The Wall Crossers

July - Blue Stones in the Grunewald

Morning at Anja's Flat

Olivia's perspective

It is a beautiful Saturday in July, and Anja and I have decided to go to Grunewald.

Grunewald in German means Green Forest, and it is a forest located in the western side of Berlin on the east side of the Havel river. It is the largest green area in the city of Berlin.

It is eight thirty in the morning and, as usual, I have walked from my barracks to Anja's flat. There are no clouds in the sky and her neighborhood is quiet this early. Anja does not always lock her door, but she has given me a key so I can always let myself in, which I do.

Anja is in the kitchen as I step into her parlor, and she leans into the doorway and says, "Hi, Livie!" and smiles. She puts down what was in her hands and walks to me and we embrace as friends do. She is still wearing a nightshirt, which means she has not been out of bed long.

I breathe her in, her wonderful Anja smell of musky sandalwood with a hint of cinnamon.

Still holding each other's elbows, we step back and regard each other, both smiling happily to be in company together again, although we had dinner together last night, as we often do, and spent hours talking in her flat afterward!

"Anja, you are gorgeous, as always!"

She raises her hands to my hair and pulls my head forward and lightly kisses my forehead.

I have brought an Army backpack and it is slung over one shoulder. I remove it and place it on her couch.

Anja's perspective

As we walk together back into my kitchen I am looking at Livie and ask her, "Why are you wearing Army fatigues? And what is in the backpack?"

Livies hesitates, saying, "Umm..."

I stop and turn to her looking serious now and say, "It is trouble in the barracks again, Ja?" She says nothing so I know I am right. "I vill come over there and fix that myself!" I am angry now. Some soldier, or soldiers, are again making trouble for Livie for wearing dresses!

"It's okay, Anja," she placates me. "And I have my dress and boots and handbag and other things in the backpack. What are you making?"

"Breakfast. Want somesing?"

"No. I ate in the mess hall."

Olivia's perspective

I watch Anja eat her breakfast of boiled egg, hard toast, and fruit. We talk about small matters, like her tiny garden and her flowers. Mostly I listen and relish how happy she is to have me here to share her morning, and the day of adventure we have planned.

"What will we do in Grunewald, Anja?" I have never been there.

"Oh, we will walk on nice, forested paths and go also to the Schildhorn peninsula, das ragt in den See? Hmm, extends? Juts? Ja, juts... that juts out into the lake." She eats for a moment, and then continues, "Then we will find a nice place I know along the river and have ein Picknick!"

Anja smiles at me so sweetly that I feel emotional with joy. I smile back at her and say, "I packed my pink sundress, you know the one with florals that we bought at Ka-De-We store in KuDamm?"

Anja nods. "Ja, I will wear mine as well—the yellow with the florals too. Size six! Ach, mensch! I wore four only last year!"

"Well, I am twelve."

"Only because of your frame. There is not much on the frame!" She grins at me as she butters another piece of toast.

I reach over and take a bite of her toast and hand it back and then sip the kaffee she has made us. While munching I say, "I will wear those falsies I bought. Just size B... but something."