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From Custody to Carburetors
This was my 48th night and 47th day in “Gewahrsam" (custody,) as it is called in officialese. Nothing is happening. No interrogation. No mail. No visitors. No newspaper. I can't read a book because two sacks of Bakelite plugs are waiting for us.
I ponder back to the spring of 1979.
In Grandpa Hans's shed, there are two Simson SR1s, built in 1955, rusting away because “Papa,” as we call Grandpa Hans, hasn't ridden them in years.
Can I take them on? Yes, of course.
The fuel taps and carburetors are completely filthy.
It doesn't take me a weekend to get both mopeds running again and I'm rattling over the Pflaumenberg (plum hill) without a driver's license.
“Papa” is thrilled.
Shortly afterwards, he is admitted to hospital, where I visit him every day until he is transferred to Halle.
He dies on October 26. Grandma Frieda, my “Mama,” (Mom) and I are devastated.
At that time, a song by Terry Jacks plays at least twice a day on Mama's tube radio, and it brings tears to my eyes as soon as I hear it:
Goodbye to you, my trusted friend /
We've known each other since we were nine or ten ...
Summer 1980. A defective 1962 SR2 has been rotting in my stepfather's garage for years.
Can I take it on? Since we've been building his dacha for many weekends, “Dad” surprisingly replies, “Go ahead.”
Probably because he thinks that I, a 14-year-old “Schlawi” (rascal), as he calls me, won't be able to repair it anyway.
Cleaning the fuel tap and carburetor won't be enough.
It takes me a few days to get the thing running.
“Dad” is perplexed. Then he surprises me again and actually lets me keep the SR.
I get my driver's license in Teutschenthal.
In December, I turn 15 and am the first in my class to have both a moped and a driver's license.
Does Andi know the “Meister aller Klassen” (master of all classes) from City?
... Und dann kamen die Mopeds (And then came the mopeds) /
Das war fast perfekt (It was almost perfect) /
Wir waren jetzt der absolute Straßenschreck (We were now the absolute terror of the streets) ...
The door bangs open. Out to the yard!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tjannot.substack.com/subscribe
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By Tommy H. JannotThis was my 48th night and 47th day in “Gewahrsam" (custody,) as it is called in officialese. Nothing is happening. No interrogation. No mail. No visitors. No newspaper. I can't read a book because two sacks of Bakelite plugs are waiting for us.
I ponder back to the spring of 1979.
In Grandpa Hans's shed, there are two Simson SR1s, built in 1955, rusting away because “Papa,” as we call Grandpa Hans, hasn't ridden them in years.
Can I take them on? Yes, of course.
The fuel taps and carburetors are completely filthy.
It doesn't take me a weekend to get both mopeds running again and I'm rattling over the Pflaumenberg (plum hill) without a driver's license.
“Papa” is thrilled.
Shortly afterwards, he is admitted to hospital, where I visit him every day until he is transferred to Halle.
He dies on October 26. Grandma Frieda, my “Mama,” (Mom) and I are devastated.
At that time, a song by Terry Jacks plays at least twice a day on Mama's tube radio, and it brings tears to my eyes as soon as I hear it:
Goodbye to you, my trusted friend /
We've known each other since we were nine or ten ...
Summer 1980. A defective 1962 SR2 has been rotting in my stepfather's garage for years.
Can I take it on? Since we've been building his dacha for many weekends, “Dad” surprisingly replies, “Go ahead.”
Probably because he thinks that I, a 14-year-old “Schlawi” (rascal), as he calls me, won't be able to repair it anyway.
Cleaning the fuel tap and carburetor won't be enough.
It takes me a few days to get the thing running.
“Dad” is perplexed. Then he surprises me again and actually lets me keep the SR.
I get my driver's license in Teutschenthal.
In December, I turn 15 and am the first in my class to have both a moped and a driver's license.
Does Andi know the “Meister aller Klassen” (master of all classes) from City?
... Und dann kamen die Mopeds (And then came the mopeds) /
Das war fast perfekt (It was almost perfect) /
Wir waren jetzt der absolute Straßenschreck (We were now the absolute terror of the streets) ...
The door bangs open. Out to the yard!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tjannot.substack.com/subscribe