Marta felt her feet beginning to swell up. How long has she been walking? And why did she decide to wear her heels today, of all days? She knew she was going to have to walk fifteen blocks from her school to her uncle’s estate, and yet she thought it would be best to be fashionable.

 [i]Bring a change of shoes. Like mum always says.[/i] Marta thought to herself as she took a moment to pause at the street corner, checking to make sure she there were no cars coming. She glanced down at her wristwatch. Half past four. At this rate, she was going to be late, but no one would be shocked. Marta was never on time. Even if her father had a car ready to drive her to where she needed to be, she would still manage to find a way to be late. And today was no different, but today she had a valid excuse, or at least a valid excuse in her mind.
 
It was her uncle’s 50th birthday today. Her mother has been planning the dinner for months and Marta was not allowed to forget. How could she though, when every night this past week,before Marta would go to bed, her mother would say “Don’t forget about Uncle Max’s birthday on the 5th.”

So the day is here: October 5th, 1938. Marta had school all morning. She was in her final year and she could not be more excited. Next fall, she would be living in Berlin studying music and art. Her passion of playing the piano has driven her to study hard and practice everyday, and the payoff is the knowledge that in less than a year, she would be an independent female living with a roommate in the “big city”.

Because her mother decided that the shindig needed to start as early as possible, in order for it to go as long as possible, Marta had to go straight from her classes in uptown to her Uncle’s estate 15 blocks south. Her father insisted, like always, having a car sent, but Marta declined, wanting to have the peace and quiet of that 30 minute walk. That 30 minutes has so far been 40 minute, plus the extra 15 minutes Marta took to change. She would not show up in her school uniform of a wool, grey skirt and button down, long-sleeved blouse. It was by no means fashionable. So when her lessons completed for the day, Marta slipped into the ladies’ lavatory and slipped on her favorite red and white polka dot wrap dress. The hem landed just below her knees and it was low-cut enough to make the boys wonder, without being labeled as improper. She touched up her make-up and spritz on her favorite Chanel perfume and was ready to go. 

Lost in her train of thought, Marta did not realize she has been standing at the same street corner for a few minutes. Was it her mind’s way of delaying in the inevitable? Marta loved her Uncle Max, but she also knew her mother had a secret agenda with this party. Ever since Marta turned 16, her mother has made it her life goal to find Marta a husband. Getting married is something Marta would like to do one day, but her passion is her music right now. Marriage would come later, but her mother being old-fashioned, felt it was important for a girl to wed as soon as possible. And that husband must be handsome, rich, and smart. Everything a girl “desires”.

Marta isn’t attracted to the types of men, or in her mind boys, that associate with her parents and their friends. She believes a man should work hard for his money and be independent, whilst still being kind and respectful. Marta wants a man like her father; a man who grew up with nothing and worked his way to the highest position in the financial department of the German government. A man who still brings his wife flowers and tells her she is beautiful everyday. That is what Marta is attracted to.

Letting out a sigh, Marta finally got ready to cross the street when suddenly a delicious smell entered her nose. Looking right, she saw a little bakery about halfway down the block. Her nose and feet taking over control, she turned in that direction and began walking towards the bakery, completely unaware that the street she turned onto entered into a neighborhood that her mother always deemed as “unsafe and dirty.”