Twenty One

Untitled Part 1

                                                                                      Chapter One

                                                                                         Settling In

"Well here we are" thought Rachel, "four Countries in twelve years, could this be a record for someone my age?

Born in Tel-Aviv, Rachel and her family moved to Brussels when she was four years old, and by the age of seven had relocated to Paris and now approaching her twelfth birthday they were on the move again, this time to London, all attributed to her Father's employment which.

For the term of the English School holidays the family would stay with Rachel's Uncle David, one of four brothers her Father had scattered around the Globe. Home would be their large semi in Cheswick  West London. Set in a small Tree lined street of no more than a handful of dwellings with perfect underground links into the City Centre. Therefor for the next six weeks life if nothing else should be interesting.

Life in the English Capital lived up to its expectations, uncle David and auntie Eva were fully giving people and while having no children of their own had compensated by turning their home into a refuge for unwanted pets. Hence the five dogs, four cats a budgie, two hamsters and a rabbit called Fluffy. They were wonderful and took great pleasure in showing Rachel, her Mother Kristina, older sister Catherine, and younger brother Steven the sites their beautiful adopted City. The one absentee was Rachel's Father Peter Riesen, a quiet man who provided very well for his family, although it must be said he was never a typical Father as work commitments meant that he was away from home for as much as 50% of the year. this in turn never felt strange as it was the only life Kristina Riesen and her two children had ever known.

As the Summer ended the Riesen's were on the move again, this time to a Cottage in the sleepy village of Budleigh Salterton in South Devon, here Catherine and Rachel would be shuffled off to St Margaret's Boarding School for girls around thirty miles from their new home. Budleigh was lovely it reminded Rachel of trips to the French countryside with the added attraction of having a coastline, and although the water was ridiculously cold, if just had to be investigated. Meanwhile her mum Kristina, had signed up to all of the ladies clubs and committees she could find, never thinking to ask where her Husband was going or for how long, it was now part of her life.

At St Margaret's, life in Rachel's own words was fantastic, never for a second being hindered by the discipline as she had always been subject to strict Jewish values, she excelled academically and achieved the highest grades in most subjects.

The harsh regime ended at 4-30 pm each day when the young ladies, as they were known, retired to their dormitories where the fun began. They could play music, read books or magazines and discuss their favourite subject, Boys, Except Rachel, the only thing on her mind was at 9pm each evening they played Who-done-it, a game in which they tried to solve the who's, the why's and the where's of a crime. She found this fascinating and would almost nightly find herself in a heated argument with the other girl's, usually her new best friend Emily who being a tall redhead loved a good squabble, sometimes ending up in the same bed still debating the why's and wherefore's of the case. Rachel and Emily had become very close. The fact that Rachel traveled to Emily's home in nearby Exeter every second weekend for a sleepover, was testament to this. Emily's father was a local GP and her mother owned a little flower shop in the centre of town. Rachel would have happily stayed every weekend if not for her mother wanting some quality time with her daughters.

The years passed quickly with Catherine Riesen securing a place at Exeter University studying Economics, but instead deciding on two gap years traveling around the World with some friends, much to the annoyance of her parents. But on the understanding that on her return she would pick up her studies where she left off, they reluctantly agreed, issuing her with their blessing and a not unsubstantial amount of money.

Rachel on the other hand being three years Catherine's junior was watching in the wings to see the outcome of this adventurous trip. Steven Riesen now attending a boarding school for boys found himself bombarded with the usual questions you receive when you are a Jewish man, what is a Bar-Mitzvah, do you prey to the same God as me, has your father got a long beard, does he wear a small flat cap on the crown of his head and oh yes, did it hurt when you were circumcised? Rachel during less and less frequent times spent with her Father, tried to get to know him better. She had an inquisitive mind and had decided on a Journalistic career, but every attempt to get inside the mind of this very private, very quiet man was met with the same response, "I am busy ask your Mother" followed by the now obligatory retreat into his office and the locking of the door. The only time he was truly at ease was during Jewish practices something he was passionate about. At morning prayers and meal times he would always remind them how fortunate they were and how thankful they should be for the sacrifices of others." Many giving their lives," he would say, "affording us the freedom to take advantage of the wonderful things this world has to offer, this must never be taken for granted"