Maria Schweitzer paid the bus fare and looked for a seat. Finding one close to the front, she sat down and placed her books on her lap. Presently the bus, its brakes letting out a brief hiss, pulled out into the busy afternoon traffic.

Maria was nineteen, wealthy and beautiful. And everyone knew it. She had shoulder-length naturally red hair, complemented by her fair skin and deep green eyes. At average height, her graceful body was the envy of women and the daydream of men. As of late, she had even come to be referred to as "die Rosa von Berlin."

Maria, however, was not as enthusiastic about her appearance as her peers. She felt glad to be beautiful, certainly, but she often found that it created obstacles for her. These obstacles had proved even more frustrating than usual in the past year.

As was custom in the upper classes, Maria had had her "coming out" when she turned 18. Now that she had entered society as a woman, her family had no doubt that she would find a husband by the end of the season. Imagine the shock of Herr and Frau Schweitzer when Maria was still unmarried as the season ended and announced that she wanted to go to college!

The arguing began. Maria was not attracted to any of the men she had met, she claimed.

"I want to do something meaningful in my life," she explained, "I want to learn more, to do something intelligent."

Herr Schweitzer remarked that the intelligent thing to do would be to find a husband before it was too late.

"You’ll be so busy with your nose in a book, you’ll miss your chance to marry and end up a lonely spinster!" he prophesized, to which his daughter slammed her bedroom door shut so hard the wall rattled.

Stubbornly staying her ground, and amidst much lamenting from her mother, Maria finally was allowed to continue her education at a women’s college. She still attended all the society functions, hearing several inane comments such as "but you’re such a lovely girl!" and "you’ll meet a nice young man and forget all about it." At least they seemed to understand her interest in young children’s education. Maternal tendencies, they said. A good quality in a woman.

Dusk was approaching as Maria stepped off the bus at her stop. The streetlights flickered on and a chilly evening breeze sent hands burrowing into coat pockets. Maria held her books closer to her body and quickened her pace. She was anxious to get inside a warm house and sit down to dinner.

She hopped up the front steps and turned her key in the lock, humming softly.

"Mutti," Maria called as she entered the front hall and shut the door behind her, "Papa? I’m home." Sounds of acknowledgement emanated from the other end of the house. A slight, dark-haired woman came into the hall, smiling.

"I’ll put your things away for you, Fraulein Maria," she offered, picking up the purse and books from the table they had been piled upon.

"Thank you, Janina," replied Maria. She squeezed the woman’s free hand before heading for the dining room.

Janina sighed happily as she climbed the stairs with Maria’s things. For in her hand, folded into a tiny square, was now a 20-mark bill.

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