Olivia's perspective
The four civilian women I work with in the Berlin Brigade records detachment are cosmopolitan: one German girl (Maren), one from India (Prasa), one from UK (Barb), one from South Africa (DiDi). They are very good at their jobs. I respect them.
Barb, a pretty and strong-willed black girl, is around 25 and is the ring leader since Maren (a year or two younger) adores her. Prasa is eldest at 30. Always sipping tea, her husband is an Engineer in an Electrics company. She is quiet, but sometimes makes pronouncements and everyone listens. DiDi is my age, so youngest of the four women. She is quiet and eager to please. She becomes close friends with Olivia and helps her in an important way.
When we first meet, I tell them I am a girl. They sort of get it but don't say much, especially since the Army considers me to be male. We just focus on the role, the tasks at hand. In 1971 we do not have any adequate language, or concepts, for a girl like me.
I ask them to call me by my true self name: Olivia. But they continue to call me Corporal Reary, in spite of my request. Probably because our Supervisor, Sergeant Ellis, told them that is what they must call me!
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The Wall Crossers
Non-FictionStep into the captivating world of "The Wall Crossers," a spellbinding tale set against the backdrop of Cold War-era West Berlin in 1971 and 1972 to the latter half of the 21st century, from Berlin to Bhutan. This narrative weaves together the lives...
