GOOD-BYE ANGEL OF ASPET
“I cannot understand that you can remember me-after all I stayed with the Aspet children for such a short time and you were so young.”
Letter from Alice Resch dated January 2, 1990.
Alice’s “Good night girls” a month after her arrival at Maison, alerted the boys to end their late night wrestling match. The boys who had once, nervously huddled together in their dark bedroom had changed dramatically over the prior month. Their hair had grown out, weight was gained and ashen faces had been replaced with a ruddy healthy complexion. Bed sheets once stained with urine, and clothes dotted with blood from oozing scabs were gone. And through it all, Alice refused to acknowledge any role in accomplishing those changes. Most remarkably, Alice also refused to accept that she alone had transformed the 48 strangers into a true family of brothers and sisters.
Alice slowed her pace when she heard the sound of laughing snoring coming from the darkened room. Alice turned on the light. “Oh no, I got here too late to give my sleeping klein jugen some candy.”
“What candy?” shouted Ernst. The others complained, “That’s not fair Fraulein Resch.”
“My boys, I have good news for you,” said Alice as she hugged Ernst. “Hopefully, you all remember the Cohns. Well, they are coming here tomorrow.”
“Why do we need the Cohns?” asked Rolf who suddenly stopped laughing. The boys protectively gathered around Alice. Her voice cracked, “The Quakers are going to send me to help some other children.”
Hjmalar pulled on Alice’s hand. “We don’t want the Cohns. We want you,” protested the boys. Alice watched Kurt climb back into bed. She sat down next to him, while the others clung to her like leaves on a branch.
“When are you leaving?” asked Richard. Alice called upon all of her strength. “Tomorrow morning.” She continued to reassure them, but in reality, after they heard “Tomorrow morning” they stopped listening and retreated to two beds instead of their individual beds. She pushed Kurt’s hair off his forehead. “Kurt, please I beg you. I beg all of you to not be upset with me.”
Kurt whispered, “Every night you tell me that you love me and that we are friends and now you are leaving me. I don’t understand any of this. I would never leave you.” Alice stroked Kurt’s wet face.
“Boys, the only children I have are here. I don’t want to leave any of you--- “
“Then don’t!” cried the boys.
Kurt whispered again, Please don’t leave. I promise I will try harder. I will do whatever you want me to do.” Alice placed his head in her hands and looked at him incredulously. “Try harder at what? You are a wonderful boy.”
“Whatever you want me to do… I know I can be better,” begged Kurt.
“Dear Fraulein Resch,
We children think of you very often and of all the good things you did for us. Much has changed. We have a school now and a female French teacher who understands German. We learn French from her. We also learned English from a gentleman who lives in the village. We had our second English lesson... Recently the home accepted 63 children from Toulouse who are to stay here for vacation. There has been quite a commotion because of this. We all hope you will come and visit us.”
Letter dated July 21, 1941 to Alice Resch and signed by Kurt Walker and the children of Aspet.