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The Longest Day
Today is the longest day of my life. No matter how long they sentence me to, it will take one day longer to be released because it is a leap year. Well then, let’s get started with the Bakelite program and dive into the past.
My big brother turned 17. He started an apprenticeship in Aschersleben and came home less and less often. That’s why I had our shared childhood bedroom mostly to myself since I was 12 or 13.
My little brother slept in his parents’ bedroom. One evening, I heard loud clattering, swearing, and groaning. There was a fight going on in the hallway. The glass partition at the front door broke. Then there was silence.
How To Diaries is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Sensing something bad, I wanted to go and see what was happening. Then “Dad” came around the corner and snarled at me furiously: “He’s never to show his face here again!” I don’t know why he beat out Andi from our huge apartment for “large” families (see Friday, February 17, 1984).
That made me curious. My cousin Günther told me that I have three more cousins in Merseburg—his younger brothers. His mother, the sister of my biological father—who I don’t know (yet)—lives there.
In October 1981, I wanted to find out more and traveled to the city where I was born. Aunt Hannchen was indeed there and was delighted to see me.
She “adopted” me, just as she had done years ago with my brother when he fled to her in his time of need. Now I began to understand what was taboo at home.
Günther is my oldest cousin on my father’s side. Like me, he lived in Halle-Neustadt, which is why he was the only one I knew. Volker is the same age as my brother and is currently doing his military service.
Steffen is a little older and Jens a little younger than me. They accepted me as if I had always been part of the family. Together we watched Rockpalast with Mink DeVille until the early hours of the morning.
Back to the Bakelit program on the longest day of my life. To the delight of my cellmate, I sing “Heute bin ich allein (Today I am alone) / Ja, auch das muss ab und zu mal sein (Yes, that has to happen from time to time ...)” by Reinhard Lakomy.
How To Diaries is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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. JannotToday is the longest day of my life. No matter how long they sentence me to, it will take one day longer to be released because it is a leap year. Well then, let’s get started with the Bakelite program and dive into the past.
My big brother turned 17. He started an apprenticeship in Aschersleben and came home less and less often. That’s why I had our shared childhood bedroom mostly to myself since I was 12 or 13.
My little brother slept in his parents’ bedroom. One evening, I heard loud clattering, swearing, and groaning. There was a fight going on in the hallway. The glass partition at the front door broke. Then there was silence.
How To Diaries is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Sensing something bad, I wanted to go and see what was happening. Then “Dad” came around the corner and snarled at me furiously: “He’s never to show his face here again!” I don’t know why he beat out Andi from our huge apartment for “large” families (see Friday, February 17, 1984).
That made me curious. My cousin Günther told me that I have three more cousins in Merseburg—his younger brothers. His mother, the sister of my biological father—who I don’t know (yet)—lives there.
In October 1981, I wanted to find out more and traveled to the city where I was born. Aunt Hannchen was indeed there and was delighted to see me.
She “adopted” me, just as she had done years ago with my brother when he fled to her in his time of need. Now I began to understand what was taboo at home.
Günther is my oldest cousin on my father’s side. Like me, he lived in Halle-Neustadt, which is why he was the only one I knew. Volker is the same age as my brother and is currently doing his military service.
Steffen is a little older and Jens a little younger than me. They accepted me as if I had always been part of the family. Together we watched Rockpalast with Mink DeVille until the early hours of the morning.
Back to the Bakelit program on the longest day of my life. To the delight of my cellmate, I sing “Heute bin ich allein (Today I am alone) / Ja, auch das muss ab und zu mal sein (Yes, that has to happen from time to time ...)” by Reinhard Lakomy.
How To Diaries is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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