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Anneliese Himmel Blog Entry |
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September 13, 2024, 12:01:16 AM 9/13/24: r/SketchDaily theme, "Free Draw Friday." This week's characters from my anthro WWII storyline are Otto Himmel's adopted children: Simon, Anneliese, Elka, Erna, Hugo, Monika, and Alwin. Himmel and his wife Dagmar always wanted a large family but she died giving birth to their only son Kolten; after the war, Himmel adopts a handful of orphans and with Johanna Wolfstein raises them as their own. There'll be more about them later in my art Tumblr and Toyhou.se. Regarding their design, Elka and Erna are twins, while Hugo, Monika, and Alwin are siblings, so I gave them all distinctive lighter colored ears. Simon is the oldest of them, Anneliese the youngest. TUMBLR EDIT: Whoo a bunch this week! For starters, please see Johanna Wolfstein's entry for how she and Himmel end up together after the war and how their family begins. Himmel's beloved wife, Dagmar, died of blood loss following Kolten's birth years ago, dashing Himmel's hopes of having a big family (during the war he envied his boss's, Jäger's, large brood, spoiling them whenever he had the chance, and was heartbroken following their deaths in the Alpine Fortress); he and Johanna, who'd also wanted kids yet couldn't have any, decide they can patch together a family together, following an orphanage visit. This entry will afterward be individualized for each child though I haven't much to share yet so these should be short. Here we go! Anneliese is the first of Himmel's adopted children, yet also the youngest. (He adopts them in quick succession.) He actually doesn't intend to adopt her, isn't even thinking of adoption, when he and Johanna, on a visit to the city, just happen to notice the orphanage; for a reason they can't really explain, they decide to visit for a look. As soon as they enter, someone exclaims loudly, "Papa!"--then Himmel jerks to an abrupt stop. A small girl with her black bobbed hair in a bright red band rushes forward and launches herself at him, throwing her arms around his legs and nearly knocking him over--he has to steady himself with his cane. He looks down in surprise, she looks up with a huge smile--then her smile fades into uncertainty. "You're not Papa," she says, confused, and although he has no idea what's going on, Himmel feels his heart break. "I'm so so sorry!" another voice exclaims, and a young woman approaches, picks up the child and passes her off to another worker--"Come now, Anneliese, back to your table"--then starts apologizing again profusely. "You reminded her of her father, it must be your coat and hat," she explains; "Her father was SS," she adds a bit hesitantly, "dark coat, dark hat...probably also the reason no one wishes to adopt her." She says this last bit with a sad but resigned air. Anneliese's father was killed just after the final days of the war so her memory of him is very vague, she was so young, yet she does remember him. She's been here ever since; although many people have shown interest in adopting her, upon hearing of her parentage, they've all moved on. It's as if who her father was is a curse she has to carry now, through no fault of her own. This comment--that it's as if little Anneliese is cursed--hits Himmel hard. He knows the feeling. He and Johanna head home but he spends much of the evening in silence, mulling. Johanna notices yet says nothing, knowing it's not aimed at her; Himmel may not always be the most outspoken, but he's also not passive-aggressive, they know and trust each other well enough that he would just tell her if they had a problem between them. When they're lying in bed late that night, however, and it's obvious neither is sleeping, she touches his arm, a silent question. "I can't stop thinking about that little girl," Himmel murmurs, "waiting all this time for her father to come home." They both lie staring at the ceiling for a while, then turn to each other and both say at once, "Do you think...?" Then cut themselves off. Then urge the other to finish their thought first. Then fall silent. Then Himmel ventures, "You said...you said once that you wanted children." "I remember you did, too," Johanna says. Himmel bites his lip. "Do you think...do you think perhaps this is a sign? That she thinks I'm her father? Or...I know you don't look for signs...yet, do you think, maybe...?" He falls silent, uncertain about the idea now. Johanna knows he's losing his nerve--he constantly doubts and second-guesses himself--so she speaks up before he can. "I think we should," she says, and Himmel's spirits are buoyed. They return to the orphanage. Himmel summons the courage to ask about Anneliese...would it be possible for him to adopt her? He and Johanna are unsure, as they aren't married, so Himmel would be the sole name on the forms. He has a good home, however--lots of space--lots to do--a safe environment, and lots of love to give. Does he have experience with children? Yes, he often helped care for his former boss's many children, they all loved him, and he has a grown son of his own. Only now does he falter again, and has to be honest with the administrator...his son has a developmental disability, and sometimes has temper tantrums and difficulty interacting with others. He's a good boy, though, a quick learner, and Himmel is certain he would never harm a child. Does he know how he will react toward Anneliese, the woman asks?...Himmel hesitates, admits he's not sure, but he knows, he just knows, his son would never harm her. The administrator suggests that Anneliese visit Himmel's home along with her, give the girl a chance to see the place while the administrator examines how safe the home is and how appropriate the environment. Given the difficulty of adopting children out right now, especially one like Anneliese, she's willing to bend some rules, yet she can't just hand a child over willy-nilly. Himmel readily agrees, he's an open book, he has nothing to hide. The administrator brings Anneliese out to the country house the next day. Himmel is anxious but accommodating, showing the administrator around while Johanna tends to Anneliese. It's a big house with lots of stairs and ledges and places to get lost in; Himmel promises that as long as she's still so young, Anneliese will be watched like a hawk to keep her safe. Then comes time for Anneliese to meet Himmel's son, Kolten. Himmel had told him what to expect the previous day, as he doesn't like surprises; he's been lurking in his playroom this entire time, and now Himmel goes to fetch him. Kolten peers out uncertainly, gives a soft hallo when Himmel introduces the woman. She seems a bit caught off guard by his size and appearance yet says hallo back. Himmel coaxes him out as Johanna arrives with Anneliese; Anneliese breaks away from her and rushes at Himmel, throwing her arms around his legs again. She may realize now that he's not her father, but he's close enough. Himmel stoops and points out Kolten. Anneliese peeks at him and Kolten stares back; after a moment she lets go of Himmel, takes an uncertain step toward Kolten--finger in her mouth--looks over just how big and imposing he is--then launches herself at him and throws her arms around his neck. Everyone's--especially Kolten's--eyes go wide. The adults suck in a breath--Himmel has mentioned Kolten's need for boundaries and safe places--so no one has any idea what to do or how to react. Kolten goes stiff--blinks--then wraps his arms around Anneliese. Himmel holds up a hand as if to urge him to let go before he can accidentally hurt her, though Anneliese doesn't let go; he isn't squeezing too hard or frightening her at all. In fact, an unusual thing--Kolten actually smiles as he hugs her back. The rest of the visit, Anneliese alternates between clasping Himmel's hand, and clinging to Kolten, who lifts her as if she's light as a feather. He shows her his blocks, and even tolerates her stacking a few of them (apart from his own structure). When it's time to go, he looks crestfallen, and Anneliese's face quivers and she starts crying. Himmel tries to calm her down, promising to stop by tomorrow--with hope, she'll be able to come home with him again--then she runs to Kolten and clings to him again, not wanting to leave. Kolten hugs her, gently puts a massive hand on her head, murmurs, "Papa can bring you back tomorrow--ja? And you can look at my books and play with my blocks, ja?--bitte, Papa?" Himmel replies that this is what they hope to do, and offers Anneliese a final hug before the administrator carries her back out to the truck, squalling her lungs out. Kolten returns to his room to sulk; Johanna isn't sure what to think, but Himmel seems convinced that it went remarkably well, considering...although he has to wipe at his own streaming eyes as he says so. A knock comes at the door late that night. Himmel and Johanna are surprised to see the administrator--quite frazzled looking--with Anneliese asleep in her arms: "I know it's dreadfully late but bitte, may I come in?" As Anneliese dozes on the couch, the woman opens her briefcase and spreads out some forms on the kitchen table; the girl cried all day and evening as if her heart would break, and nothing could console her, she wouldn't even eat. It was only as the administrator was driving back out to Himmel's place that she finally fell asleep from sheer exhaustion, but "I can't bear the thought of her waking and starting again! I just know that she will. I've never seen her get so attached to anyone as she has to your family, Herr Himmel; I don't think she would ever want to be with anyone else. And obviously your son has gotten attached to her as well. I can see she will be loved here. Bitte, if you will, I've brought all the forms needed to finalize the adoption process. You and Frau Johanna wish to take her in...? I'm hoping I didn't misunderstand..." No, she didn't. Himmel promptly signs the forms. Kolten, who'd heard the talking and peeked out of his room, offers to take Anneliese up to the room they'd been preparing for her, as Himmel's leg is bad; he scoops her up so gently she doesn't even wake, and carries her up the stairs. He peeks out again a moment later and begs to be allowed to stay by her bed just tonight, in case she wakes and is confused or scared; Himmel grants permission, as long as he stays on the floor, and says he'll fetch an extra blanket and pillow. Over the moon, he thanks the administrator repeatedly, clasping her hands: "Danke, danke, she'll be well cared for here, we'll give her everything she needs." The woman thanks them for their indulgence and departs; Himmel brings a blanket and pillow to Kolten, who settles happily in the corner of Anneliese's room. Himmel kisses the girl's forehead and returns to Johanna; a bit of his anxiety returns--"I hope we did the right thing, do I really know what I'm doing?"--yet Johanna promptly shuts this down: "You know exactly what you're doing, Liebe! Don't listen to the doubt. Listen to your heart. It never steers you wrong." Anneliese wakes as Anneliese Himmel. She fits comfortably into the little family, and is there to welcome all the newcomers who follow, though she remains closest to Kolten, often riding around on his shoulders as he does work in the yard. And the two of them love giving each other hugs. Along with Simon, Anneliese is the one to comfort him the most after Himmel's death years later, hugging him tight as he cries, and promising with the others to always be his family. Please see Anneliese's siblings' entries: Kolten, Simon, Elka and Erna, Hugo and Monika and Alwin. [Anneliese Himmel 2024 [Friday, September 13, 2024, 12:01:16 AM]] |