My Dream to Be Free Page 4
Three days before our trip back home, Mother received a telegram from Father asking her to return immediately. So the return trip was brought forward and a nasty surprise waited for us at home. My brother had a serious motorcycle accident and was in the hospital. His whole pride was his BMW R23 - he now had a fatal accident with this vehicle. He had bought the motorcycle six months back. He had had an accident at work and had suffered injuries, for which he was compensated financially. With this money he bought the BMW-motorcycle.
After visiting at the hospital, it was as if the holiday mood was blown away. It was so sad to see my brother wrapped in plaster cast and bandages on his head, arm and chest. The next day we got the message that he had died. On 20. 5.1957 we buried Gunther. He was 21 years, four months and one day old.
Somehow I was glad to return to Marburg because Mother was crying a lot; my father's brothers and sisters, and my father’s father - they all had transformed our home into a madhouse.
Father's father, i.e. my grandpa, was 68 and with was married to a 32-year-old woman and were superstars with their 4-year-old son, whom they had together. Father was always quiet, but now he was even more quiet and withdrawn.
This time my train journey to Marburg took only four hours. I was already very familiar with changing trains. I was lucky at my work because a new apprentice baker had begun to work there. I did not need to go on a tour with the buns or deliver goods to the pension office any more. I also received a higher salary now, exactly double, in my second year of apprentice I now received DM 24 instead of DM 12.
From now on my Master took a great deal of trouble with me, but also expected my full commitment. It was not uncommon that my working day was from 7 o'clock in the morning till 22 o'clock in the night. So, around 4 p.m., my Master said something like: "You can now go to your room but I will be starting with the Marzipan work, sugar pulling or a new type of praline. If you like, you can stay here and learn. I'm afraid I have time only now to do such work."
I preferred to work mostly with chocolate; making pralines was not work for me, it was art. It was the greatest thing for me to create each individual of the small treats. And so I remained and learned the art of fine confectionary. To this day, my favorites were and are cherry and brandy filled chocolates. In order to manufacture this, you need two years. I give you my word of honor, I am not kidding! And now I will give away the secret of manufacturing it.
For you, to copy or to write down.
Listen, this is how it goes:
Go into the garden and pluck nice, ripe cherries, which are however fixed to the stalk and if possible a little sour.
Wash the cherries (Caution! The stem should not come off loose!) and keep them aside to dry.
The washed, dried cherries are put into cherry schnapps.
The lid is closed and the cherries in the cherry schnapps are forgotten for a year.
In the following year, the glass with the cherries will be taken out and emptied into a sieve, and the cherry schnapps is drained out. The cherry water should be set aside for further processing (for example, you can mix it with sugar syrup and soak the biscuit base for Black Forest Cherry Torte. Or you can simply drink the cherry schnapps. I was not allowed to ...)
Take the cherries from the sieve and let them dry.
Meanwhile, the chocolate glaze, white fondant, chocolate setting paper, wheat starch and fork for manual glazing for the pralines are prepared. The chocolate glaze is melted in a tempering apparatus or in a water bath at 37 °C. Or you can made a temperature test by dipping your little finger briefly into the chocolate or by bringing the chocolate with the spatula to your lips. In both cases, you should not feel any temperature. This is then 37 °C or body temperature.
The chocolate setting paper is dusted with wheat starch, the fondant is heated until it is gooey (viscous). Now carefully hold the cherry by the stem and dip it into the fondant.
Then immerse it into the chocolate glaze using a fork for manual glazing for the pralines.
The cherry is now taken out of the chocolate and placed on the chocolate setting paper.
You must now let the chocolate cool and voilà- the praline is ready!
The liquid in the praline forms from the fact that the alcohol, i.e. the cherry Schnapps dissolves the fondant and thus makes it liquid. You must always make sure that the stem is not damaged and is fixed firmly to the chocolate, otherwise the cherry Schnapps will come out, dry the cherry and the praline will become spoilt! If there is too much shaking at the stem, the liquid comes out and the praline secretes fluid like "shedding tears", as they say. But we don't want any crying chocolates.
However, it is easier to buy chocolates from your confectioner!
My second year of apprenticeship passed by almost without any incidents worth mentioning. I joined a sports club, the 1st BC Marburg- this was a boxing club. An assistant from our company had convinced me to join it. I didn't only learn boxing, I also got to know other people. There was training twice a week and then we met for a glass of Coke or similar drinks, since alcohol was taboo.
After I had overcome my initial problems - at the beginning I was always the one who got one on the nose - my self-confidence increased. For me, who did not have to engage in manual work, skipping with skipping-rope, floor exercises, shadow boxing and sparring matches were a must to keep my body fit. I had sometimes poured half a liter of cream down my throat or had scrambled some eggs quickly for myself in the bakery so I had to somehow get rid of my calories. Therefore what was more appropriate than to engage in such athletic activities?
I could not only chase the girls in our shop when they had to fetch something from the store-room, there was no time for sex anyway. There was some groping around and that was about it. I didn't have a real girlfriend those days. I became Bantamweight youth champion through my rigorous training. This was in my third year of apprenticeship. But there was one other thing that influenced me in my life later.
It was New Year's Eve, actually the morning of the New Year. I had celebrated the New Year's Eve with colleagues from work and had had a few beers. On the way home, on the way to the post office, two couples approached us. They were so close to each other, that there so place any more for us to pass by. I would have had to step down to the street to avoid them. But why me? Or us?
The others should make room for us! And I felt so strong after the beers that I told the four people approaching us that they should move to the side a bit. In order to press the point home, I added also that I was a boxer and would show them who the boss was. Yes indeed, I was the boss in the 1st BC Marburg! I had hardly finished speaking, when two fists grabbed me and lifted me up in the air as if I had been a feather. "And I am the heavyweight champion in Hessen, also in the 1st BC Marburg. You should know that! And now piss off and go sleep!" It didn't hurt but I can feel the hard grip even today. Back on the ground, no one could have taken to one's heels as fast as I had done then. From that day on, I never boasted that I could do boxing. Although I could really do boxing really well - I never spoke about it - I only showed it.
Then there was one more thing, which would have ended my professional career before it really began: I worked again on my favorite task - the production of pralines. I had to fill the apparatus meant for the chocolate glazing. The Master wanted that the apparatus was always filled with 7 kg. Our large blocks were pre-packed at 2.5 kg.
So we processed three of these blocks and 500 g were the remainder. The partitioning was marked for each 100 g, so there were five bars remaining for each 100 g. But on this particular morning, I had my vocational training school and I broke a part of the remaining of the 500g piece, put it in my pants pocket and forgot about it. Only in school, I remembered about it again. "What shall I do?" I thought. "I will eat it later." I did not think about it anymore.
However, my Master a perfectionist as always, immediately noticed that there was only one piece of about 300 g instead of 500 g of the remaining chocolate was there. He aske
d about the missing piece but he knew of course also that I had filled the tempering apparatus - thus only I came into question as a thief. There had been locker inspection in my absence and lo and behold, they found the missing 200 g in the pockets of my baker pants. I was such a fool, I should have taken only a part of it, which had been melted in the tempering apparatus - no one would have noticed a difference. But then who is so stupid to forget chocolate in his pocket...
"Here comes the thief!" my Master greeted me as I came back from the vocational training school. I was amazed and asked him what that meant. He explained to me the matter about the chocolate and also told me that he had already informed my Father and that he would arrive on Sunday to talk about the whole ugly thing. My Master did not want to hear anything about my explanation about petty larceny; he insisted that it was theft. And so my father arrived with my mother the next Sunday to discuss about the matter.
After a lot of back and forth and much talking, the matter was clarified: My father instructed me to pack my belongings. He told me that my apprenticeship had ended and that he would not leave me in the care of such a person. I had never seen my father so angry. Of course during my previous holidays, I spoken about my working hours and my parents knew all about it. "Get your suitcase and get into the Fiat. We are through with this!" he told me.
But then I gave my opinion on this subject. "No bags, no driving in the Fiat 500! The apprenticeship contract will remain unchanged, and I'm staying here”.
I will apologize to the Master and tell him that this will not happen again." My Master readily agreed to this and wanted to forget it. But my father did not understood me or my little world any more. He drove back home in his Fiat 500 with Mother but he promised me that he would never help me in any way, if such a similar situation ever occurred again.
My third-year apprenticeship passed without any major hassles. It was already a long time since I got letters from Holland.
Boxes and the forthcoming final examinations were important to me and everything else was irrelevant. What was not clear to my father unlike me was probably the fact that I had to do these exams and needed a diploma, so that I could go out to the sea. With a good certificate, I had a better chance of getting a job as a ship's cook. Perhaps the reason why I decided to stay back was also because I hated the small Fiat 500. I just had to sit behind and that was possible only if I sat obliquely and then the howling of the engine scared me. When the trucks overtook us, I always thought that my final hour had come. Luckily, I rarely had to ride along! But whatever the reason why I did not drive back home with my father - the apprenticeship went on without further incidents.
The last year of apprenticeship was over and on 7. 4. 1959 I got the confirmation that I had passed the theory exam with "Good" and the practical exam with "Very Good". I was pleased with this! I politely declined the offer from my Master to work with him as an assistant.
I've had enough of his slavery and said goodbye to him, the colleagues and the young salesgirl, whom I was always allowed to touch under her skirt. Her exams were still pending - I am referring to the final exam! I wouldn't have anything more to do with the other test.
I had to say goodbye to my sports colleagues and also to Marburg and also to the milk bar at Rudolfplatz.
Now I was back with my parents, in the children's room and registered myself as job seeker at the Employment Office. There were no confectionery shops in the near surroundings and no one wanted a confectioner in the district town. I had lots of time to read. My favorite reading material were books such as "G. Man Jerry Cotton", "Tom Prox" or the whole range of comics. I was not prepared in the school for heavier literature; eight years were too short for that.
Whenever I got to read travel reports or stories of explorers, I was thrilled. So I knew who Columbus was and what he had discovered. Or who Alexander the Great or Vasco da Gama were. I had also read about the great, evil Mongol Genghis Khan. I was interested in such people.
In a "Revolver-magazine", as my mother called this type of books, I found the advertisement: How would become a seaman? There was the address of Captain Bruhns. It was instructed that I should send a letter to him with a stamped, addressed envelope with sufficient postage as well as DM 5 inside. He would then send back the addresses of shipping companies.
I did as instructed and waited then for a reply. The subject of sea voyage was still not the favorite one for my parents.
But I had to wait for a reply from Bremen for a long time. However I received a letter from the Employment Office. They asked me to report at a master confectioner Pohlmann at Frankfurt am Main. Of course, I had to travel 100 km to Frankfurt by train.
My father did not interfere in my matters any more. This was fine with me, since I did not have to ride in the Fiat. I stayed in Frankfurt and Mother was glad that I had accepted the position. For her and Father it was the best thing that I could do, they told me. But I knew that this is just the start of a long journey.
Now I lived and worked with Mr. Pohlmann and his wife in a three-man-company. A room in the house and complete boarding were part of my privileges. I also got a salary of 360 Deutschmarks that I could be proud of. From getting 36 DM in the third year of training to an increase of 360 Mark, now, that was an increase of ten times as much! I could now buy ten times more than two months ago. Apart from that, the small café and the shop remained closed on Sundays. The Pohlmanns lived their lives in a very relaxed manner, which I liked very much. I worked with Mr. Pohlmann competing with one another, as to who could outdo staying longest in the bakery. Since I was used to long working hours, it did not matter to me to lock the bakery from outside and finally watch television with the family in their living room. The Pohlmanns often mentioned that they were very happy to have such a hard working young employee, who was also technically good and who always brought something new to the shop.
The customers loved it and quickly Mr. Pohlmann opened a branch, had hired a second person and a salesgirl for this branch. Thus the way for mass production was practically started off. A small wagon for transport of the wares was purchased and production was done for two shops. The quality suffered and my image as well. So I started looking for a new job in Frankfurt in a first-class confectionery shop with a cafe right in the heart of the city. I found this too, and could demonstrate my skills.
The new boss was very pleased with my work. Due to the fact that I had a regulated working hours, I could do something in my free time. I joined a rowing club. Sports were a must, not only because of exercise but also because of the opportunity to get to know new people or friends at all. Training for rowing was scheduled for three times a week and after that we met in the club house. I enjoyed being in the club just as I enjoyed my work. Since I was in good shape with regard to sports probably because of my background as a boxer, I quickly became the strokesman in the foursome and later while rowing with eight persons. Now I had friends and I got to know Uschi, the most divine creature ever, through them. Uschi was exactly the kind of girl I had imagined.
I was very pleased with myself, my work and my friends and now also with such a wonderful girl-friend. Elane, the Dutch girl or the young salesgirl from my time in the apprenticeship were forgotten. None of them could hold a candle to Uschi.
The first love, the first disappointment
It was at the birthday party of my friend Hannes, in the weekend home of his parent that I had a happy experience. Uschi wanted to know if I was a man.
It was my first experience with regard to sex. It was not her first time, I noticed that and was a bit disappointed but I did not show it. From that day on we met as often as possible and I was totally in love. I even neglected my rowing practice, which made my friends angry and they offended and teased me.
The subject of sex was number one for me at that moment and couldn't get enough of it. Uschi also had a crush on me. She wanted to go with me to her parents and tell them that we were going to get married. I always postponed this visit with so
me excuse.
Uschi was 19 and I was just 18. I didn't want to think of a fixed relationship. I was far too young, had totally different plans and wanted to see the world - that would be all then over with marriage. Although I loved her, at least I had that feeling that it was love, how should I know what was love and what was sex? Then I was just totally crazy to have sex with her, but it was too early to marry. Did all women want to always get married immeditaely? Why? I was sure that Uschi was not going to be my last girlfriend. She was the first - but the female world still had a lot more to offer.
But I could also not let her go. Me a poor devil - was completely addicted to her charms and sex. Do all boys feel the same way? Or am I just an exception? Did I have to now go with Uschi to her parents and accept it that we were going to get married? I decided to act brave and hoped that Uschi's parents would not be interested in their daughter getting married anyway. So Uschi and I drove on one of my free Sundays to Uschi's parents for a coffee. I organized the cake through a per diem allowance Uschi had also advised me to bring a bouquet flowers for her mother. The reception was very nice but cool and marriage was not discussed. The topic has already been stifled when her father announced that he had a new job in southern Germany. They would move shortly, and this held good also for Uschi and her brother. He had prospects for a new job for Uschi in Ulm and also an apprenticeship position for his son.
This was news, which silenced us. Neither Uschi nor I had the courage to say anything. At least I had to first digest and sort out what I had just heard. I quickly said goodbye to the family and Uschi. I explained that I had to leave early because I had to go to work very early on Monday. By changing my job, I now had my own apartment in a multistory building and I went there. There was a letter from my mother in my mailbox, which I read immediately.