One Day in Oradour by Helen Watts Read Free Book Online Page A

her the time she needed to work her way back from the darkness of her despair. But as the years went by, and no baby came, Otto grew resentful of Klara’s moods and found it harder to hide his impatience. He was tired of trying, weary of keeping up the pretence that all was well in the Dietrich household. His teaching career was blossoming, he had his sights on a headship at the boys’ school where he worked in Freiburg, and he needed a strong wife by his side.
    As the country moved dangerously towards war, Otto and Klara enjoyed a degree of shelter from the growing unease that was spreading around their city. As a teacher, Otto’s civilian post was secure, and in the autumn of 1913, his career ambition was fulfilled when he was appointed headmaster. Meanwhile Klara, now approaching thirty, finally seemed to be coming to terms with the prospect of life without motherhood. Her tendency to depression seemed to be lifting and the atmosphere in the Dietrich home was noticeably more cheerful and relaxed.
    Perhaps it was because the couple no longer obsessed over the idea of becoming parents; perhapsit was because Klara was happier; perhaps it was just fate. The cause didn’t matter to the Dietrichs. What did matter was that the spring of 1914 brought with it the promise of new life. Klara discovered that she was, at last, expecting a child.
    As if sensing how long his parents had longed for his arrival, little Gustav seemed determined, right from the start, not to let them down. Even as a toddler, all he wanted to do was please Otto and Klara, and he would cry huge tears whenever his father found reason to scold him.
    Although he loved his son, Otto was an academic to the core and he treated every day of Gustav’s life like an educational challenge. Every game, every play-time had a learning purpose, every meal was analysed for its nutritional value, every conversation was carefully structured, and every family day out was meticulously planned so that Gustav would return with his head full of facts.
    ‘He’s not one of your pupils, Otto, he’s your son,’ Klara remarked one day, as she heard him correcting Gustav’s grammar during what should have been a casual conversation over breakfast.
    ‘That may be the case, my dear,’ Otto replied, rather pompously, ‘but children’s brains are like sponges andit’s my duty to fill them up. If I can’t teach my own son properly, then what does that say about me?’
    Klara didn’t answer.
    ‘Mark my words, Gustav is going to be the brightest boy in his class when he goes to school.’
    In contrast to Otto’s rather austere, formal parenting style, Klara’s approach was to smother the boy with love. She was constantly kissing and cuddling him, tickling him and playing silly games. She would sing to him all the time and snuggle up next to him at bedtime to tell him stories at night. Gustav had become her world and she devoted her days to his happiness.
    ‘You spoil that boy,’ Otto would tell her. ‘You will make him too soft. He needs more discipline. A tougher backbone and a bit more male company wouldn’t hurt him either.’
    Klara wouldn’t argue with her husband, but nor would she listen to him. She disliked her husband’s strict, hands-off, businesslike approach to bringing up their son and was determined to make Gustav feel wanted and loved. So, even when he was in trouble with Otto, she would find a way to sneak him a cuddle, a kiss or a piece of gingerbread to help soothe his tears.
    But as Gustav grew older, reaching school age, Klara began to notice that all her warmth and outward displays of love were still not enough for her son. Shecould tell that Gustav craved a real demonstration of affection from his father. She sensed how deeply felt Otto’s reprimands were, and she knew that all Gustav wanted to do was please him.
    When she lay awake at night, listening to Otto’s gentle breathing, she would turn and look into his face and will him to wake up the