out for a walk





In the course of one of her tours, our mother crossed paths with a young German soldier, seemingly out for a walk.

As he passed within earshot, she heard him mutter, in the pure Cologne dialect of her youth, "Madam'che jeht hamstere. (The little lady is out black-marketing.)"

Mother related that she walked by as if she had not understood and thought to herself, "If that young fellow knew who I really am, that I understood every word, and that he is absolutely right, he would no doubt be flabbergasted."