the counter. THe fake note said they were heading to America to avoide the Nazi round up.

Without a word, they locked the door, and were immedietly hit by a gust of wind. That's when Ulesse realized something

He tugged on May's arm, "It's after curfew!"

She smirked at him, "We'll just have to be quiet, then."

Ulesse allowed himself to reach for her hand, as they snuck through the streets, avoiding German officers. Wind ripped through the streets chilling the couple to the bone.

They reached a moonlit street with buissnesses in each vacant space, most were closed down except for one had a light on in the upstairs window, the shadow of a lady danced in the sill, noticed Ulesse and May, then dissapeared.

"Were caught!" Ulesse cried softly, tears welling in his eyes.

"Hush, Ulesse." May put her soft hand on his mouth and guided him to the doorstep of a patisserie with a dark green balcony and yellow lettering, it sheltered them from the pouring rain.

The door opened, a thin lady with striking blue eyes rushed them inside, her thin hand clutched the door handle tightly and shut the door quietly behind them, it was warm in the room and it smelled of jam and patries. Cinnamon and spices welled inside of Ulesse's nose, thats when he realized how hungry he was.

"Hello, Mrs. Von Koch." May whispered, taking off her hat and fixing her drenched hair,

"I'm glad your safe, May," The lady clutched May's face her her palms. She turned to Ulesse, "And who is this?" Her blue eyes pierced holes in his forehead.

"U-Ulesse Apfel, nice to meet you." Ulesse held out a hand, "And you?"

"Yendrin Von Koch," She smiled, "I own this Bakery, and am willing to hide you and your wife in here until the war is over." She wiped her hands on her apron.

Ulesse nodded graciously, and looked at May, who looked back.

"We're safe," She mouthed, smiling.