flash fiction - 488 words- a peek inside the fish bowl
Ella Eisenbahn's Epiphany
Copyright 2017 - Murph
Ella Eisenbahn was a German who hated taking the train - but it wasn't always that way. She was a 40 year old single woman who had fond memories of her rail trips before the invasion of her homeland. Where once, only the smoking car smelled of unwashed, tobacco soaked Frenchmen, now the every coach had a fetid, ripe odour of sweat and people who never bothered to clean themselves after using the washroom.
The last time she took the train, unkempt, swarthy, bearded men stared at her. It was difficult to say whether they saw her as a sexual object to be taken should the moment strike, or as a Christian whore, polluted by the teachings of Jesus. The men recognized the small crucifix she wore around her neck. They would point and speak quietly to each other in Arabic. When she had to pass through the club car, Ella held it tightly in her hand, hoping that the Lord would keep her safe from these disgusting, lurid men. After that, she vowed never to go to Italy again.
Twice a year, Ella visited the Vatican. She was a staunch Roman Catholic. One of approximately 400,000 who called Hamburg home. Her trip would take her from there to Munich, where she always stopped overnight to visit her cousin Bette, a city bus driver, who was named after the American actress, Betty Davis, her mother's favourite movie star.
Her last visit was a shock. Bette looked haggard, and much older than her 38 years.
"I have been groped several times by swarthy, bearded men on my bus." she told her cousin. "I reported it to my supervisor, but he said that he couldn't do anything unless I was injured!" Bette began to cry.
The rest of the visit was just as depressing. Bette told Ella that someone had started a petition to ban Oktokerfest in the city!
"Can you imagine? Foreigners coming here, and expecting that we will change our lifestyle for them! They knew about us before they left their homes. Who do they think they are?"
Ella shook her head and wondered how Europe had allowed itself to be duped. The continent was sinking into an abyss. Many cities across Europe were dirty and filled with squatters. Women were being raped. Violent crime had increased. Something needed to be done, but what?
Ella did not have an answer, but vowed to search for one. It was simply too much to bear. When she returned to Hamburg from her week in Italy, the confusion had lifted, and was replaced by serenity and conviction. The way forward became clear. She was just one, but more would rally to the cause. Ella vowed to find others who felt as she did.
"If they will not conform to our way of life voluntarily, then we shall bend them ourselves!"
And so it began...
---
You can read more about Ella Eisenbahn by not listening to CBC One.
Ella Eisenbahn's Epiphany
Copyright 2017 - Murph
Ella Eisenbahn was a German who hated taking the train - but it wasn't always that way. She was a 40 year old single woman who had fond memories of her rail trips before the invasion of her homeland. Where once, only the smoking car smelled of unwashed, tobacco soaked Frenchmen, now the every coach had a fetid, ripe odour of sweat and people who never bothered to clean themselves after using the washroom.
The last time she took the train, unkempt, swarthy, bearded men stared at her. It was difficult to say whether they saw her as a sexual object to be taken should the moment strike, or as a Christian whore, polluted by the teachings of Jesus. The men recognized the small crucifix she wore around her neck. They would point and speak quietly to each other in Arabic. When she had to pass through the club car, Ella held it tightly in her hand, hoping that the Lord would keep her safe from these disgusting, lurid men. After that, she vowed never to go to Italy again.
Twice a year, Ella visited the Vatican. She was a staunch Roman Catholic. One of approximately 400,000 who called Hamburg home. Her trip would take her from there to Munich, where she always stopped overnight to visit her cousin Bette, a city bus driver, who was named after the American actress, Betty Davis, her mother's favourite movie star.
Her last visit was a shock. Bette looked haggard, and much older than her 38 years.
"I have been groped several times by swarthy, bearded men on my bus." she told her cousin. "I reported it to my supervisor, but he said that he couldn't do anything unless I was injured!" Bette began to cry.
The rest of the visit was just as depressing. Bette told Ella that someone had started a petition to ban Oktokerfest in the city!
"Can you imagine? Foreigners coming here, and expecting that we will change our lifestyle for them! They knew about us before they left their homes. Who do they think they are?"
Ella shook her head and wondered how Europe had allowed itself to be duped. The continent was sinking into an abyss. Many cities across Europe were dirty and filled with squatters. Women were being raped. Violent crime had increased. Something needed to be done, but what?
Ella did not have an answer, but vowed to search for one. It was simply too much to bear. When she returned to Hamburg from her week in Italy, the confusion had lifted, and was replaced by serenity and conviction. The way forward became clear. She was just one, but more would rally to the cause. Ella vowed to find others who felt as she did.
"If they will not conform to our way of life voluntarily, then we shall bend them ourselves!"
And so it began...
---
You can read more about Ella Eisenbahn by not listening to CBC One.
