“There's more Rotkohl if anyone wants it,” Erika advised as she took her seat.

The meal wasn't anything posh, well not by German standards, Strogonoff, the aforesaid red cabbage and Erdäpfelknödel1. Of course there's bean salad too and if I'm not mistaken there's Strudel in the oven, I can smell the cinnamon. Maybe its a bit more than a normal evening meal but nothing out of the ordinary.

“Not for me,” well its not very lady like to have more is it? Not only that but i always feel a little awkward in this sort of intimate setting, give me a public dinner and I'll be well in.
“Well if you change your mind, well dig in everyone.”

I might feel a bit like a spare part but clearly Bern was feeling right at home which was good to see. There was a bit of 'family' chit chat as we ate, sick chickens, horses needing the farrier, broken tractors – everyday farm stuff I guess. Mixed in were tales of Drea sitting in puddles and anecdotes of Marty's junior adventures, much to his obvious discomfort.

We got through the main course, Bern and Mart clearing the table before Stefan addressed me.

“So Gaby, what is it like to be famous?”
“Well I don't know about famous,” I replied before taking a sip of wine.
“Weltmeisterin, no double Weltmeisterin, of course you are famous,” Erika opined, “Can you serve the dessert please Bernie?”
“Sure mama.”

Mama? Whats that about?

“Well its not like i've not won stuff before,” I mentioned.
“But before no one else knew, you've been in the papers, on the TV, you are now public property,” Stefan noted.
“I guess.”
“That's a nice dress, something tells me its not from Cunda,” Erika suggested.
“Er no, I got it from Eloise in Ahrweiler for a friends wedding.”
“Ah, I see Gerta's influence now, most girls your age would have something from the High Street, it must have been an important wedding.”
“Fairly,” I admitted, “Sara Thun und Taxis, I'm friends with her sister.”
“Isn't that who you stayed with at New Year?” Bern chimed from across the room.
“Taxis, as in the Duke?” Stefan queried.
“Erm yes, their dad,” I allowed, my face taking on a bit of a blush.
“You certainly have friends in high places Gaby,” Erika stated.
“I guess.”
“You aren't secretly royalty, hiding out in the backwaters of the Eifel?”
“As if!” and no, I'm not admitting to the whole story.
“You must admit, that being on the TV does give you some fame,” Stefan observed.

I hadn't really looked at it quite that way and having had Mum's success around me for, well it feels like forever, it sort of feels normal. But I guess things have been turned up a notch since Canada, the media seem to have latched onto me like a limpet. So far no one has made the connection between the bike rider and the 'debutant' that Stern and Bild have been pursuing, I dread to think what would happen if that came out.

“You'll always be 'our' Gaby,” Mart suggested bringing the first desserts to table.

It was indeed strudel, homemade of course and I'm pretty sure the cream was fresh from the farm. Hmm, the Germans might not be big on hot puddings but a good Strudel is almost up there with treacle tart and rhubarb crumble – well almost. I'm pretty sure having a dessert has come from Bern, she knows I'll always make room.

 
“Can you get the cups Gab, corner cupboard,” Bern requested.
“Sure,” I agreed, “So what is this calling Erika Mama?”
“Well I can hardly call her Erika can I?”
“Why not? I do.”
“Just doesn't seem right and I could hardly call her Frau Preiser all the time could I?”
“I guess, just seems a bit weird. So how are things going, really?”
“The Preisers are being really good.”
“That's not what I mean and you know it.”
She slumped into a chair, “It's not easy Gabs, not easy at all.”
“You regretting it?”
“No, well maybe a little, no,” she stated firmly, “I haven't got the SS threats hanging over me, us, Drea is really happy, she starts Krippe after Christmas.”
“Thats good,”
“Yeah, she needs to be with other kids, not just the animals here, and Mart's being a real brick.”
“How's the German coming?”

Daft question, we've been speaking it all evening.

“Pretty good, its been a steep learning curve, I thought I was quite good before I came out but there's so much I miss.”
“It can be a bit difficult, throw in a bit of local slang, nightmare.”
“It's alright for you, Mart said you got the best marks in German for the whole region.”
“Er might have,” I admitted, “What about money,?”

Yeah I know its sort of taboo but i've known Bern since junior school, nothing is out of bounds between us.

“What money?”
“You don't get anything? Surely you can claim something from the SDZ, for Drea at least?”
“Not until my citzenship goes through, I'll get Hartz then, for now I just get the child allowance from back home.”
“That sucks, what about housing benefit and stuff?”
“Don't qualify, Mum and Dad send a bit extra but it all goes on stuff for Drea.”
“Its a pity you aren't down in the valley, I could get you some shifts at the Kiosk.”
“'s alright Gab, thanks anyway, I knew what I was getting into.”
“Seriously Bern, if you need anything you know where I am.”

I leant over and we hugged, Bern sniffling more than a bit.

“Come on, they'll be wondering where the coffee is,” my friend stated a couple of minutes later, breaking off the hug.
“Just don't bottle things up right, you've got friends here.”
“Thanks Gab, come on coffee.”
Mart chose that moment to return to the kitchen, “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, just talking, you know, girl stuff liebe.”
“Want me to take it through?” he offered.
“If you can take the coffee?”
“Sure.”

 
“Thanks for coming up Gaby,” Stefan told me as we descended the road from Staffel a while later.
“No problem.”
“It must be difficult for her, she doesn't get much chance to socialise with us being so remote, you will come to the party?”
“Try keeping me away.”
“I know she looks to you, its Gaby this, Gaby that, how you delivered Drea.”
“It wasn't just me,” I pointed out.
“Not to hear Bernie talk.”
“I think she's a bit lonely.”
“Erika says the same, the village is hardly full of young families.”

I'd not really thought of that sort of thing, Dernau is a lot bigger and there aren't exactly hordes of young families and I suppose out in the Boonies they all have similar issues of being remote. Difference being they will mostly have a friend network and transport, Bern has neither.

“Uh huh.”
“We had thought maybe a part time job, but there is not so much about that would work.”
“I could get her some shifts at the Kiosk but its not exactly close is it?”
“Its not impossible,” he suggested, “What about Drea though?”
“Yeah, maybe not ideal to have a toddler about, maybe when she starts Krippe.”
“Its very thoughtful of you Gaby.”
“She is my friend, she'd do the same for me.”

 
The rain beat a tattoo on my umbrella as I did my best to stay dry while I waited for Olaf and co to pick me up. I hadn't slept brilliantly, the girls up at the farm at the forefront of my semi-conscious musings. It was into the single digits before I finally descended into proper sleep, so much for eight hours slumber a night.

A flash of headlights alerted me to my lift arriving, I had the umbrella down by the time the Polo pulled up. I chucked the brolly to Max, climbed in and pulled the door shut in double quick time.

“Morning guys.”
“Heya Gab,” Freddy returned, Olaf giving his usual grunt.
“You look damp,” Max noted.
I finally got my seatbelt done up as we exited Dernau, “You don't say.”
“So how was dinner?”
“Okay, oh, while I remember, Hallowe'en party, fancy at the farm, you too Freddy.”
“I wondered whether they'd do it this year,” Fred noted.
“Its a tradition,” Max opined, “Fancy dress?”
“Of course, wouldn't be Hallowe'en without."
“You going as a stripper again Gab?” Freddy queried.
His brother's head snapped around, “Stripper?”
“No, and i wasn't a stripper!”
“You must admit there wasn't much of it Gab,“ Max observed.
“Anna's idea of a joke at my expense.”
“I like her jokes.”
“Hmmph,” I allowed.
“We still on for tonight?”
“Tonight?”
“After your Garde thing, me, you, food?”
“I'm not going on that Mofa if its like this.”
“But in theory?” he pressed.
“In theory, if its not piddling down.”
“Cool, wear something nice?”
“You suggesting I don't always?”
“Would I?”
“Not if you want me to wear the ring,” I suggested in a whisper – well don't want Freddy and Olaf getting ideas.
Max's eyebrows shot up, “That I can go with.”

 
The traffic on the autobahn was awful, spray from the trucks reducing the already poor visibility. Then we were stopped in a queue, the wipers fighting a losing battle as the rain sheeted down. We were sat for several minutes before things started to move, albeit slowly, once again.

I've got a good window from drop off until my first class but the others were getting a bit antsy as we crawled along.

“Ot oh,” Olaf allowed steering us to the edge of the lane.

A moment later, the reflection of blue lights followed by sirens anounced the emergency services. We started to creep forward again, stop, start, fifty metres, ten, stop lights flashing on amongst the sea of tail lights. The overheads indicated two lanes closed ahead then even the last as we reached the Neuweid - Andernach turnoff, everything was being directed off.

Of course, off the motorway it was almost as much chaos as traffic tried to find a route past the hold up. Luckily for us Olaf knows the regions roads well from his job so rather than joining the queue towards the river we went 'inland' before cutting across towards the Mosel. It took time but at least we were moving, we reached the Landesamt about thirty minutes later than usual, the others were late, even i'd be on the nail.

 
Maddy Bell © 6.12.2018