A Christmas to Remember by Sophia DeLuna

Author:Sophia DeLuna
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: short story, germany, christmas

Sometime later, as Herr Peters and Jana were sitting at the dining table on which Herr Peters had placed a variety of breads, cold cuts, cheeses, caviar and other bread toppings, Jana asked, “How is your wife doing?”

“She is sleeping,” said Herr Peters. “She took the tranquiliser they gave her at the hospital. We had to leave because she was driving the staff – and me – crazy.” Taking a sip of water, he admitted, “I’m worried too. But there’s nothing we can do now but wait; and for me talking about other things helps distracting me from my worries. So, I’m glad you are here.” The smile he gave Jana was weak, but genuine.

“I’m glad I’m not just a bother,” said Jana, returning the smile.

“You aren’t a bother at all,” assured Herr Peters. “Now, tell me … if you like … how come that an intelligent woman like you is living on the streets?”

Hesitating, Jana wondered how much she should tell him; he was a stranger, after all. But then again, if it helped to distract him from his worries … sighing, she finally started, “I had a fall out with my parents several years ago.”

As Jana paused, Herr Peters asked, “What was the reason?”

“There were several, really,” said Jana. “They already didn’t like me studying photographic design instead of something ‘proper’.”

“What would they consider ‘proper’?” asked Herr Peters.

Jana shrugged, “My father is a professor of English studies and my mother was a high school teacher for English, French and German till she married my father. They would have preferred me studying something similar or at least something like law or medicine.”

“I see,” said Herr Peters. “But they did let you study?”

“Yes,” said Jana while she spread some caviar on her slice of white bread. Looking at Herrn Peters to see his reaction, ready to leave if it was negative, she continued, “But when they learned that my girlfriend was more than ‘just’ a girlfriend, they made me choose between ‘good’ and ‘evil’. I chose my girlfriend.”

“Gosh,” exclaimed Herr Peters, “It’s 2012 – you’d think people would finally arrive in the 21st century. I’m sorry that you had to make this choice.”

Shrugging again, Jana said, “I’m not. In a way it made it easier for me. Things had been going from bad to worse for years. This was just the final straw.”

“That doesn’t make it any better,” said Herr Peters, “I think it is very sad when parents can’t accept their children as they are.”

“I suppose it is,” said Jana and took a bite from her caviar sandwich.

“What happened then?”

Jana swallowed and took a sip of water before she continued. “Girlfriend finished her degree in photographic design and was offered to take over her great aunt’s business here in Nuremberg, so I moved with her. Couldn’t continue studying as the university here doesn’t offer photographic design and I didn’t want to travel to Munich every day. Girlfriend employed me at her studio. Two years bliss. This summer girlfriend found new girlfriend and moved into her house shortly after.

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