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The Legacy Over History: 1939-1947
This is a legacy that starts in 1870 and ends in 2008! Join us on this long journey from arranged marriages to on-line dating, from telegraphs to cell phones, from corsets to push-up, from long dresses to hotpants...from 1870 to 2008!
This is a legacy that starts in 1870 and ends in 2008! Join us on this long journey from arranged marriages to on-line dating, from telegraphs to cell phones, from corsets to push-up, from long dresses to hotpants...from 1870 to 2008! The day when Adam had to go to the army had arrived soon. He remembered the pain when his father left forever, and he didn't want to experience it again. He said a quick farewell to his family then left early in the morning. His leave and the continuing war, however, had an effect on the family's budget. Their shop earned less and less by every day. Therefore, they didn't have money to keep a maid. Belle had to clean the house herself, Sarah was cooking, while the boys were gardening. These days were bitter. The name Crawford had lost its shine, its meaning. They now lived like ordinary people. Belle felt lonely. She was worrying that her husband minght not return. After all, he was 39, and at that age he may not be as energetic as he was before. She often just stood in front of the window, staring at the road, hoping to see Adam again.
"Please, come back!" she begged everyday. Sarah tried to keep up the shop, but, since she was 75, she couldn't spend as much time at the store as required. She wanted Belle to take over, but her daughter-in-law wasn't very keen on learning the basics. She didn't like the store at all, and found running it boring. However, as the store was collapsing, her dance school was, too. Women, who were once addicted to learning charleston, now had to take over the jobs of their fighting husbands, leaving them no time to dance, and soon she had to stop teaching. She loved teaching, and now her heart was broken. The twins were growing fast. Jonathan found peace in God, who helped him cope with his father being away. James, however, was in pieces. He didn't only miss his beloved father - but his friend, Esther. He cried a lot, thinking about her. He couldn't think of anything or anyone else, and wanted her to be by his side. He slowly had to realise that he was in love. But not only an ocean divided them, but their families, and of course, the war... ...the war, that he started to feel unnecessary, that was a curse for him... Belle knew that her son was sad and angry, and tried to cheer him up, but everything she tried lasted for a few hours, and then the pain attacked him again. But Belle had many things to cope with as well. Her son was in pain, she had to stop her passion: the dance, and on top of everything, her husband was far, far away from her.
She tried to look strong, but there were moments when she couldn't, when she broke down in front of everyone. Her happy perfect life was ruined. They had constant financial problems and she couldn't buy fine clothes. Olivia, however, didn't seem to have the same problem. Her hair was always beautiful, as if she visited the hairdresser often, she ordered fashionable hats from Paris... ...and she wore the finest silk and velvet gowns, of the latest fashion. She didn't work, but it seemed that Ruddie's unknown profession was enough to live in luxury. "I love your dress." Belle said one day when Olivia came over for tea. "I wonder how much it must have cost."
"Oh, it was not that much. Only a hundred pounds."
Belle's eyes opened wide.
"Oh, really? And may I ask you how you got the money for that?" Olivia leaned backwards.
"I think that you are just jealous at me, because I can buy fashionable clothes, while you have constant money problems." she yelled.
"I didn't mean to hurt you, dear, but I think that it is really strange. We are getting clothes in exchange for tickets, and I wonder why you don't have the same problem." "Ruddie buys the clothes for me."
"Really? And what does he do?"
Olivia shook her head.
"I don't know. All I know is that he travels a lot. Ask him if you are really interested. He rarely tells me anything." Belle was thinking for a moment.
"Are you happy like that? I mean, seeing your husband once or twice a month?"
Olivia sighed.
"I have Paul, so I am not lonely...of course I miss him, but I understand that he must work a lot to give us everything we need...And when he comes home, then he is really nice, and our life is happy. After all, it is better to travel all the time, than being in the army..."
Belle sighed.
"Yes, definitely." she replied sadly. "Ah, Ruddie is up to something." she yelled to herself when Olivia left. "My stupid brother is up to no good, and I have to find it out! I can't let him cause bitterness to his family!" The next day she invited him over.
"Olivia told me that you can buy her expensive clothes." she started.
"And?"
"I know that you are up to something." Ruddie raised his eyebrows.
"Why would I?" he asked, trying to sound confident.
"I am sure that your money is not clean, Ruddie! And guess why? Because you are my brother, and I know that you don't have talent for anything! So you just can't earn money cleanly."Belle said, more loudly than she wanted to.
"Sister, I am not doing anything wrong." Ruddie replied quickly. Belle sighed.
"I am sorry. I think that I am just desperate, because we have no money, the store is not doing well...Maybe I am just jealous that you have money, while we don't." she said quietly. Ruddie tried not to look into his sister's eyes.
"Well, it is only my bar." he relplied quickly. "It is doing extremely well." Belle looked at him curiously.
"Really?" she said. Then she looked away. "I miss my job there. I miss dance. That was the only thing I was talented at, and now I have no job." she said with a sad tone. Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ruddie, don't you need a pianist?"
Ruddie coughed.
"Well...I...we...I have a very good pianist at the moment, I am sorry..." he said, anxiously. Belle looked at him sharply. He blushed.
"I have to go...to the bar." he said then jumped up and left.
Belle couldn't help thinking that he was lying to her, and that there was something dark in the background. ~1941~
The war was going on for two years. More and more nations joined, and its end seemed far. The people didn't have enough money, so many stores closed. Including the Crawford store. The family was left without any income, but with high bills and taxes to be paid.
Belle looked around in the salon.
"I don't have a choice." she whispered to herself, trying to persuade herself. She felt guilty, even if she knew that this was their only opportunity to be able to pay. ~A month later~
They had to sell everything, including the two-hundred-year old velvet sofas, the French coffee tables, the Chinese vases and porcelain lamps, the Persian rugs, there were even some poor people who bought the wallpapers.
They had to replace everything with cheaper furniture, giving the living-room a modern, 20th century look, yet, for Sarah it was unusual and... ugly. ~1942~
The eighteenth birthday of the twins had arrived.
"Bye, mom! I will write often." Jonathan gave his mother a final hug. Then he ran down the stairs. He went to learn Teology and Religion, getting closer to being a vicar that he had always wanted to be. He loved his family, but he loved God also, and God's power was stronger. ~1944~
It was rumoured that the war would end soon. Germany was getting weaker.
James had a dreamy expression on his face.
"I know that I will see Esther soon. Th war will end soon, and then maybe they can come back..." he said, smiling at Belle.
"Well...I hope it will never happen." she said. "I don't want Germans in my home."
At that moment James felt nothing but hatred towards her for being so discriminative. She was like everyone else: she looked at the surface instead of judging people by their personality. ~1945~
The war was finally over. The Germans were defeated, and Britain was more than joyful over her victory. The store could open again, with more income than ever. People wanted to start again.
Belle, who now could wear the finest clothes, headed up to James' room. It was almost noon, but James was still sleeping. He usually was the first to get up.
'I hope he is not sick.' she thought to herself. "James, dear, the breakfast is served." she said as she opened the room. But then she stepped inside, only to find the bed empty.
On the pillow there was a little envelope. Belle opened it excitedly and found a letter inside.
"Dear Mum and Grandma! I went to Germany to find Esther. I had to elope, because you didn't support me. Don't try to find me! I will come back when I find her! Love, James." "He is gone!" She yelled, running down the stairs.
Sarah looked at her in shock. "God save him!" she said, with sadness in her voice. "He has just as stupid ideas as his mother." Belle tried not to recognise her mother-in-law's sentence. She stared out of the window.
"My husband is gone...and now my sons. I am alone." she said. She was really alone. Sarah never liked her, and their relationship didn't change even now as they were alone. Sarah spent most of her time in the store. Meanwhile Belle spent her time reading the books of Orson Welles, or going to the cinema. She loved the films of Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable and Fred Astaire. She also liked listening to the music of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Edith Piaf. But she missed human company terribly. "I am home!" a voice yelled one day. Belle ran out curiously. And then she saw him...Adam was running up the stairs in excitement. He looked tired, but he was smiling. He grabbed Belle and carried her inside. Sarah, in tears, went to the kitchen to prepare food for him. "I missed you like hell!" Belle yelled happily.
Adam didn't say a word, but leaned over and kissed her. Belle had missed his kiss since he left...and now he was by her side again. She could feel his smell, the touch of his skin, and she knew that she wouldn't let him go again. "I will never leave you." Adam said softly, tears appearing in his eyes. "And now let me see my boys!"
Belle turned away.
"Jonathan left to learn Teology. And James...well, he is gone." "What?" Adam looked at her in surprise. "What is it supposed to mean?"
"He went to Germany to find Esther Friedel." Adam's face turned white.
"To find Esther? Oh, poor James! He will never find her!"
"Why?"
"Many Jewish people were killed by the Germans..." "Oh, no!" Sarah replied, pulling him close. "Poor James! He will be heartbroken. I hoped he would never be heartbroken." Adam looked around the house. Nothing stayed the same. It seemed for him that everybody went mad. He was happy to be finally at home, but he wanted to get his old life back. ~1946~
"Do you think that they will let me in?" the woman asked, confused.
James leaned over and kissed her gently.
"Don't worry." He replied, then they turned around and walked up the stairs of the Crawford Mansion. "Oh my god!" Belle screamed as she opened the door.
"Hi, mum!" James said. "I have found her." He pointed at the girl by his side. Belle looked at her. She grew into a beautiful woman. She was smiling, but there was sadness in her eyes.
James quickly explained everything: he found her in the town where her family came from, Munich. She moved there after her mother, father and brother died. She could escape from the Germans, but many people around her couldn't... James couldn't help smiling. Belle knew that he was deeply in love, and she could see love in Esther's eyes as well. She knew that the young girl had suffered much, and tried to be nice to her. She slowly could forget that she was German. "Mum, I want to marry Esther." James turned to her. Belle didn't say a word.
"I love her so much. She is sweet and lovely. And she didn't have an easy life." he explained. "If you are happy, then do it." Belle said, smiling.
"Don't you mind?"
"Well, I don't have a reason to hate her. She behaves like a British girl, so I really don't mind that you marry her." James hugged her tightly. He couldn't believe that her mother could get rid of the hatred of the Germans. ~1947~
The wedding was held on a sunny March day. Esther was wearing a long dress with a wide skirt. After the 1939 film Gone With the Wind, wide dresses came back into fashion for weddings. Esther felt lucky that the Crawfords kept Helena's old wedding gown. The whole family were invited. Nobody cared much about the fact that James wanted to marry a German girl. Father Jonathan, James' brother was there to help them. Adam was happy that his older son was there. His family was finally united. James knew that their life was going to be very happy. Esther looked happy as well, the memories of the war slowly faded away. "I love you." he said softly, his eyes lit up. Esther smiled at him sweetly. She was happy that she married him. She just wanted one thing...her family to be by her side. But she knew that from now on, she would be at home here, and that was all she could ask for: a new family. And they finally kissed each other as a married couple. A new chapter had started in their life, a chapter called happiness. They looked at the guests, who stood up and clapped loudly. But for the two of them, this moment also meant something else: The promise was kept.
Please tell me what you think! I really like feedback. Reading your previous comments made me really happy, so please sign my gb or leave a comment if you like it!
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14 Comment(s) posted so far
On Aug 25, 2008 candy820 wrote:
Another awesome chapter.
On Aug 25, 2008 bosnombehar wrote:
Yet another great part of your story!
I usually don't like to read legacy stories here but yours is so much different and interesting! Keep writing, I really can't wait for the next part. 
On Aug 25, 2008 Username111 wrote:
On Aug 25, 2008 stephanie1225 wrote:
Great chapter I love these stories and I hope you keep going
On Aug 26, 2008 kitfu11 wrote:
I'm glad to see the series back! Great chapter!
On Aug 26, 2008 catsandbooks wrote:
Great part, I can't wait for the next one!
On Aug 26, 2008 Dr-X56 wrote:
You are fantastic! I don't know where u get those brilliant ideas from nor how you manage to keep on and on..
Keep up the good work! And YAY.. I gave you a 5 
On Aug 26, 2008 lordeverglot wrote:
On Aug 30, 2008 Lily Fairy2 wrote:
I noticed on pic 24, that the dust cloud that happens when someone's fighting was there. Were some of them fighting?
On Aug 30, 2008 vidogirl007 wrote:
The twins were fighting. After they grew into teens, they started fighting all the time without any reason
On Sep 5, 2008 Nadinne89 wrote:
awesome
have a 5.0 
can't wait the next part
On Sep 23, 2008 sims4me wrote:
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
On Sep 23, 2008 Nadinne89 wrote:
when comes the next part out?
On Oct 17, 2008 wewe78 wrote:
Ruddie has a very bad
job.