Frank Polizzi - Somewhere in the Stars

They stood up and Deborah kissed him and while they closed their eyes for a few seconds, Nick lost sense of his surroundings. They were like Adam and Eve in a garden, but he feared that he might lose more than an earthly paradise. This feeling of anxiousness would appear all of sudden and then it would disappear. He never liked eating by himself, yet there were times he felt destined he might wind up all alone when it was time to leave his parents.

While they walked through the grove of giants, the light was diminished by their height and width. His mood worsened.

“Nicky, what’s the matter? You look like a ghost.” She let go of his hand. “Have I done something wrong?”

“No, not all. It’s something I can’t forget.” Nick’s head drooped like a sunflower in intense heat, as if he were contrapose to his wooded environment.

“What is it?”

“My father is being held by the G-men somewhere in Montana.”

“You never told me!” Deborah looked frightened. “He’s not mixed up with a racket is he?”

“My father is totally clean. They think he’s working for Mussolini or the Japs because he’s an enemy alien.”

“I never heard that term, except for aliens from outer space.”

“Believe me, this is not the comics. It’s more complicated. I’m scared he’ll be locked up for the whole war.”

“I’m sorry, Nicky. You should have told me sooner.”

“I suppose so.”

Deborah hugged him and they found their way out of the grove. For some crazy reason he felt his afternoon in the park might someday haunt him, but he wasn’t sure how this could happen. He didn’t have a crystal ball to gaze in, didn’t have a magic wand, couldn’t conjure up a friendly spirit or be saved by a superhero, stuff for the comics that he was so fond of reading when he had nothing better to do.

One evening after supper, Ernst suggested to Nathan that they stroll around the neighborhood. Nathan thought it was odd, considering there was work the next day. His father claimed he needed to lose some weight, so Nate decided not to pull the homework trick. His mother was content to rest in an armchair after cutting the patterns of the latest dresses all day. They set a quick pace for the first two blocks and ambled the rest of the way.

“Aren’t you tired setting type?” Nathan turned towards father.

“It’s a living.” His father appeared morose.

“No, I haven’t decided what I want to be.”

“You can read my mind,” his father answered looking straight ahead.

“I might as well tell you now, Father.” They stopped. “I’m planning to join the army. Not waiting to be called up. Something’s got to be done about the Nazis.”

“You’ll be a target!” His father’s brow furrowed.

“No more than any other American.”

“You don’t understand, Nathan,” Ernst said, raising his voice. “It will be doubly dangerous for you.”

“You’re just exaggerating to scare me.”

“Listen to me! You will always be considered a Jew first, even if you married a shiksa .”

“I’ve made up my mind, Father.”

“I can see that. Have you discussed this with your mother?”

“No, Father. Not even my best buddy, Nick, knows the plan.”

“You must understand that I’m very proud you will fight the Nazis, but…”

Nathan could see his father was upset and cajoled him. “But what, Father?”

“I don’t want to lose my only son.”

“I’ll be fighting for America. Haven’t you always said that America is a wonderful place?”

“Yes, that’s true. On the other hand, you are still a Jew, no matter how great this country is.”

“I don’t think you’ll ever let me forget that.”

“You have a special heritage, Nathan. But I can see you and your sister are already assimilated.” He look into Nathan’s eyes. “And what good did it do for us good Germans who gave everything to the fatherland?”

“Father, this is not Germany.”

“I know, I know.” Ernst bobbed his head. “Remember. You will find anti-Semitism wherever you go.”

“I understand, Father. I’m not a knucklehead.”

“Haven’t I always said you were a smart boy from when you were very little sitting on my lap?” He gripped his son’s hand. “Do your father one favor? If you’re ever captured, ditch your dog tags. Those animals will kill you if they find out you’re Jewish, Geneva Convention or no.” His father rubbed his chin. “And what about your friend, Nick?”

“He said he wasn’t in any rush to join. But his cousin Paul already enlisted.”

They continued walking. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about.” He hesitated a moment. “Your sister.”

“Deborah?” Nathan acted surprised but knew exactly where his father was going.

Ernst picked up the pace, turning his head sideways every so often. “Don’t play coy with me. Something is going on with your friend and Deborah.”

“Oh, you mean Nick.” Nathan laughed nervously. “It’s nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me,” Ernst shouted.

Nathan felt cornered. “He’s my best friend,” he pleaded with his father.

“I like your Italian friend. He seems intelligent,” his father murmured, then stopped. “Don’t get me wrong. I want you to have friends outside our circle. Didn’t I tell you about my exploits as a socialist in Berlin?”

“Yes Father, many times,” Nathan groaned. “So why does this matter so much to you here?”

“Because we’re Jews and will always be Jews, even if you deny your heritage.”

“I haven’t denied anything.”

“Son, I’d fight for Nick’s rights any day. When you were a child, I demonstrated in Boston against the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti. I just can’t accept Deborah being romantically involved with Nick— maybe friends, but nothing more.”

“You don’t make sense, Pop.”

“You’ll understand one day, mark my words. The first day you brought the boy home, I knew there would be trouble with your sister.”

“I’m not giving up my friend over Deborah.”

“Do me a favor and talk sense to your sister and the boy. I don’t want to turn this into a Romeo and Juliet scene. Be a good son and help your father.”

“I’ve got a lot of homework to do. Let’s head back.”

They walked in tandem on the way home. Nathan understood his father’s concerns about Deborah and himself. He knew that his father wanted the best for his children, but it didn’t all add up. His father made some sense about the war but was off base with Nick. But maybe Nate had lost touch with his Jewish roots. He was determined to follow through with his enlisting but didn’t know what to do about Deborah and Nick. He loved his kid sister to death. And it would kill him to have to tell his buddy that he’s just not good enough for his sister, which he didn’t believe anyway but things have a way of steamrolling out of control when least expected.

The following Saturday afternoon Nathan agreed to meet Nick at the St. Francis Fountain in the Mission District. Nick claimed it would be an adventure seeing who would get there first by 4 pm and was already sitting at the counter awhile and drinking a black and white ice cream soda.

Nathan tapped Nick’s back and he turned his head with a tall, bell soda glass in his hand. “Nate, you finally made it.” Nick slurped the foamy bottom.

Nathan sat on a stool and ordered a root beer float.

“Looks like you’re all in a sweat.”

“I got lost along the way.” Nick looked at him askance. Nathan had lied because he was in no hurry to get there. It was time to bring up this business with his sister. His biggest fear was losing a good friend all because of his father. The soda jerk placed the float on the counter but Nathan ate only a few spoonfuls. He spotted a group of girls in full skirts sauntering by in a flirtatious manner. Nick turned around but didn’t seem that interested, which made Nathan even more anxious. Not that he thought his buddy was turning queer or anything.