Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Foreign Language (12/09/10)
TITLE: Was Bedeuten Sie?
By Fern Brown
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Her knight in shining armor smoothly parked his 1965 Plymouth in the driveway of her parent’s home. Allen Heinrich’s beautiful princess, Kathy, walked regally to the door
to greet her special guest. “Guter Abend, meine Liebe.” She smiled mischievously and curtsied to the love of her life.
“Wie geht’s, mein schoner Liebling,” he replied, bowing, causing them both to crack up laughing. They had studied German in separate high schools. Though Kathy was better at reading and translating, Allen was fluent with foreign insults, often jokingly telling Kathy, “Du bist verruckt!”
They laughed about their pretended, royal behavior, and spoke in their native English tongue for the rest of the evening, except for an occasional slip of the tongue and rolling of the r’s. Their hearts were light and their eyes full of merriment as they discussed their wedding, which would take place on Saturday afternoon.
Wedded bliss had its bumps and hurdles as Sandy grew accustomed to living in Allen’s distant hometown. She missed her family.
Allen said, “I think we’ll visit your parents this weekend.” She packed their bags and bought little gifts for her siblings, anticipating the short visit. Friday evening came and Allen made no mention of going anywhere.
“What time are you taking me home?”
Allen looked up from a craft project, eyebrows lifted, and replied, “We’re not going ‘home.’ Sweetheart, this is home.”
Kathy giggled, saying, “You know what I mean. You said you’d take me to see my family.”
“I said I thought I’d take you. But I decided to stay home.” That was that! With a question mark covering her entire face, she began cooking.
To lighten the dark mood hovering over the room, Allen asked, “What did you do today?”
“Look around,” she thought, pretending she hadn’t heard him.
He complimented her on the delicious meal she prepared, adding, “But I know you’ll get better.”
Her beginning smile faded into disbelief, as she ran into the bedroom crying.
He shivered from the cold shoulder she gave him, slammed the door and went out to mow the yard. “At least it’s warmer out here than in there,” he huffed, yanking the cord to start the mower.
“Understanding him is harder than learning German,” Kathy cried, angrily brushing away tears. “We don’t speak the same language anymore.”
Riding down the wooded, country road to church on Sunday, Kathy suddenly hollered, “Stop!”
“I saw the dear. I’m stopping already,” he emphasized each word. “Ugh,” he thought, “I can’t stand a backseat driver, no matter how beautiful she is.”
“I hope that preacher gets him good today.” Tight-lipped, she scowled all the way to church.
“Stubborn woman,” Allen thought, faking serenity.
Tuesday evening as Kathy prepared supper, the phone rang. “If that’s another salesman, I’ll fix him!”
She picked up the receiver, “Guter Abend. Sprechen sie deutsch?”
He stumbled over his prepared sales pitch, “Hello?”
“Guter Abend,” she repeated.
“Good. I guess he doesn’t want to talk to a foreigner.”
In the quietness, Kathy heard God’s still, small voice saying, “Is that the kind of relationship you want with your husband? Will you ‘fix him’ like you did the phone salesman every time he displeases you?”
Conviction gripped her heart.
The aroma of roast and onions, Allen’s favorite meat dish, floated through the house. Her new, exquisite, lace tablecloth would grace the table tonight with a glowing candle for a centerpiece. She wore his favorite outfit, a red dress and matching red heels, brushed her long blond hair and applied fresh make-up, including the red lipstick Allen loved. She dabbed a droplet of his favorite perfume behind each ear and on her wrists.
Before supper, Kathy served sweet, humble pie to her husband. “I wasn’t telling you how to drive – just reacting to a frightening situation because I’m female.”
The piece Allen served her was equally delicious. “I’m interested in how your days go, Sweetheart. I know you work hard all day long. To be a better cook…hmm…just don’t fix liver again for at least fifty years. Deal?”
“The language of marriage is foreign, but we’ll learn it together, Herr Heinrich.”
He grabbed her in a bear hug, swung her around in circles until she begged for mercy, and lovingly looked into her eyes and spoke, “Sie sind schon. Ich liebe dich, Frau Heinrich.”
Proverbs 4:7 KJV Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
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