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The Twins
"'The New Germany'--Helmut Kohl Eats Babies"
Unbelievable! Eating babies is so disgusting!
We just got a wonderful letter!
Are we finally getting the Trabi? It seems like we've waited 1,000 years for it!
No! Better! The goverment said that we can move to the west!
And what are we going to do with that? You never said you wanted to live in the west.
It's a gift for us.
No, Brunhilde. Why should we go to the west? We have everything we need here in the east.
But what about my SPAM factory? You know I want to build a SPAM factory, but I can't do that here.
But the east is our home. We'll always have jobs here and never be unemployed. There will always be food and money. There's also free child care here. If we go to the west, we could lose everything!
But we can't become anything greater if we stay in the east.
But the Trabi is coming soon!
I don't care. Since I was a kid, I've dreamed about SPAM. And we can have better life in the west. I'm going with or without you.
I don't care at all about SPAM. Have you forgotten our daughters? What about the twins? They're only five years old!
I'm doing it for the twins, too. They can have a better future in the west.
I will never go to the west!
Then you can stay here alone.
Are you crazy? They're my daughters, too. You can't just take them away.
I'm going to the west.
And I'm staying.
One Month Later
Is everything ready?
Yes. It's all set.
Your apartment is ready?
Yes. Everything is waiting.
I'm going to miss you!
We can write letters. We learned how to in school today.
Yeah, and mom and I will have a phone. When you also get one, you can call me!
Will you visit me?
Of course! Our teacher said that west Berliners can visit east Berlin.
The bus is coming.
I love you.
Ten Years Later
Dear Annamarie, have you drank a Coke yet? Daddy sais Coke is for fat american pigs...
Dear Annamarie, Yesterday I had a problem with my teacher. I listened to a Phil Collins song, and he said it was forbidden. Now I have to give a speech. What should I do?
Dear Annamarie, Dad's so pissed. He says all of the problems in east Germany come from the west. He makes me crazy when he whines about the evil west and stupid capitalism.
I wonder if it's really that bad. I wish I could visit you. Next week we're getting our phone! Then I can call you. I'm excited to finally talk to you!
Hello. Braun residence.
Annamarie!? Is that really you?
Anneliese?
Yeah, I'm here! You're the first person I've called.
My gosh! We finally speak! I can't believe my ears. How are you?
I'm fantastic, but dad's going nuts.
Yeah. I read that. What's wrong?
He thinks the communists are in danger.
Maybe he's right. The Berlin wall could fall soon.
Yeah, of course! That's going to happen when it rains candy... I wish you could visit me!
Me too, but mom says I'm not allowed to go to the east, and that I can't see dad.
What's wrong with dad?
He loves the east too much and is a total communist, and mom thinks communisim is evil. And she's pissed that dad didn't move to the west with us.
But you've got a passport.
I don't know. Mom said she'd kill me if I went to the east.
But mom of course sleeps at night!
No, she always watched over me and never closes her eyes.
Then when she's at work, you can cross the border. Don't you miss me?
That's not fair! Okay, when should we meet?
Next Tuesday. Meet me at the short end of Sun Alley at 11am.
Got it. See you then.
Bye!
Tuesday--The West
"'The New Germany'--Helmut Kohl Kicks Puppies!"
Helmut Kohl kicks puppies? All west Berliners are crazy!
Dad, I have to go to school now.
Have you ate your Frostie Eastie O's?
No! They taste like ***.
But you must eat breakfast!
Yeah, yeah. I'll buy something in a cafe. Bye!
The West
How does your Lucky Charms and Coke taste, sweetheart?
Yum! They're magically delicious!
I'm going to work. Don't be late.
I'm never late. Bye mom!
Passport! ... Thank you.
And why are you coming to the great east?
I'm visiting my dad.
Good.
Thank you very much.
Annamarie!
I've missed you! The east is really grey.
What do you mean?
Nothing. Is dad at home?
No, he's at work. Want to come in?
Yeah, let's go!
It looks exactly the same.
Dad didn't want anything to change.
Mom always wants new stuff. She said old things are from the past.
I wish I could live in the west...