The Seventh Continent (Der siebente Kontinent)

THE SEVENTH CONTINENT

Part One

Morning.

Morning.

Morning, sweetie.

Get up, Eva.

Morning.

Put on your red sweater.

Do you have everything ready for school?

- Your brother's coming this evening. - I know.

Can you help me out with the shopping?

I'll pick you up.

Can you bring me something?

- What? - Something good.

Dear Mother and Father,

Please excuse George and me for not writing sooner

but so much has happened here since Mama's death,

we simply haven't had the time.

My brother, Alexander, was hit pretty hard

and we didn't quite know what we should do for him.

He became extremely depressed.

There were days when he couldn't get out of bed.

Eventually he had to go to the hospital

and received dreadful treatment.

It was just awful. I had to take care of the business by myself,

take care of the settlement of the will,

the household...

and look after my sick brother all at the same time.

Thank God things have calmed down:

Alexander is back at work,

so I finally have the time to write.

George was wonderful through it all...

even though the times were just as difficult for him as they were for me:

He was transferred into a new department where he was assured

that his chances for promotion would be better.

Unfortunately, he has a different boss, an incompetent man

who will retire in a couple of years

and thinks he knows everything better than anyone else.

Afraid that George might take over his position,

he did everything he could think of to make things difficult for him.

But you know your son: things like that spur him on

and he does everything he can

to fulfill every assignment in order to prove he is the better one.

By the way, his salary has also been raised, so we are...

thanks to the inheritance I received after Mama's death as well -

in an excellent financial state.

Well, what else should I say?

Yes, Eva is - knock on wood -

back in good health.

She has not had an asthma attack

since the time we visited you last winter. The doctor is very pleased.

She sends you both a hug and a kiss.

As you see, when it gets right down to it, nothing but good news.

Like Evi, I send you both a hug and a kiss. Take care.

Your daughter-in-law Anna.

P.S.

George of course sends his love to you both

and asks that you forgive him for not writing himself.

She's in there.

Tell me what's going on here.

Come on,

tell me what's wrong.

Come on, be reasonable,

tell me what's wrong.

She can't see anymore.

Is that right?

Is that true?

Yes.

Since when?

How long hasn't she been able to see?

Since just now - in the restroom.

Is that true?

Open your eyes.

Come on, open your eyes!

For Pete's sake, open your eyes! How else can I see what's wrong with you?

Okay, Eva,

if you don't open your eyes then we'll all just leave you here all by yourself.

Let's go!

Teacher!

Yes?

I can't see.

Look at me.

Do you see me?

- This either? - No.

What?

What do you mean "what"?

- What can't you see? - Your...

Nobody could have known how near-sighted she was.

She really hid it that well...

Thank you.

And she was my friend.

Sit up, please.

You can imagine, at that age:

ugly, a face full of pimples...

and determined to be...

my bosom buddy.

But I had other things going on in my head, that you can be sure of.

Look up, please.

Anyway,

one day,

she shows up wearing these thick, grotesque glasses.

Look straight ahead, please.

She really looked like a frog.

I mean,

I felt sorry for her in a way, but you know how kids are.

They asked, "How do you like your bosom buddy's glasses?"

"They're disgusting" I said.

I'll never forget

the look she gave me.

Then she spoke with that German accent,

full of spite:

"I hope you all have to wear glasses!"

We nearly rolled on the floor for laughter.

She stood there

and didn't know what to do and suddenly she wet her pants.

I mean,

you have to imagine, she stood in the middle of the classroom

and suddenly there was a puddle on the floor.

And,

what about the curse?

What can I say,

at graduation we all wore glasses.

The entire class?

The entire class!

The teacher came in

and asked what that was on the floor

and she ran away.

Eventually he made us clean up the mess.

Oh well,

you know

how kids are.

What else could you say.

How are you doing?

Yes, how do you mean? What's the matter?

No, I'm afraid this week wouldn't be very good.

Why do you ask? What did she do?

What?

That's hard for me to believe.

What has gotten into you?

Are you crazy?

- Why? - What do you mean, why?

How can you tell someone you're blind? Are you crazy?

I didn't.

You didn't?

Your teacher didn't just make this up!

Answer me!

I didn't say I was blind.

Look at me.

Is it true that you pretended to be blind?

Tell me whether you did or not.

I want to hear the truth.

Come,

you can't have to be afraid. I won't harm you in any way.

Honestly. But tell me:

Did you pretend to be blind?

Yes.

And Anna asked, "the entire class?"

and she said, "Yes, the entire class

"wear ugly glasses!"

I told her

the little witch obviously had no notion of contact lenses.

- Would you like more? - Yes, please.

Has the respite for the inheritance tax been granted already?

More or less.

We haven't gotten an answer yet

but Dr. Knopp thinks they'll be no problem considering the investments

we're making in the business.

It's pretty good for you both, too, isn't it?

Should I turn it down a bit?

Not on my account.

Thanks.

By the way, it is excellent, sis'.

Thank you.

What did you season it with?

Let me think... salt, pepper,

a clove of garlic, thyme,

basil...

and then a dash of tabasco at the end...

What's wrong? Is something the matter?

Wait a second.

Do you know what Mama said to me a few days before she died?

"Sometimes I wonder

"how it would be if we had a monitor

"instead of a head where we could see our thoughts."

Have you brushed your teeth, sweetie?

Do you like the comic book uncle Alex brought you?

He loves you very much. Did you know that?

So do I.

Yes.

Do you feel all alone sometimes?

Do you love Papa

and me?

So, time for prayers.

Dear Lord, make me meek, so that I in Heaven shall Thee meet.

Okay, time to go to sleep. Good night.

Will you leave the light on?

No, dear. It's already too late.

Sweet dreams.

Good night.

Good night.