Bella had been home from the war to end all wars for 3 years when it happened.
The first year, Bella huddled in Herr finkham’s White House unmoving, like Agatha. Shocked from the death he saw in the war; guilty that he had survived, while so many finer men such as Ernst had not; Bella hunkered down.
On the outside Bella was a giant Mountain. On the inside, he was a mountain crumbled.
Yet, gradually the scree washed away and the granite rose.
First he began working with herr finkham in his wood shop. Bella’s fingers were too big to carve. He split the wood that Herr fincom used to make his intricate boxes, violently. He made deliveries, not speaking as he went. He carried the coal for the stoves. He seemed to relish the heavier loads, as if the more punishing the weight the more he was forgiven. He brought groceries to Mutti. She made him his favorite foods and stroked his forehead when the memories came. She cared for him as if he were her own.
In time, like Agatha, Bella returned.
The second year more of Bella poke through the rubble. He began to smile, to laugh and to sing. Bella’s iced emotions began to melt away. He reconnected with childhood friends, friends before the war. Men who like him were artists. Soon Bella was leaving the White House early and staying out late. Bella, you have a frauline said Mutti slyly. “No, Muti, I love only you,” responded Bella. Mutti smiled.
In the third year, Bella moved to Berlin. In his letters, he seemed so happy that Mutti herr finkham and Agatha thought they were written by somebody else’s hand.
for Mutti’s birthday Bella took the train to bremerhaven. It was the first time that they had seen him in months. His train was delayed and he he arrived late. Mutti Let him sleep waking him in Mid-morning for coffee and his favorite cake, Jewish apple.
“Bella.”
I’ll be right down”.
Descending the stairs. Was a beautiful woman, long flowing, blonde hair makeup Red lips, pink cheeks, blue, eyeshadow, plucked eyebrows. There was no indication it was Bella, but for the mountainous frame and then the devious smile.
No one said a word. Herr Finkham started, but Muti put up a hand. Agatha almost spoke. But the look of Muti’s face closed her mouth.
Bella took a cup of coffee. Ate a slice of cake and ascended the stairs as gracefully. As a six foot four man in a dress could
when bella had gone Mutti spoke: Blessed be our god, ruler of the universe who makes creatures different?
Herr fincom fell off his chair, laughing.
And never an unkind word was said.