- - Carnival Girl

German Writer has Passed Away

2015-02-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

My mother, German writer Sonja Herbert, passed away on Febuary 6th, 2015. She is very loved and will be sorely missed.

http://www.walkersanderson.com/obituaries/Sonja-Julia-Herbert/Provo-UT/1480123

Sonja Julia Herbert

September 29, 1947 - February 6, 2015
Resided in Provo, UT
Guestbook Photos Services

Obituary

Sonja Julia Herbert, 1947~2015

On the evening of February 6, 2015, at age 67, Sonja Julia Herbert passed away due to injuries received in an auto-pedestrian accident. At the time of her passing, Sonjalein was surrounded by loving family at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. She was an extraordinarily strong woman who radiated an example of loving acceptance to every life she touched.

Sonja was born to the late Apolinary Wawrzyniak (Father) and Margot Edel (Mother) on September 29, 1947 in Duisburg, Germany. Born in the aftermath of World War II, Sonja experienced an uncommon childhood with her parents and siblings in a travelling carnival (as recorded in her published memoir, "Carnival Girl: Searching for God in the Aftermath of War," available on Amazon.com).

Her early life provided few roots, and the constant shift from place to place left Sonja searching for an anchor in her life. Through her struggles was born a much-sought-after relationship with God. As a result, Sonja was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly thereafter, she served a Mormon mission in the Germany Dusseldorf Mission for eighteen months.

On August 3, 1971, Sonja married Gary A. Towne. Continuing her life's journey, Sonja and Gary moved to the United States. In Manti, Utah, Sonja performed some of her most important work in life as she bore and raised seven cherished children. The death of her daughter, Keena Anne, in 1977 was a terrible trial through which she gained an unwavering belief in the eternal nature of life and of family relationships.

After her marriage to Gary Towne ended in August of 1990, Sonja moved with her children to Provo, Utah. Here, she continued her dream of acquiring higher education. Sonja went on to earn an Associate's degree at Snow College, a Bachelor's degree from Southern Utah University (Summa cum Laudae), and a Master's degree at Brigham Young University. While at BYU, she met Kenneth E. Herbert. Ken and Sonja married December 21, 1996 and remain eternal sweethearts today.

Sonja is an award-winning, published author, best known for her book Carnival Girl. Her historical novel, Tightrope, about her mother's life as a Jew in Nazi Germany, is still in progress.

She is survived by husband Ken Herbert; former husband Gary Towne; siblings Franz Wawrzyniak, Carmen Joseph, Josefa Dahl, Ewa Wawrzyniak, and Michael Wawrzyniak, all of Germany; children Dennis Towne, Daniel Towne, and Liesel Towne of Oregon; Marja Towne, Marit Towne, and Megan Towne Wickersham of Utah; step children Kenneth Herbert of Arizona, Jennifer Cano and Mariah Fralick of Utah, Jonathan Herbert of Texas, and Katherine Girard of Oregon; and by fifteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sonja was preceded in death by her father Apolinary Wawrzyniak; mother-in-law Verna Towne; and by her daughter Keena Anne.

Sonja left every life she touched with an undeniable sense of their worth to her.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 18 at 1pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 800 North Locust Lane, Provo Utah 84606. To reach the chapel, proceed East on 800 North and turn left on Locust Lane. All who knew her are invited to come celebrate her life.
- See more at: http://www.walkersanderson.com/obituaries/Sonja-Julia-Herbert/Provo-UT/1480123#sthash.RNqVxCmF.dpuf

Give Carnival Girl as a Christmas Present!

2012-12-01T19:45:00.004-08:00

This Christmas season is the perfect time to order some copies of Carnival Girl from Amazon. They're selling it for a discount right now. And it will give all of you who haven't had a chance to read Carnival Girl yet, the opportunity to read it first before passing it on as a wonderful, spiritual and uplifting Christmas present.

So go for it, order it from Amazon or go to the BYU bookstore or any other bookstore in your neighborhood, and by an affordable and always appropriate Christmas present when you buy Carnival Girl.

A New Blog Review for Carnival Girl

2012-11-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth from Reading for Sanity: A Book Review Blog has written a review for Carnival Girl. Enjoy!

Oktoberfest, Part 8

2012-10-05T20:16:00.001-07:00

I stared into the sky at the Ferris wheel. It went up and up into the cloudy sky, seemingly right into Heaven. Eventually I looked back down again and realized we stood in a small line of people waiting to get into the gondolas. It was our turn and the roustabout helped us into the yellow and red gondola. It was large, had a canvas roof and the sides were protected by strong plexi-glass. Inside it was dry and almost cozy, and I was delighted to see that we shared the gondola with four other people.

Slowly, bit by bit, the gondola rose. As we reached the top, we could see out over the whole carnival grounds, with the beer tents at one side, and the attractions stretching out for several blocks. I took out our camera and Ken and I took turns taking pictures of the grounds, and of the large churches and other buildings of Munich that lay behind the grounds.

More about a surprise turn at the Ferris wheel tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to me!

2012-09-30T10:44:00.001-07:00

I turned 65 yesterday! Yeah, Yeah!

Book Giveaway and Review

2012-09-30T10:39:00.001-07:00

Cami from the blog Love, Pray, Read, conducted a book giveaway for Carnival Girl. The giveaway is over now, but you can read the blog post and a short interview here: Love, Pray, Read.

Oktoberfest, Part 7

2012-09-27T19:44:00.001-07:00

A few minutes after we left, Liesel pointed to a lovely sight; a dark skinned and dark haired girl in the most lovely lavender dirndl, accompanied by the most handsome young blond and blue-eyed man in Lederhosen.

This was the couple we met at the Oktoberfest

I approached them and said, “Excuse me, do you mind posing for a picture for my daughter who is visiting from America?”

They didn’t mind at all, and after the pictures were taken, we found out that the young woman came from Brazil, where she had met the German fellow, and then had followed him to Munich. They took a few pictures of us, too, and we said good-bye and left.

The beer stands were so crowded with half drunk youth standing around them, buying and drinking beer, that we passed them by and went on for our obligatory Ferris wheel ride, Ken and I always take when we are at a carnival.

A Blog Tour Review You Should not Miss!

2012-09-26T10:10:00.000-07:00

My Devotional Thoughts, a Christian blog, reviewed Carnival Girl in a very positive light. They devoted a whole page to the review and you might be very interested in reading it.

My Devotional Thoughts

Oktoberfest Part 6 - The Bathroom!

2012-09-25T20:06:00.001-07:00

On our way back to the rides, we wove around a group of laughing young men, waving empty and half-full beer glasses. We were close to the fence that separated the fairgrounds from Munich proper.

Liesel slowed and grabbed my hand. “I have to go to the bathroom.”

“Me too. Let’s find a toilet.”

Ken stopped and looked around. “There are bound to be toilets around here somewhere.”

I also searched the outside perimeter of the Wies’n.

Suddenly, Liesel’s broke into an outburst of giggles. “I found the toilets,” she said between laughter and pointed to the right. “ It’s called a pisser!” Her giggle turned to gales of laughter.

Here's a picture of Liesel's Pissoir

I smiled, since I knew the American connotation of the work. In Germany, however, as in France, a section of the toilets for men is labeled ‘Pissoir,’ which is a French word.

But for my American Liesel, this was a brand-new experience. “Come on, Mom. I need to take a picture of that.” Her need to go bathroom was forgotten by the new experience.

She made me stand in front of the building, and I had to point to the sign. I too had to laugh, more at Liesel’s delight than at the sign. She took several pictures, and then I had to take some pictures of her, too, before we finally could use the bathroom.

Like most German bathrooms, you pay for using the public toilets, but you are also presented with a very clean and pleasant place to do your business, even in the overcrowded Oktoberfest!

New Article in Mormon Letters

2012-09-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

On September 8, Karen Hamilton, wrote an interesting article on the Association for Mormon Letters Discussion Board. Enjoy the smart and heartfelt review!

Association for Mormon Letters Discussion Board

Oktoberfest 5

2012-09-23T19:18:00.002-07:00

We joined the crowd that was walking away from the Twist and Twirl and the other rides and their blaring music. A bit later we arrived at an intersection that pointed to the different beer tents. At the other end of the Wies’n, we came across beer tent number one, and saw that it was a long, low, wooden building. The front doors, large wooden gates, were closed. A line of people were queued up in front of them, drinking beer, talking, singing and laughing in the drizzle that had started again. It was obvious that the beer drinking had gone on for a while already.

Outside of one of the Oktoberfest Beer tents

We waited with the crowds for about a half hour. Suddenly, Keith Pointed into the crowd that was moving past the people who waited in front of the tent. “There she is. I told her to meet us in front of beer tent one.”

A young girl, dressed in a warm jacket with a shawl and a knitted cap ran toward us and hugged Keith. After we got introduced and talked about Italy, where Keith’s sister lived, the kids wanted to get into the tent, but the gates wouldn’t open, and we couldn’t find anyone in charge to ask what was going on.

A young man, who was waiting next to us with his girl, smiled at us. “Don’t worry,” he said in German accented English. “The doors will be open shortly.” His girl nodded and added, “Yes, I’m sure.”

One of a group of older men shook his head. “You need to go around the backside of the tent.”

Another old man with a while goatee, holding a bottle of beer, nodded. “That’s right. They only let you in on that side.”

From the other side, a young woman spoke up, obviously happy to practice her English. “You can’t get in now,” she said. “There’s a sign on the other side that says the tent is full. You can’t get in until the evening for sure.”

We listened, wondered what was going on, and shivered in the rain. By this time, my stomach was growling. Liesel heard it and said she was hungry too. Keith and his sister nodded, but Marit said, “If we leave here, we won’t have our place in line anymore. If someone opens the doors, we again won’t be able to get in.”

Ken smiled his fatherly smile at her. “How about I go and get us all some bratwurst? They’re sure to taste wonderful here at the Oktoberfest. That way, you’ll keep the line and we get some food.”

Liesel hugged him. “Thank you so much Pappa. You’re the best.”

So Ken went and brought us back a bunch of bratwursts with plenty of buns and mustard.

We ate and waited some more. Finally Liesel said, “This is a waste of time. I’m done waiting.”

I agreed with Liesel.

Marit shook her head. “I want to get into the beer tent. You guys can go if you want, but I’ll stay here.”

Keith, like a good boyfriend should, agreed with her and his sister wanted to stay too.

Ken, I and Liesel were going to leave.

“How about we’ll meet you in two hours?” Ken said.

Marit smiled at him. “Okay. If we’re not in by then it will be hopeless.”

I thought of an easy place where we could meet. “How about we meet again in front of the Shocker, the scary ride? That one will be easy to find for all of us.”

Everyone agreed, and Liesel, Ken and I took off to ride a few rides.

More about the Oktoberfest soon!

Two New Reviews for Carnival Girl!

2012-09-22T09:18:00.000-07:00

The blog, Uniquely Moi Books, gave another glowing and heartfelt review of Carnival Girl. Please got to this site to read more about Carnival Girl and how the book is making a splash on the Net!

Uniquely Moi Books

Debra, at Debra's Book Cafe, also reviewed CArnival Girl, and gave it ten stars out of ten! She said even though she's not a religious person, she not only enjoyed the book, but it also made her think. To read her touching review, click here:

Debra's Book Cafe

More about the Oktoberfest tomorrow!

Oktoberfest Part 4

2012-09-21T12:10:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Wies'n!

I followed the children onto the Wies’n. Something red to my side caught my attention. A red-eyed monster with large teeth hovered at the top of a scary ride, inviting us to enter if we dared. Its eyes blinked red on and off.

That was the scary ride on the Wies'n

Liesel squealed. “Let’s see if this ride is scarier here than at home,” she suggested, and we agreed. We wanted to see too.

Ken paid 2 Euros each. The girls and Keith sat in one of the little carts, and Ken and I in another. We passed ghosts on strings and an insane asylum where the doctor and the nurses where chopping off the heads of insane wax people. A green monster with red eyes dropped down on us within inches, screeching and exposing wicked long teeth, and an ugly witch beckoned, the warts on her nose twitching. We screamed for fun and giggled the rest of the time, until we arrived at the other end.

By the time we came out again, the rain had pretty much stopped. I looked around. Not far, I saw the Ferris wheel and another merry-go-round. Interspersed with these attractions were small stands where the passers-by could obtain sausage with kraut and mustard, sweets from chocolate to sweet almonds, and more. Every second stand seemed to be a stand where one could buy beer in a large glass which had to be returned.

Marit stretched. “I want to go to the beer tents,” she said.

Since the purpose of Oktoberfest is the beer, the rest of us agreed, and we went on our search for the tents.

Octoberfest, Part 3

2012-09-19T20:22:00.005-07:00

Finally we arrived at the Munich station, where we left the crowded train. Signs that directed us to the Wiesn, the place where the Oktoberfest was held, were mounted in eye height on the walls of the station. They guided us to the U-bahn, the underground tram, where a train to the Wiesn arrived every two minutes.

The Munich Train Station During Oktoberfest

We squeezed in among the other merry-makers on their way to the fest. After two stops, the mechanical voice on the loudspeaker announced that we had arrived. We left the U-bahn and followed the crowds out onto the street. It was raining. We huddled closer together, since none of us had brought an umbrella.

Young men and women, already laughing and singing, arm in arm, accompanied us on all sides. A blonde girl, hair braided and protected under her umbrella, wore a pink checkered dirndl with a peasant blouse and matching pink pumps.

They looked a lot like these!

The young man at her side looked manly in three-quarter length Bavarian style lederhos'n topped with a grey jacket piped with green and a perky Bavarian hat. Everywhere I looked, women wearing dirndls mingled with other, more plainly dressed people.

We crossed a large intersection, and the fest lay before us.

Muenchen Oktoberfest Attractions

The tops of merry-go-rounds, surrounded by shorter booths decorated in green, blue and red, invited the newcomers to join in the excitement. Canned music competed with the sound of laughter and brought back memories of my childhood where these sounds accompanied my daily life. But this was a very large carnival compared to the tiny one I grew up in.

More tomorrow!

Don't Go to Costco's for Carnival Girl!

2012-09-18T18:26:00.002-07:00

Costco's has quit carrying copies of Carnival Girl, so you can't buy it there anymore. Get you copy at Amazon.com, or order it from any bookstore. I'm looking forward to hearing from you about this.

And if you're looking forward to more about our amazing experience at the Oktoberfest in Munich, tune in again tomorrow!

The Ongoing Saga of Our Trip to Octoberfest, Part 2

2012-09-17T20:01:00.000-07:00

At the Nuremberg train station, we found the train that would take us to Munich. People crowded around it, and we had a hard time squeezing through the throngs to get on. Ken and I entered at one side of a compartment, and the girls and Keith at another. Ken and I stood in the aisle, wedged in by many other people, wondering how we would find our children. The smell of beer was even stronger.

Eventually I saw the kids through the window, running along the train, looking for us. They squeezed into our compartment. Departure time came but the train did not move. Instead, two train officials opened the doors and called, “This train has exceeded the limit of people it can transport. We will not leave until everybody standing in the aisles has left.”

Someone called, “But we want to get to Munich.” Other voices agreed and someone clapped.

“There is another train on track five that will leave a few minutes after this one does. Please. Everybody in the aisles leave the train through the doors ahead of you and get into the one on track five.”

Since we stood close to the door where the officials were, we turned and tried to get out that way.

The train official stopped us. “You can’t leave from this door. You need to get out the other way.”

I looked back. Nothing moved. “Please, let us get out,” I said in my best American accented German. “The line isn’t moving and it will take forever to get out the other side.”

“This is a security door, but, well, go ahead,” she said and stepped aside so we could leave.

We left, grateful for the fresh air, and along with a large group of other travelers, hurried to track five, where we found another train, maybe half full, waiting for us. The announcement board above the track didn’t say this train would go to Munich, but the people inside assured us that it would stop there.

We found a set of free seats and settled down for the second leg of our trip to the Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest! 1

2012-09-16T14:10:00.002-07:00

This true story happened to us in 2008. Enjoy!

On the last Thursday in September, Marit, Liesel, and Marit’s boyfriend Keith arrived to visit us in Germany. On Friday morning, I said, “Let’s do something really cool tomorrow. Sunday is the last day of the Oktoberfest in Munich, and it will be extremely crowded, so let’s go tomorrow.”

“What a great idea,” Liesel said. “I always wanted to do that.”

My husband, Ken, added, “And it will be cheap. We live close to Wuerzburg, and Munich isn’t that far. And with a weekend train ticket, all five of us can travel there and back for only 34 Euro.”

“It will only take two hours for the trip,” I said. “We’ll have so much fun.”

Early the next morning, prepared with our cameras and backpacks, we trekked to the train station, where we got our ticket from the ticket machine and entered the train.

We started our trip in a train just like this one

We stopped in surprise and stared. Ken and I had taken the weekend trains before, and always found plenty of empty seats.

We pushed through tightly packed bodies, backpacks, bicycles and other equipment. The smell of beer floated on top of muffy human smells, and laughter, excited talking and singing assaulted our ears. Eventually, we did find some seats in two separate compartments, and called ourselves lucky. Liesel sat on my lap, and all of us were reasonably comfortable.

Our next stop, just a few minutes away, was Wuerzburg, where many other people squeezed into the train. Our train stopped in every little town on the way, and people got on in each of those towns, until we were actually squeezed in like sardines in a can.

More tomorrow!

Kirmes!

2012-09-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

Kirmes is a German word, and it means the anniversary of the day the original church of a given town was dedicated, or the birthday of the Saint protector of the town. Kirmes is always held on a weekend closest to that day.

On the Friday or Saturday before, many German towns have the Kirmes tree-raising ceremony. Days before, the young men of the town gather together and choose a large tree which they strip of its bottom leaves and decorate with wreaths and colored streamers.

Above: the town watches as the

tree is put up.

Below: The tree is up, and the

town people are at the commons

to celebrate!

A German Kirmes is always accompanied by festivities. Usually, but not always, a large tent is erected on the town's common or other place especially set apart for such festivities. The tent protects the celebrating people from inclement weather and adds a sense of community and gemuetlichkeit.

The Kirmes tent

When I was little, these festivities were our livelihood. We set up our attractions to be ready for Friday, and when the tree was up, the town folks came.

The older generation drifted into the tent, where they drank beer, ate wurst and danced. The children and young people couldn't wait to ride our merry-go-round, win prizes from our ring-toss, and impress their friends by using our air guns to shoot for prizes at the shooting gallery.

Kirmes attractions now, and Kirmes attractions then!

Circus!

2012-09-13T09:30:00.001-07:00

My father, Colya Francesco, on his beloved horse Mimi

Our modern circus, the way it still performs today, was created in England in the 1770's. Philip Ashley, a horse breaker and trainer, retired from the cavalry and started showing his horsemanship in a large ring in London. His show became even more popular when he added acrobats, jugglers, rope dancers, and clowns. Ashley also introduced his circus to Paris, and from there, it conquered the world.

The Francesco circus at the end of WWII

The circus ring was soon covered first with a wooden roof, and then is became established in buildings especially built for circus performances. Eventually, circus owners realized they could get more attendance if they traveled, and the traveling circus with its tent-covered ring was born.

My mother, Margot Edel, selling tickets for the circus

In a circus, language is unimportant, and that's why the circus performers came from all over the world from the very beginning of the circus.

In Nazi Germany, the Nazis chose not to break this tradition, since, besides the radio and occasional movies, the circus was the main entertainment for the German populace. The Nazi government wanted to keep the common people happy and distracted, so the circus was a rare exception to the rampant racial persecution the Nazis committed everywhere else.

A Poster for Circus Althoff, the first Circus Mutti hired on in

And that's why my mother, never saw the inside of a concentration camp. That's why her life was and still is, a miracle. Mutti, however does not see it that way.

September 11

2012-09-11T09:27:00.001-07:00

September has always been a special month for me. It's my birth month, and when I was young, it heralded winter quarters, which we usually started the beginning of November. Winter quarters meant a more steady lifestyle, and maybe a friend for more than one week.

Years later, on September 11, 2001, I worked as an ESL teacher for the Goodwill corporation in Portland, Oregon. That morning, I had a class early, so I arrived at the corporate quarters where the classroom was located, a little before 8:00 AM.

Bit by bit, my students came in, several Chinese adults and ten or so Hispanic students. I wondered why so many of them came late. The students were talking to each other in animation, not seeming to be ready for the lesson.

Finally, I decided to start. "Let's look at last week's homework," I said.

A young man from Mexico, Juan, raised his hand.

I called on him, wondering whether he forgot his homework again.

"Have you not heard? New York was bombed today."

And that was how I found out about the attack.

I wasn't sure what had happened, but decided that the students' excitement and their efforts to explain exactly what happened, would be a great exercise in using English, which they were trying so hard to learn.

Later that day, when I came home, I discovered some other news I hadn't known.

When I arrived, Ken and I discussed the situation with our teenagers who had come home early from school.

As the conversation petered out, and I decided to go into the kitchen to make some supper, Ken announced, "I have some good news, too."

Liesel frowned. "What news can possibly be good on a day like this?"

Ken turned to Liesel and Meagan. "The news I have will bring hope and light on this terrible day."

"No way," the girls said, almost in unison. "What is it?"

"You girls became aunts this morning."

Jacob and his older brother Daniel in 2009

Suddenly smiles appeared on Ken's and the girls' faces, and questions about the new baby and his mom pushed out the sad and disturbed thoughts.

Ken told us one thing I'll never forget. "When Jen was in labor," he said, "One of the nurses asked her how it felt to have a baby on such a sad day. 'It feels wonderful,' Jen answered. 'This is just the day to bring some goodness and light into the world. I know my child will be special.'"

And that's how it came about that we felt hope and happiness on the saddest day in America in 2001.

Jacob is turning eleven today, and I can't wait to go and congratulate him. He truly is a special boy!

Big, Black Bike, Last Part

2012-09-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

This was a big bike! I had no idea how to learn to ride it.

Carmen and Josefa burst out of the caravan. Carmen clapped her hands. “You got it, you got it! Did Vati really let us have it?”

I nodded.

Josefa pointed toward the merry-go-round. “See that boy over there? It was his.”

Still holding the bike, I said, “Vati give him ten free tickets and two Marks. He was happy with that.”

Carmen grabbed the bike. “Let me try to ride it. I’m the biggest.”

Since I had no idea how to ride such a large thing, I let go. Carmen held it by the handlebars and stared at it. “Can you hold it while I get on it?”

“Yes.” I held on to the bike, but with Carmen trying to get on I didn’t have enough strength to keep is upright. The bike, Carmen, and I landed on the grassy ground.

Carmen picked herself up and scowled at me. “Can’t you hold it steady?”

I stood, too, leaving the bike on the ground. I shook my head. “I can’t. You’re too heavy.”

Josef came closer. “People get on bikes by themselves,” she said. “I don’t think it works if someone holds the bike.”

Carmen stared at the big, black monster on the ground. “Okay,” she finally said. “I’ll try it by myself.”

She stuck one leg under the crossbar and onto the pedal, and pushed off the ground with the other. The bike moved for a few seconds and crashed again. Carmen jumped off just in time.

To my surprise, she grinned. “I think it will work this way. I rode it for a little while, didn’t I?”

Josefa and I nodded.

“Maybe I could give you a push when you’re ready,” I volunteered.

And that was how we three girls, even little Josefa, learned to ride our bike. For a while, we took turns and pushed each other, and each time we tried, the bike went further.

We rode our big, black bike with one leg under the bar, pedaling as good as we could until we got good enough to ride with our leg swung over the bar, practically sitting on it.

For several years after, when we moved from one town to the next, Vati stashed our precious bike in the pack caravan after he’d packed the dismantled attractions.

Big, Black Bike, Part Two

2012-09-08T11:36:00.001-07:00

Our new bike looked a lot like this one, but the fenders were black, too.

With slumped shoulders, we three girls went outside. “Let’s wait for the bicycle. Maybe Mutti will change her mind,” Carmen said.

Josefa nodded. “Yes. Maybe she will.”

I had an idea. “Let’s talk to Vati. Maybe he’s in a good mood and lets us have it.”

Carmen nodded, and as a united front we approached the merry-go-round.

Just then, Mutti’s voice came from the caravan. “Essen kommen, come eat!”

Standing on the ladder, Vati unhooked the last of the protective canvas from the top of the merry-go-round and let it drop to the floor. He came down the ladder, wiping his hands along his pants.

Carmen bent and picked up a piece of the canvas. “I’ll help you Vati.”

“Let it lie until after lunch.”

Carmen walked in step with Vati, with me and Josefa lagging behind. Carmen looked up at Vati. “Can we have a bicycle? We’re old enough.”

“They’re too expensive.”

We had arrived at the steps to the caravan and Vati went up, with us following behind.

In the door, Carmen said, “It’s a used one. The boy only wants five tickets and five Marks.”

He said, “Don’t bother me with that now. Let’s eat.” I thought he sounded thoughtful, not mad.

We sat in our customary seats around the table, and Mutti ladled soup into our soup plates. A plate with buttered bread sat in the center of the table.

As we ate, we children were quiet, and Vati was talking to Mutti about boring stuff like how long they would keep the merry-go-round open tonight. I ignored them, thinking about riding a bike instead. I couldn’t wait to try.

After lunch, it was Carmen’s and Josefa’s turn to take care of the dishes. Vati left to put away the canvas and open the attractions. I trailed after him. As he went down the steps, the boy we had met before came from the side where he had probably been waiting, pushing a big, black men’s bike toward us. He looked at Vati, then focused on me. “Here is the bike. You can have it for five tickets and five Marks.”

I looked up at Vati. “Please? It would be so much fun. And it’s not expensive either.”

Vati bent and inspected the tires. He rose. “Five Marks is too much. How about I give you ten free tickets and two Marks.”

The boy grinned. “Ten tickets! Wow. You can have it for ten tickets and two Marks.” He pushed the bike toward me and I grabbed it by front, under the handlebars.

Vati dug two one-Mark pieces out of his pocket and held them out to the boy. “Come over to the merry-go-round and I’ll get you your tickets.”

They marched off and left me standing there, heart pounding and holding the bike.

More tomorrow!

Big Black Bike

2012-09-07T10:08:00.001-07:00

Little Sonja's vision of a new bike

It was a Saturday, late in the morning in 1955, and I was eight years old. Vati was opening the merry-go-round in a small German town whose name I don’t remember, and Josefa and I were walking around on the fairgrounds, looking at the candy stands the locals were opening.

A boy of about ten or eleven came up to us. “Can I have a free ticket?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No. Vati doesn’t let us give away tickets for free.”

“How about if I give you something for it?”

“Maybe. What do you have?”

“I could give you my old bicycle. But I want five free tickets and five Marks for it.”

Josefa and I stared at each other. A bicycle would be so cool. I was sure we could learn how to ride it.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I have to ask my parents. Can you bring it so we can look at it?”

“Sure. I’ll bring it to your caravan in one hour.”

Josefa and I ran home and burst into the caravan, where Mutti was stirring some soup on the gas stove in the kitchen by the door. Carmen sat on the table doing some homework. From the living room compartment, I could hear baby Eva in her playpen banging some toys.

Josefa pushed past me and said, “Can we have a bike, Mutti? Please?”

Carmen slammed her book shut and rose. “A bike! That would be so great!”

Mutti didn’t quit stirring the soup. “No. Bikes are expensive and we have no money.” She turned to Carmen. “Finish your homework.”

“I am finished.”

I said, “But it would be for all four of us, and when Eva gets older, she can ride it too. Don’t you want us to know how to ride a bike?”

“You’re all a little young still. It can wait a few more years.”

Carmen stashed her book into her satchel and turned to us. “I’m big enough to ride a bike. And Sonja is right. We can all learn to ride it. You could ride it too.”

“It’s way too expensive.”

Josefa pushed forward again. “This boy has one for only five Marks and five free tickets. He’ll bring it to our caravan in an hour.”

“No. Tell him to take it back.”

“At least, you can look at it,” Carmen said.

“I’m busy. Don’t bother me with it. Now go out and play.”

Tomorrow, you can read the rest of the story!

A new Guest Blog About Carnival Girl

2012-09-05T18:42:00.003-07:00

Alice Gold did a really nice job, with pictures, posting my guest blog on her blog I'm So Funny (Sometimes), about how I came to write Carnival Girl. You should head on over there and check it out!

Here is the link: I'm So Funny (Sometimes)

Dark Phantom Review

2012-09-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Dark Phantom Review, a literary blog, posted a guest blog by Sonja Herbert and a picture of Carnival Girl. Here is the link.

The Dark Phantom Review

Enjoy!