Shadows and Fireflies

By Xlibris US

Thomas Pesche was born in a German enclave in Mexico where he lived with his family until the age of 17. Growing up, he endures a love-hate relationship with his cantankerous grandfather, Wilhelm Pesche, an ex Nazi Youth director. Over time, Thom senses that he is being left out of many family secrets.

Through his journey into manhood, he struggles to find his own identity and attempts to learn the truth about his family. He even becomes embroiled in various Nazi escapades. After high school, Thom and his best friend decide to cross the Mexican border into Texas to attend college. While there, Thom meets Jesse Browne, a 20-year-old African-American basketball player, who teaches him how to live in a more societal worldapart from an enclave. During a university investigation, Jesse is contacted by the FBI and asked to protect Thom from a Nazi cell encroachment.

Over time, Thom unearths many of the familys clandestine secrets including their real German name, Weber. Thom eventually earns a doctorate, meets the love of his life, and moves to Germany to start a family.

Filled with unexpected twists and turns, Shadows & Fireflies, with its pinpoint historical accuracy, takes you through Thoms long journeyfrom his involvement with the Nazis, through his struggles with family deception, and finally on his quest for the ultimate truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781499061918

Book preview

1 | THE GERMAN ENCLAVE

He dashed from his house wearing an old hooded jacket with a red Nazi symbol on the back. It was now raining hard. He proceeded with his usual hurried gait and the water stifled the sound of the tapping of his cane on the sidewalk. This was the first time seventeen year old Thom Pesche had ever seen his eighty seven year old grandfather, Wilhelm Pesche, carrying a briefcase. Wilhelm stumbled, regained his balance, and kept moving down the sidewalk.

Thom, who lived next door, ran out yelling in German, Grandfather, where are you going in this rain? Wilhelm demanded that everyone speak to him in German. He refused to learn any other language.

Wilhelm took a few steps, halted, turned and called to Thom, his soon to be eighteen year old grandson, It’s none of your business, Thom, get back in your own house, it’s raining. As if Thom was not aware that it was raining.

I’m not stupid, Thom said aloud in English, even though there was no one listening. He was agitated at his stubborn old grandfather. Grandfather would never allow Thom to be protective of him. He was a very independent man.

Thom ran back into his house, grabbed his hooded sweatshirt, and took off for Grandmother Beatrice next door. He asked her, Where is Grandfather going?

Her answer to him was, I really don’t know, Thom. I tried to talk him out of going. He’s not been well lately because of that chest cold and terrible cough. It’s lasted far too long. But I can’t get him to go to a doctor. That briefcase could have waited for the weather to clear. As usual, she was concerned about Grandfather’s health. Thom’s grandparents were his father Hugo’s parents. Grandfather never married Beatrice. Thom never knew why.

Well, I’m going after him and try to talk him into coming back home. She watched as he took off like a sightless bat, to catch up to Grandfather.

With his cane, Grandfather was walking quite fast and seemed out of breath. He stopped a moment to cough, then continued on. This was much too hard a walk for an eighty seven year old man, through such a heavy rainstorm. He was a driven man. By what, Thom did not know.

He was almost to the corner, when the usual black car with darkened windows pulled up. This particular car often came and picked Grandfather up in the evening; for what reason, none of the family seemed to know. Grandfather resented being questioned so he was left alone. The family wouldn’t intrude on his privacy by asking. The black car pulled up to the curb, sloshing water every which way. The gutter was now overflowing onto the sidewalk. Grandfather should not be exposed to these harsh weather conditions.

Thom hopped over sidewalk puddles, trying to reach him before Wilhelm’s friend Navid came from the black car and pulled him inside his car. Thom could see he wasn’t going to make it. Navid had hold of his arm. Suddenly a Mexican policia van jerkily appeared thrashing water up into the air. The van came to a halt against the now unseen curb. Two burly policias jumped out. Fear gripped Thom. What was this all about? All three men now had a hold on Grandfather and were pulling him through the rising water toward each of the vehicles.

Thom reached the corner and jumped into the watery fracas, and grabbed Grandfather’s arm away from Navid. Losing his balance Navid reached for something to hang onto to stay afloat. He latched onto Grandfather’s briefcase. Who wanted it today, anyway, in this pouring down rain, to cause Grandfather to try so desperately to get it to them? Seeing the policias, Navid disappeared into the darkness of the night. He was safe for now, as it was Wilhelm they were after today. Navid’s arrest would come later, he would learn.

As this tug of war progressed, Grandfather stumbled in the water, losing his cane. Each of them with a hold on him tightened their grip. The two policias were in complete control. They each had an arm, and were pulling him away from Thom through the now fast flowing river, to their van’s open back door. They threw him inside and slammed the self-locking doors shut. Thom reached it and was pounding on the doors, yelling, Grandfather! in German, while the policias were jumping back into the cab of the van. With a quick jerk backward of the van, Thom was thrown off balance and fell submerged in the pool of water, and the van took off fast. The black vehicle had already taken off in the opposite direction. It seemed they were all interested in getting to Grandfather. Why? Thom wondered. He was floundering around in the water alone now, trying to find something to hang onto.

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His peripheral vision caught sight of something bobbing up and down in the water. Again, it popped up. It was the briefcase. His legs navigated through the water and when it bobbed out of the water again, he grabbed it.

By placing his feet in stance position, Thom manipulated his balance so he could shake the briefcase hard, and then shoved it up under his now soaked sweatshirt. He was shivering as he flopped around trying to touch the sidewalk in the darkness. He latched onto a cement wall and climbed onto it, and it turned out to be the sidewalk but still under water. He crawled toward a large bush he recognized against the building and hung on to it for a few minutes catching his breath. He was spitting muddy water out of his mouth.

He hung onto that bush, balancing his steps as he worked around the side of the building, staying against it until the end of the building showed up, as he knew it was his own street corner. He heaved a sigh of relief as he shuffled and kicked his way down the now trashy street, still covered in water, toward his own house.

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Thom spotted Sonja Wolfson’s yellow umbrella. He called to her and crossed the street to where she waited for him at a shortcut junction for her to reach her home. She also grew up in this German enclave, product of a German Father and a Mexican Mother. Upon reaching her, he asked, Sonja, on your way home did you see anyone? He explained what had just happened at the curb and that Navid ran away into the darkness.

Yes, a man ran past me fast. It must have been Navid. In the darkness it looked like a ghost flying by.

A lady should not be out alone after dark in any kind of weather!

I know. My mother will be frantic. I must get home fast with the medication I came to get for her. I didn’t realize such a light rain could become a torrent in seconds, as this had. The blowing wind on the yellow umbrella pushed her along, away from Thom. She stayed homeward bound and did not look back.

Thom headed next door to Grandmother’s house, to tell her of Grandfather’s kidnapping.

Before the heavy rain began that morning, Grandfather Wilhelm carried a large plastic bag to the trash receptacle on the alley. It looked like a whole file drawer of records. Now that interested Thom. He was vitally interested in learning why Grandfather was here in this enclave. All of a sudden, his grandfather was getting rid of files, and carrying a briefcase containing what nobody knew. Everything about Grandfather was treated secretly and now so was his arrest by the policias. The rest of the family was here because of him. What had he been up to since arriving here seventy years ago? He lived a noncommunicative life with his family, in the German enclave except for Grandmother Beatrice. Thom wondered why Hugo, his father, allowed Grandfather Wilhelm to do this to the rest of the family.

The rain had increased as Thom watched Wilhelm hurrying back to his open kitchen door acting agitated and always in a hurry, which was normal for him.

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Thom’s father Hugo, mother Elsa, his sister Gloria and himself, lived next door to his grandparents, until Gloria went off to college in Texas. His parents left early that morning to visit friends. It rained steadily. They hadn’t returned, which led Thom to believe they must have encountered a flooded area.

The briefcase stayed ensconced in Thom’s sweatshirt. Reaching the trash container, he lifted the lid, fumbled around, and found the plastic bag. Slamming the lid onto the container, he took off in a run for his house. At the back door, Thom kicked off muddy shoes and body-slammed into the back door that flew open. He had a real sense this bag was just as important as the briefcase.

Once indoors in the kitchen area, he yanked off the soaked sweatshirt. Water was dripping everywhere. Reaching into the kitchen cubbyhole, he found a heavy plastic bag and emptied the contents of the wet bag from the trash can into it. He quickly threw both the dry bag and briefcase under his bed.

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Thom stripped off the rest of his soaked clothes and jumped into the shower. Throwing on dry sweats and shoving a pair of clean white socks into his pocket, he exited the back door. He slipped into the muddy shoes with shoelaces flopping, and hopped over to Grandmother’s. Throwing each foot into the air, he kicked off the muddy shoes and dashed into her open kitchen door. She was awaiting his arrival, with a towel. She wiped his head, face, arms and hands. He took the towel and sat on the floor in front of her fireplace, and wiped his feet dry. The fire made him want to stretch out on the floor and sleep. He pulled the clean dry socks on. All the while, he was telling her about Grandfather’s kidnapping at the corner of the stopped up gutter.

She wanted Thom to call the station and find out where Grandfather was. Thom told her he didn’t want to be accused of interfering with the Mexican justice system, due to his participation earlier in the struggle to keep Grandfather in his control. He must leave it alone.

However, I will help you make the call, Grandmother, Thom assured her.

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Thom coached her as to what she should say. He dialed the number and handed the phone to her. A deep male voice at the station said hello in Spanish. She introduced herself, This is Beatrice Pesche. I understand you have my husband, Wilhelm Pesche? Over the wire, the loud gruff voice said, That’s affirmative! Thom could hear him. She continued, Why do you have him? She received no answer. She called into the phone, Hello? A voice from the other end of the line came through. Is your son Hugo Pesche available to speak to us?

No, due to the flooding he has not returned home as yet.

She told them how Hugo and Elsa left that morning and she was expecting their return soon. The policia said, Tell him to come to the station, immediately.

Yes, I certainly will, she promised in Spanish, and the phone went silent. Beatrice had learned Spanish well, but only German was spoken in her home. Thom assured her she did a good job. She became teary eyed and sniffled constantly. Thom took his beloved Grandmother in his arms and held her. He felt so helpless. He wished his father was home, as no one could console Grandmother like her only son, Hugo. Grandmother and Thom’s father, Hugo, had a special bond the rest of the family did not understand.

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The sound of Thom’s best friend, Carlos Rios, whistling in the rain, reverberated in Thom’s ear. He jumped up and opened the door.

Grandmother invited him in. Carlos thanked her and said he was wet and his shoes were muddy so he would just wait for Thom to come outside to talk to him.

Grandmother, I’m going home for about an hour and talk with Carlos. I’ll lock up my parents’ house and come back and spend the night here with you. Will you be okay, until then?

Oh, that would be wonderful, Thom. Yes, I will be fine.

I love you, Grandmother, speaking to her in German. He hugged her and kissed her cheek. She clung to him, and he found it hard to leave, but it would be a short absence.

Carlos and Thom ran fast to the house next door. In glancing down to the corner, Thom saw that a dark station wagon was parked at the corner. He said nothing to Carlos. They shed their shoes outside the door and dashed inside. Thom told him the happenings regarding Grandfather. Thom stuffed another pair of clean heavy white socks into his pocket as they talked.

Carlos shared everything in Thom’s life from elementary school to the present. He knew there was a lot of secrecy at the two Pesche houses, most of which Thom was not privy to.

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Grandfather and Grandmother Beatrice immigrated to Mexico at the end of World War II. Thom asked a lot of questions regarding this issue but received few answers. He did not understand why. As a child, he would peek into Grandfather’s room when the door was open and observed posters of uniformed soldiers, groups of marching men, women, and even children. The large posters had symbols and lettered words such as Nazi, Hitler, youth camps and SS troops. What did all this mean? Why was all this so important to Grandfather? Thom was a curious boy, as was his mother, Elsa.

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Thom didn’t understand why, as a full-blooded German boy, he was born and raised in Mexico in a German enclave. Why didn’t the Pesches live in Germany? Mail was received and delivered to Germany regularly. There seemed to be many relatives living in Germany. Why didn’t they ever visit back and forth? Few answers was forthcoming from anyone.

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Thom’s yearning to know who Grandfather once was never wavered. He received many pats on the head and was told that everything was okay, not to worry. Thom felt he was the only one curious enough to be concerned about Grandfather.

Thom was not allowed to go very far from the enclave, except to attend school. He did not understand why. He was turning eighteen in two weeks and leaving for college in the United States, as Gloria had done ten years before. He was looking forward to this lifestyle change for himself.

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When his father, Hugo, was ready for marriage some years ago, he went to Germany to find a bride. He found Elsa, who became Thom’s mother. She spoke German, of course, and majored in English for her master’s degree. Then she attended a medical school to receive a nursing degree. They connected well and were married in Germany. Because of his father’s aging parents, Hugo, with his new bride, Elsa, had to return to Mexico to care for them. Thom wondered why his grandparents didn’t move to Germany instead of causing their son Hugo and his new wife to leave her home. Then all of the Pesches would be together in Germany.

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Thom and his sister Gloria, born in Mexico ten years apart, became trilingual. Elsa taught Gloria, Carlos, and Thom English. They also had some English speaking schoolteachers.

Carlos asked Thom in English, How can I help you, man? Thom told him he needed a hiding place for the bag of file papers and the briefcase. He felt these papers carried the answers to all his questions regarding Grandfather. He loved his grandfather, but didn’t understand the secrecy surrounding him, nor his attitude toward Thom. Grandmother was very loving and kind. She acknowledged Tom every time he was in her presence. She didn’t talk much, otherwise.

Carlos said in English, Thom, you’re old enough to know the family history. You’ll be eighteen in a couple of weeks, for crying out loud. I fail to understand this whole situation. I can understand your frustration. Carlos was bilingual, and that was good for his future as a teacher. Carlos and Thom always spoke English when talking together, for pronunciation practice. Grandmother had sent Hugo to Mexico City to attend an English legal school. It served him well. He was now trilingual and an attorney.

Carlos, you’ve always been such a good friend to me, just like a brother. Even if you are a year older, I’m still taller than you. They both laughed when they teased. Carlos was more worldly-wise than Thom because he worked with his uncle, delivering produce throughout the county of Chihuahua. He got out into the public with his work. The Rios family was a large Mexican family. There was always something going on among the siblings. They learned from each other how to live. Thom had learned a lot of Spanish from being around the family for so many years.

When are your parents due home? Carlos asked Thom.

Today I thought. They went to visit friends in the Rio Grande River area. Perhaps it is flooded somewhere on their return home. Expect them tomorrow for sure. Grandfather needs his son’s help right now. Grandfather was soaked with rain and mud when he was thrown into jail yesterday. With no washing and no clean dry clothes. He must be miserably wet and muddy. They could have allowed his family to give him a bath at least. We would have taken care of all his needs, such as clean clothes and food, anything that would help him to be comfortable.

Well, Thom, a jail is not meant to be a comfortable place.

Well, it’s not a place for a sickly eighty seven year old man either, Thom blurted out angrily.

Life can be cruel, Thom. What can I do to help you right now?

Carlos, it is imperative that I get these two items out of this house before my parents return. I believe these items carry the information I yearn to know about Grandfather’s past. I still believe it has to do with the secrecy surrounding Grandfather.

Why didn’t you say so, Thom, I can take them home and stash them under my sister’s bed. They bowled over with laughter. Carlos told how he used to hide things under her bed when he was a child. No one would look there for his things. Serious again, Carlos continued with, Now is a perfect time for me to take them, as my family is also away. Let’s get them together and I’ll take off for home. I’ll stash them under my bed, I promise.

Great! Thom dashed into his room to the closet. He pulled out an old forgotten suitcase. Carlos dug under Thom’s bed and retrieved the plastic bag and the briefcase. They fit like a glove in that old suitcase.

It was raining again. Thom opened the door, looked down at the corner and the station wagon had disappeared. He pushed Carlos out the door, and Carlos hurriedly slipped his feet into his shoes. Thom grabbed Carlos for a big embarrassing hug, and Carlos took off in a run.

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While Grandmother was waiting for Thom’s return, she sat in her rocking chair and reminisced about her life with Wilhelm. That was not his real name. Walther Weber was his true name. But Thom doesn’t know this. WWII ended with Hitler’s death; as the Allied Forces advanced into Berlin, Walther had to make a lifesaving decision for him and Beatrice. Hitler’s faithful leaders of the Third Reich would all now be in a quandary. Fear overwhelmed all of them. Some fled to other countries immediately, changing their names. Some took poison. Some committed suicide as Hitler may have done by having someone shoot him. He had six million Jews annihilated, but he couldn’t kill himself. Still reminiscing, she remembered how Walther still in his early twenties and too young to do anything so drastic as to take his own life connived a great plan. He went to a Berlin cemetery looking for a grave of someone born in 1922, his own birth year. He found one whose name was Wilhelm Pesche, an infant who died shortly after birth in 1922. He took that name to Beatrice and changed his name to Wilhelm Pesche. That name will never show up on a prisoner of