Caraliza (44 page)
Authors: Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
“
So we are both troubled about Papa?”
So we are both troubled about Papa?”
“
Yes, but we can’t really do anything about it. I’ve wondered so long. He has no contentment about him. It seems all anger and shame. People say he weeps now so pitifully it breaks their hearts.”
Yes, but we can’t really do anything about it. I’ve wondered so long. He has no contentment about him. It seems all anger and shame. People say he weeps now so pitifully it breaks their hearts.”
“
He does have another secret. I think I found it a long time ago.”
He does have another secret. I think I found it a long time ago.”
Shelly looked surprised to hear that.
“
Oh, you kept that hidden, very well indeed.”
Oh, you kept that hidden, very well indeed.”
“
What do you think keeps him here, Shelly?” Evan asked around her toes.
What do you think keeps him here, Shelly?” Evan asked around her toes.
“
He must have done something awful. Yousep and Caraliza made some mistakes, but they harmed only themselves. She feels so free to me; I think she could leave us any time she wanted to. But Papa can’t, he is being punished. Like the awful monster across the street. He was bound here until his bones were found and reburied. I think Papa has bones that need to be buried.”
He must have done something awful. Yousep and Caraliza made some mistakes, but they harmed only themselves. She feels so free to me; I think she could leave us any time she wanted to. But Papa can’t, he is being punished. Like the awful monster across the street. He was bound here until his bones were found and reburied. I think Papa has bones that need to be buried.”
Evan asked her if Caraliza had told her anything like that, or answered in any way when Papa was mentioned.
“
No, she will say almost anything. The things she says about you are unbelievable.” And she grinned at him, touching his nose with her toe. “But she’s silent about Papa. What did you find?”
No, she will say almost anything. The things she says about you are unbelievable.” And she grinned at him, touching his nose with her toe. “But she’s silent about Papa. What did you find?”
Evan took her feet and kissed them before he moved her enough to leave his seat. But he returned in just a moment. He only walked to the key display and removed three keys Shelly had not noticed. He held up one of the keys in his hand and put it into the back door lock. It turned just as easily as it did opening night with her family.
“
This key was in a cigar tin under the bed in the filthy basement.” Evan just held the key up and watched Shelly’s reaction as she followed the path of his words.
This key was in a cigar tin under the bed in the filthy basement.” Evan just held the key up and watched Shelly’s reaction as she followed the path of his words.
Papa had known.
“
How?” She whispered.
How?” She whispered.
“
Papa owned that building. We just skipped the most horrible part. He knew the tenants over there, which included the murderer. But he did not just know the man. He employed him as rent collector. These keys belonged to the man who kept Caraliza, for two years in Papa’s building. The man brought rents, let himself in and left them for Papa.”
Papa owned that building. We just skipped the most horrible part. He knew the tenants over there, which included the murderer. But he did not just know the man. He employed him as rent collector. These keys belonged to the man who kept Caraliza, for two years in Papa’s building. The man brought rents, let himself in and left them for Papa.”
Shelly was stricken.
When something is so wrong it screams to be noticed, it is natural to cover one’s ears, perhaps hide away from it. Shelly never let herself realize Papa might have known all along, there was a young girl in the basement. But he knew the cruel man the whole time.
“
I think Papa killed the evil fellow for the revenge, but it was worse than the guilt of ignoring Caraliza, and the grief of losing her to that man. Papa probably surprised the fellow that morning, and smashed him with the garden spade, and put him under the roses. Perfectly insane thing to do. Papa was nearly there, just under the surface the whole time.”
I think Papa killed the evil fellow for the revenge, but it was worse than the guilt of ignoring Caraliza, and the grief of losing her to that man. Papa probably surprised the fellow that morning, and smashed him with the garden spade, and put him under the roses. Perfectly insane thing to do. Papa was nearly there, just under the surface the whole time.”
Shelly sat with her legs back in Evan’s lap and put her hands to her mouth for a while. She was very unhappy, but this did not make her cry. “He deserved his torment. What he did was so wretched I can’t stand it. So Caraliza haunted him. She drove him mad because of what he did to her.”
“
Why didn’t Yousep haunt him too?”
Why didn’t Yousep haunt him too?”
“
Yousep would have wanted God to take care of it. He wouldn’t have cared to help with that,” she actually giggled. “We
are
Jewish,” she smiled. Evan placed her feet on his chest and let her play her toes on his chin again.
Yousep would have wanted God to take care of it. He wouldn’t have cared to help with that,” she actually giggled. “We
are
Jewish,” she smiled. Evan placed her feet on his chest and let her play her toes on his chin again.
“
When do you think Caraliza will release him?” He asked.
When do you think Caraliza will release him?” He asked.
“
I’m not sure she ever will. We should leave it alone; it’s between them. I wouldn’t want to make her mad at all. She can be three places at once and take a horrible beating. Messing with her would be damned dangerous.”
I’m not sure she ever will. We should leave it alone; it’s between them. I wouldn’t want to make her mad at all. She can be three places at once and take a horrible beating. Messing with her would be damned dangerous.”
Evan quite agreed. Shelly was getting comfortable and it would be difficult to get her up and home if he let her doze on the divan. So he began to tickle her toes to wake her up a bit. She suddenly lifted her dress nearly to her breasts and parted her legs
“
Can you see the baby?”
Can you see the baby?”
Evan was mortified. Hiding his eyes and wincing with profound shame, he tried to get her to lower her dress.
“
No, I can’t. Shelly, have you any modesty left? Do I have to keep you from the closet?” She began to laugh at him and lost control to wicked giggles. She actually rolled side to side laughing at him.
No, I can’t. Shelly, have you any modesty left? Do I have to keep you from the closet?” She began to laugh at him and lost control to wicked giggles. She actually rolled side to side laughing at him.
“
You are so stupid, Evan.” And she put both her hands to her belly. “Here, you perfect ass. The baby! This is a little foot. It wants to kick your chin.” And he looked to her stomach and watched the little bump move back and forth between her hands. He gave the baby every opportunity it wanted to sock him one, right on his very stupid chin.
You are so stupid, Evan.” And she put both her hands to her belly. “Here, you perfect ass. The baby! This is a little foot. It wants to kick your chin.” And he looked to her stomach and watched the little bump move back and forth between her hands. He gave the baby every opportunity it wanted to sock him one, right on his very stupid chin.
Papa was unmoved that Shelly knew his last hidden crime. He still bothered her guests, still helped make her famous. And she lost the desire to set him free. It was not her choice and she seemed content with the understanding. Evan thought they were finally done with Reisman family surprises.
Dannie’s book was a smash. Her publisher had trouble keeping up with the sales. Shelly could sell a dozen copies a night, and they made sure the museum was always well stocked too. Dannie let Shelly write the entire chapter devoted to the Reisman Portrait legends, and in perfect Shelly form, it was indeed an unpleasant but loving read. She lived it and knew what the terror felt like.
They were nearly ready for the baby to arrive when one evening, two very oddly behaved guests rushed into the dining room, as soon as the doors opened. The poor hostess tried frantically to make them understand, they needed to be on the reservation list, but they ignored her and continued with a purpose into the dining room. They seemed to know exactly who Shelly was, and ran directly to her, very proud of their success.
An elderly woman, and her middle-aged daughter, stood smiling at Shelly. Evan noticed them come in, and was jarred, they looked quite familiar, but they were not regulars. Just perhaps tourists who loved to come back again and again.
“
Are you Ms. Reisman?” They asked her together, and laughed at each other. They were quite excited and nearly breathless. Evan was walking over and other guests were being let in. These two ladies did not seem the least interested in any table. They wanted Shelly’s elbow and tried to pull her toward the studio. “Please, we must talk to you. A neighbor of ours was here last year and she said we simply must come. It took us a year to be able to get here.” The youngest woman seemed the most easily corrected, Shelly hated to disappoint the other lady, she seemed so sweet, and Shelly explained, without reservations, it just could not be done.
Are you Ms. Reisman?” They asked her together, and laughed at each other. They were quite excited and nearly breathless. Evan was walking over and other guests were being let in. These two ladies did not seem the least interested in any table. They wanted Shelly’s elbow and tried to pull her toward the studio. “Please, we must talk to you. A neighbor of ours was here last year and she said we simply must come. It took us a year to be able to get here.” The youngest woman seemed the most easily corrected, Shelly hated to disappoint the other lady, she seemed so sweet, and Shelly explained, without reservations, it just could not be done.
“
Oh, no darling. We are not here for dinner. Please can we see the photo of the young lady?”
Oh, no darling. We are not here for dinner. Please can we see the photo of the young lady?”
Shelly was surprised. It was the most energetic response to the photos she ever dealt with. But then, it should have been the most moving part of the experience for any guest who enjoyed dinner in the place. It was perfectly natural the legend itself was drawing people, and they would not care a bit about having dinner to hear it.
Evan suddenly wondered, however remote the possibility might be, the ladies could by chance be Dutch relatives. Perhaps from the family who lost Caraliza?
The Studio
enjoyed some renown for the lovely and tragic history, it was very possible it would make its way back to Amsterdam that a beautiful Dutch youth lost her life so long ago in a small New York shop. He instantly offered to let the two ladies sit on the divan, which Shelly forbid to guests over the age of ten, and he ran to get them some wine, begging them to let him get back before they said another word.
The Studio
enjoyed some renown for the lovely and tragic history, it was very possible it would make its way back to Amsterdam that a beautiful Dutch youth lost her life so long ago in a small New York shop. He instantly offered to let the two ladies sit on the divan, which Shelly forbid to guests over the age of ten, and he ran to get them some wine, begging them to let him get back before they said another word.
Shelly was clueless, but she politely seated the ladies and waited for Evan, only to see him return with the best framed print they made of Caraliza, in his hands. It took him a moment to convince her to sit down so they could finally hear why it was so important to the desperate women from Chicago.
“
The staff can take care out there,” he insisted with a nod to the front. “This may be very interesting.”
The staff can take care out there,” he insisted with a nod to the front. “This may be very interesting.”
So they sat finally and Evan put the framed image of the Angel in the older woman’s hands. Her gasp sounded like a sigh and her daughter put her hands to her mouth. The mother gingerly touched the frame and the outline of the graceful arms in the photograph.
Shelly noticed instant tears. This woman knew the girl somehow, but this was deeper than recognition. It gave Shelly sudden chills she had never felt. A profound emotion swept the two women as they looked at the beauty in the frame, and Shelly never saw the image have such a powerful affect on anyone.
Evan was nodding his head and smiling.
“
Do you know her?” Shelly asked with her hands to the woman’s as they held the frame. Both women were smiling, but so sweetly as to be so very sad as well.
Do you know her?” Shelly asked with her hands to the woman’s as they held the frame. Both women were smiling, but so sweetly as to be so very sad as well.
“
Oh, dear darling Ms. Reisman. Yes, I know her. We both do.” And Shelly was stunned. How could they have known this child?
Oh, dear darling Ms. Reisman. Yes, I know her. We both do.” And Shelly was stunned. How could they have known this child?
“
Ms. Reisman, this is my mother
,” Rachel whispered.
“
I don’t know how that is possible,” Shelly struggled to say, “Who are you?”
“
I’m Rachel, this is my daughter Elizabeth. This is my mother, Liesl Kogen.”
I’m Rachel, this is my daughter Elizabeth. This is my mother, Liesl Kogen.”
The smile she gave, was Caraliza’s smile.
Evan and Shelly both went pale, and the ladies gazed very sweetly at them.
“
Caraliza Kogen, she always used Liesl after she and Papa moved to Chicago. My Papa, we call him Joseph but his given name is Yousep,” Rachel said, touching the young woman in the frame.
Caraliza Kogen, she always used Liesl after she and Papa moved to Chicago. My Papa, we call him Joseph but his given name is Yousep,” Rachel said, touching the young woman in the frame.
Shelly was pouring tears from her eyes and was visibly trembling. Evan was barely in control as well.
The lovers had lived!
“
Ms. Reisman, our neighbor told us nothing of what they learned here, we came to see because they said we must, you had a photo we needed to see. We have been searching frantically, for any clues to Mama and Papa’s lives before they came to Chicago, they refused ever to say. It grew to be almost a joke with us, but your family is very old as well, you can imagine wanting to find things out, how very hard we looked!”
Ms. Reisman, our neighbor told us nothing of what they learned here, we came to see because they said we must, you had a photo we needed to see. We have been searching frantically, for any clues to Mama and Papa’s lives before they came to Chicago, they refused ever to say. It grew to be almost a joke with us, but your family is very old as well, you can imagine wanting to find things out, how very hard we looked!”
Rachel laughed, but she noticed Shelly was overcome, and she was moved suddenly in a similar way. Evan broke the spell between them and excused himself; he would only take a moment and be right back. When he returned he had opened the case under the mirror. Rachel and Elizabeth cried in joy at the photo in his hands.
“
Papa! My Papa!” and Rachel wept to see Yousep’s smiling face and hugged the photo to her breast. “We have never seen images of their youth, and he was a photographer, can you imagine it?”
Papa! My Papa!” and Rachel wept to see Yousep’s smiling face and hugged the photo to her breast. “We have never seen images of their youth, and he was a photographer, can you imagine it?”
Evan laughed with them. He understood perfectly why Yousep would have become a photographer. Elizabeth lovingly traced her grandfather’s features, and Rachel could hardly grasp the photo to hold it, she was so overjoyed.
“
How can you know her?” Shelly finally asked in a strained whisper. “We have believed them dead since this image was taken. Since 1919!”
How can you know her?” Shelly finally asked in a strained whisper. “We have believed them dead since this image was taken. Since 1919!”
“
Darling, No! Dead? No! Sweetheart they were married in 1921, soon as Papa turned seventeen! His parent insisted. And she converted. We never heard about her Dutch family, she always just said she lost them in the war. They even spent a year in Amsterdam, searching. They seemed so sad about the past, but they were the happiest people otherwise.”
Darling, No! Dead? No! Sweetheart they were married in 1921, soon as Papa turned seventeen! His parent insisted. And she converted. We never heard about her Dutch family, she always just said she lost them in the war. They even spent a year in Amsterdam, searching. They seemed so sad about the past, but they were the happiest people otherwise.”
“
I’m sorry, I still don’t understand!” Shelly was pleading.
I’m sorry, I still don’t understand!” Shelly was pleading.
“
We buried Papa six years ago, Mama passed in ’93.”
We buried Papa six years ago, Mama passed in ’93.”
Shelly was sobbing through her smile, the understanding finally warming her heart. She reached for Evan’s hand and drew him close. They were both trembling, but with joy. Yousep and Caraliza returned to the shop, after wonderful, full lives, and found Shelly. They chose to be there; they were free as they wished to be.
“
I am so sorry, I haven’t let you say anything at all, and bless you, you’re making me cry!” Rachel laughed again.
I am so sorry, I haven’t let you say anything at all, and bless you, you’re making me cry!” Rachel laughed again.
Evan enjoyed knowing why she had been so familiar to him; that beautiful smile, he loved it so long and so well.
“
We have their last photo together,” Rachel said to Evan, and pulled her pocketbook from her purse. The photograph she handed him was a bit frayed, but the two old people were so recognizable, Evan laughed as he cried.
We have their last photo together,” Rachel said to Evan, and pulled her pocketbook from her purse. The photograph she handed him was a bit frayed, but the two old people were so recognizable, Evan laughed as he cried.
He took the photo and showed it to Shelly, pointing to a bright spot in the photo under Caraliza’s chin. The pendant! Yousep’s treasured gift. She kept it always with her. And she looked so happy. They both looked out of the image as if to say ‘It is okay to understand now, it is okay to know.’
“
Please, Ms. Reisman. What can you tell us? How did you know my Mama and Papa? We’ve waited so very long to come and ask!”
Please, Ms. Reisman. What can you tell us? How did you know my Mama and Papa? We’ve waited so very long to come and ask!”
Evan stood up and kissed Rachel and her daughter both on the cheeks. “Ladies, first let me get dinner. You will join us at our table. I will bring some more wine.”
“
Please, we really did not mean to just crash. This is such a beautiful place, we should not expect to stay!”
Please, we really did not mean to just crash. This is such a beautiful place, we should not expect to stay!”
“
Rachel, you are family. You will never pay for dinner in our house,” Shelly said. Evan returned a little later, and the table was set with dinner. Shelly regained her poise, and the subject turned to the baby, nearly due.
Rachel, you are family. You will never pay for dinner in our house,” Shelly said. Evan returned a little later, and the table was set with dinner. Shelly regained her poise, and the subject turned to the baby, nearly due.
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