My Funny Valentine

by Judith Laik

  “The latest news report says the Russians have overtaken the area, which puts her in danger. The Soviets have demanded that refugees from the countries they have conquered be returned to their home country. And those who go back are sent to Siberia. Norma, you can’t imagine what conditions are like. It’s nearly as bad as the German concentration camps.” She shuddered, her face pale.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. I hope you get good news soon.” Norma shut off the faucet and turned to dry her hands.

  Lise grabbed her arm. “Norma, I have to go on Lance’s tour with you. It’s my only chance to find my mother and rescue her.”

  “You mean go behind the Russian lines? Surely that’s not possible?” Her voice rose to a squeak on the last word, her throat constricting. She gripped Lise’s shoulder. “You can’t take such a risk!”

  “I have to. You’d do the same for your mother. I’m sure you can arrange it with Mr. Logan. You know I’m a good singer. I’ll be an asset on the tour. You said they are going to Vienna. The village isn’t far from there.”

  “Do you think you can smuggle your mother out of there?”

  “I don’t know how yet, but I’ll figure it out. I have to.”

  “I’ll ask Lance. I don’t know what he’ll say.” I hope he’ll say no. What you’re planning is far too dangerous.

  Late May, 1945

  “Okay, that’s good.” Lance Logan gave the cutoff sign to Lise, and she stopped in the middle of Martern aller Arten from Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio, her brow furrowed. “Didn’t you like my singing?”

  “Your voice is excellent. I’m sure we can use you on the tour. Could you just sing something a little lighter for me?”

  “Oh. Yes, of course.” Lise exchanged a smile with Norma, standing by Lance. She’d told the classical singer that he’d want to hear a more popular piece. Thanks to Norma, Lise had practiced another song. Frank played the opening bars of Why Do I Love You?

  When Lise sang the last notes, Lance clapped. “Excellent. You’ll be a big hit, Miss Sepp.”

  He turned to Frank. “Okay, you said you have a surprise. Want to show me?”

  “Sure.” Frank grinned at Lise. “If you’ll accompany me, Miss Sepp?”

  With an answering smile, Lise went to the piano and set some sheets on the music rack.

  The closeness of the glance they shared stabbed Norma. Why had he asked Lise to accompany him? How had they become so close? She was losing Frank bit by bit—losing him to his family in Montana, and now to Lise. Even in the midst of her pain, she told herself she wasn’t being fair. She had no exclusive claim. She forced herself to watch his audition.

  Frank took off his sport coat, pulled off his tie, and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. Lise played the first notes of Pistol-Packing Mama while Frank rummaged in a leather knapsack behind the piano and pulled out a couple of lengths of rope. At the end of the intro, Frank joined in and sang the lyrics and at the same time began to twirl the loop of one rope, holding it a few inches from the floor. Next he launched into a series of tricks, spinning the rope as he raised it over his head then lowered it to circle his legs nearly at floor level. He stepped in and out of the circle as the rope spun quickly. His voice never faltered through the song.

  Norma couldn’t help but notice his strength, the tautness in his forearms. Why had she never realized how muscular he was? As he finished, Norma clapped enthusiastically, setting aside her pique at being left out of his plans.

  Frank picked up the second rope and soon had both spinning, as Lise played the opening to Tumbling Tumbleweeds. He sang as he put both lassos through tricks more and more complicated. Then after he finished the song he called out, “Hey, Norma. Come on over here, please.”

  Lifting an eyebrow, Norma walked closer to him. Lise launched into Sioux City Sue and Frank spun his lasso again while he sang, “Your hair is red, your eyes are blue…” As he wound up the song, he tossed the loop over Norma, pulled it tight, and drew her close to him. He grasped her by the shoulders and kissed her quickly. He let go, loosened the loop, and pulled it over her head.

  Her heart beating erratically, she said, “What was that for?”

  “Sorry about that. If you catch a girl, you get to kiss her. Cowboy rules.” Norma felt her face heat.

  He bowed and set the ropes aside as Lance applauded. “You’re pretty good. I saw Will Rogers perform. No one could beat him, but he was just talking as he did his tricks. Singing must be harder.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Frank answered modestly. “It’s just something I started doing on the ranch.”

  “I think the troops will love your act.” Lance grinned. “Be sure to keep in that last part. You don’t mind, do you, Norma?”

  “Er, no.” She turned away so the guys couldn’t see her heated face, see how much a brief, meaningless kiss had affected her.

  June, 1945

  “I met him at the USO, Eve. I think he may be The One.” Even while Norma said those words, she knew they weren’t true. Jim was everything she had been searching for in the last ten years. A decorated soldier, quiet and serious, good looking without being too handsome, and definitely interested in her. But something was lacking, in her, it seemed. The excitement she had felt in the past when her hopes were raised by a new suitor didn’t occur this time.

  Norma’s friend Eve, the teacher in the classroom next to Norma’s at Central Elementary School, just smiled noncommittally. Norma had confided her romantic misadventures to Eve many times in the past four years.

  “It’s a blue moon tonight,” Norma said.

  “What?”

  “You know, second full moon in a month. If you make a wish on a blue moon, it’s bound to come true. I’m wishing for Jim to be the guy for me.”

  Eve’s gaze held skepticism. Norma couldn’t blame her. Though she would never admit it, her own faith that there was a right man for her was flagging. As one potential suitor after another failed to be the hero of Norma’s dreams, she slowly realized that she enjoyed her volunteer time at the USO more than time spent with her dates. Now, even that had paled, with Frank gone more often than he was there.

  Eve’s life had a different trajectory. When they had first become friends, Eve had been engaged to the love of her life, to Norma’s secret envy. Now, Eve was also alone, her fiancé lost in the war. When Norma saw the grief that shadowed Eve’s eyes, all of her envy had dissipated long ago. Losing the man you loved was far worse than being disappointed in her hopes from a succession of men she hadn’t had enough time to fall in love with.

  Maybe she should count herself lucky she hadn’t fallen for a guy headed overseas. Where did that leave her and Jim?

  Norma packed away the leftovers from the picnic she had prepared for Jim and her. The shadows cast by the setting sun darkened the beach before them, though the rays still reflected off the waters and illuminated the bluff of Vashon Island across Puget Sound.

  “Shall we take a little walk?” she suggested. “We can put the basket back in the car. There are a lot of trails in the park.”

  “That sounds pleasant.” Jim smiled and reached for the picnic basket.

  They walked to her car. He’d left his car back in Indiana, knowing he would ship out from Tacoma. The war had ended in Europe, but there was still Japan to deal with, and shortly he would be leaving for the Pacific theater. Norma remembered her conclusion earlier about men going off to war. No matter what happened between them, she hoped he’d stay safe.

  They walked along the beach as the sun set, and Jim held her hand. But there was no special spark, no awareness at the contact between them. That kiss from Frank—she hadn’t been able to forget it, no matter how often she reminded herself it didn’t mean anything. On his side, it was part of his roping act. On hers, well, he was just a good friend. And she was losing what little part of him she had possessed, their shared work at the club. He took on more and more of the responsibility of the family ranch. Would his duties the
re come to a close sometime and allow him to return fully to his life in Tacoma? What would happen if his life ended up in Montana full time?

  There was promise of a future with Jim. Still, she hardly knew him—not yet. But maybe the feelings could grow. They’d write each other while he was gone, and meet again when the war was over. Things could work between them.

  The moon rose over the bay, full and romantic. She had the words all ready in her mind for the wish she’d spoken of to Eve. She couldn’t say them. They weren’t right. “Bring my true love to me,” she whispered instead, too softly for Jim to hear. And it was Frank’s face she saw reflected in the moon.

  Vienna, Mid-July, 1945

  Norma flung her arms out as she sang, and her feet wanted to carry her body up into the air. Each performance during the entire two weeks of the USO tour so far had carried her higher. “Life upon the wicked stage ain’t nothin’ for a girl.” She wound up the song with a flourish. Cheers, clapping, and stomping feet demonstrated the audience’s approval as she took a bow.

  “I want to thank all of you for coming out to see our show tonight,” Norma said. “And we thank you for your service and the sacrifices you made for our country.” She beckoned the whole cast onstage to sing God Bless America. Their voices were joined by those of the troops, many of them with tears on their faces. All the USO performers choked up at the end. They took a final bow, to more cheers and whistles. Still riding the high, Norma squeezed Frank’s hand tightly and gave him a wide grin as they left the stage.

  The next morning an urgent knock at the door of her barracks room woke Norma at a god-forsaken hour. Pulling on her bathrobe, she answered the door, to be nearly bowled over by Lise throwing her arms around her.

  “It’s the best news! Mama is still in Grauthaber! I talked to someone who was just there. We’ll go today. Lance pulled some strings and got us a vehicle and papers to get us into the Russian zone. It’s the perfect cover, to say we’re going to entertain some Russian officers.”

  Barely two hours later, Lise, Norma, and Frank stood by a troop truck. Musical instruments, including a piano, and a handful of props from the show were packed into the back of the truck.

  “Remember, if you get arrested, I know nothing about this,” Lance warned. “The USO can’t be involved in an international incident.” He paused, and then added, “That’s just the official warning. Personally, I wish your mission every success.”

  “Thank you, Lance. I’ll never forget your help.” Lise hugged him.

  He turned to Norma and hugged her. “Be careful. Your dad will kill me if he ever finds out about this.”

  “Don’t worry. He won’t hear a thing about it,” she assured him.

  Lance shook hands with Frank. “Take care of these girls.”

  “I will.”

  As they were about to climb into the truck’s cab, a man in a US Army uniform approached them. “There’s been a change of plans,” he said. “I’m driving. You can all ride in the back, on the troop benches.”

  Norma exchanged glances with Frank and Lise. “What’s this all about?” Frank asked.

  “Just our way of helping you guys with your gig at this Soviet officers’ club this evening.”

  “You mean we’re really singing for some Russians?” Lise asked.

  “They’re anticipating it with great enthusiasm,” the soldier said. “I’m Corporal Kelly, by the way. Go ahead in the truck. Sorry it’s not more luxurious accommodations.”

  Norma’s stomach tightened at the risks in their undertaking. As the miles passed, the panic-thrill subsided, only to kick up again when they approached the gate into the Russian zone.

  One of the guards walked around the back to look them over squint-eyed as Cpl. Kelly spoke to another, presumably in Russian. Norma eyed Lise questioningly. Lise, who was fluent in that language as well as three other languages, nodded. “He’s telling the guards we’re part of a USO troop that entertained American troops last night and we received an invitation to perform for some Russian officers tonight. Just as we agreed,” she confirmed.

  At last the guards waved them through. Norma’s heart lodged in her throat as they cruised down the road into the Russian zone. There were no windows in the truck but the back was open, showing the landscape they’d just come through. The countryside appeared identical to that of the American zone, verdant pastures and picturesque villages. Austria had escaped much of the damage done in Germany, but scars from the war were still visible. The potential for disaster cast a shadow on her perception of the seemingly peaceful land.

  They drove only about an hour before they entered the village of Grauthaber. Kelly stopped the truck and conferred with Lise, who got in front and directed him to the farm where she had stayed with her mother before coming to the United States. They all clambered out of the truck. Lise knocked at the back door by the farmyard. The door opened a crack, and at first Norma could see nothing. Then the door swung wide and a middle-aged woman embraced Lise, speaking in German. Lise gestured Norma and Frank to come forward and introduced them. “Frau Schulz has been most gracious to Mama and me.” Lise turned to her again. “Where is Mama?”

  “They are hiding. We didn’t know who had come.” She called, “Frau Sepp, Toomas, come out. It’s Lise!”

  Lise’s eyes opened wide, and she pushed her way past Frau Braun as an older woman and a young man emerged from the stairway. “Toomas! It is you!” She turned back to Norma. “My brother is here!” She ran to embrace them both. “Mama, we’ve come to take you out of here. Toomas! I didn’t know where you were. I didn’t think I’d get to see you.” She hugged him again, hard. Tears ran down her face. “How did you get here?”

  “I had to know if you both were all right.” His accent was much stronger than Lise’s, making him difficult to understand.

  “I have papers, clothes for Ema.” Norma surmised that ema meant mother in Estonia. Lisa continued, “We are going to say she is part of our USO troop. But I don’t have any papers for you. We’ll have to figure out what to do.”

  Toomas stared at the American soldier. “It is all right, Lise.” His face briefly contorted with some strong emotion, then stilled into impassivity.

  Frau Schulz invited them all in, settled them at her large farm table. She bustled about making tea and setting out “a little snack,” which turned out to be several different kinds of meats and cheeses, and some heavenly homemade Austrian bread.

  “How long will it take you to get your things together, Mrs. Sepp?” Cpl. Kelly asked. “We are supposed to get to the Russian camp in about two hours.”

  “Russian?” Mrs. Sepp shrank back.

  “It’s a ruse to get you over the border, Ema. We need to disguise you. The passport we made for you doesn’t look much like your face. By the time we’ve made you up, you won’t need to worry that anybody will know the famous Madame Sepp.”

  Her face pale, Mrs. Sepp bit her lower lip and wrung her hands. A little later, after the meal, Lise and Norma set about changing her appearance with makeup, a blonde wig, and a clingy dress that could have been borrowed from Marlene Dietrich. When she saw herself in the mirror after they had finished, she giggled. “No one will know me.” The older woman appeared years younger, and Norma would never have recognized her.

  “No, they won’t. That’s the idea. Are you ready to go?”

  Toomas showed up, wearing an American army uniform. “Cpl. Kelly happened to have an extra uniform with him that will serve as a disguise for me.” A sheepish grin cut across his face.

  He carried a small case of Mrs. Sepp’s things to the truck. “Kelly doesn’t want you to carry too much, Ema. It has to seem like you just brought enough for an overnight in case the excursion took longer than a day.”

  “We can buy new things for you when we get to America,” Lise agreed.

  “I have some things from Estonia—pictures—irreplaceable things,” she protested.

  “We have them. There’s a hidden compartment in the t
ruck and they are stowed there. Let’s hope no one searches too much.” Frank’s smile conveyed reassurance.

  Lise and her mother hugged Frau Schulz. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us,” Mrs. Sepp said.

  Frau Schultz smiled. “When you get to Vienna, find my daughter Maria. Here is her address. She lives there with her husband.” She thrust a folded sheet of paper at Lise. “And write to her when you get back to America. She will find a way to let me know how you are.”

  “We will,” Lise promised.

  They climbed aboard the truck and started off. Lise and her family huddled together and spoke in Estonian, or so Norma presumed. Their voices were too low to catch any words, even if she could have understood them.

  She turned to Frank, speaking softly herself. “Don’t you think it was strange, Cpl. Kelly showing up like that? And the truck? I thought we were driving ourselves and they were lending us a Jeep.”

  “The truck turned out to be a godsend. We couldn’t have brought so much equipment with us in the Jeep.”

  “You weren’t surprised about the switch in plans?”

  “Yes, I was. But Cpl. Kelly has been helpful.” He looked away, then turned back to her, his voice lowered to a pitch only she could hear. “To tell the truth, I think it was about Toomas Sepp. I saw Kelly and him exchange glances a few times.”

  Norma had noticed it also, though the two men hadn’t spoken to each other as far as she could tell. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “He just happened to have a spare uniform for him too. You think he knew Toomas would be there? That this was actually about rescuing him for the Army? But how could he know? And what could they have to do with each other?”

  “I don’t know. If we were supposed to, they would have told us.”

  A chill brushed through Norma once more. Reminders of war, shifting alliances in the aftermath, and dangerous times fingered down her spine. She forced those thoughts away. “I didn’t realize Lise’s mother was a famous opera singer. Lise said she performed all over Europe—Italy, France, Germany—before the war. No wonder she is afraid she might be recognized.”