a jolly fat man who lets things manage themselves

a jolly fat man who lets things manage themselves

fiction
edward w pritchard


Sometimes a Man must have a hobby if he is to be able to escape work and the pressures of business and politics. Worry and strife have a way of multiplying even if we maintain diversions and routines to separate our problems from our private lives. At such times a man must focus on what is really important.

Herman had fallen out with his boss recently. Now he passionately pursued building his art collection. He also enjoyed dressing up and socializing. Herman's table and liquor and wine collections were famous throughout Germany and Europe and Herman was known as a bon vivant and interesting company.

Still life had become so complicated for Herman. So many responsibilities so many epic problems and concerns. The Americans to the West, the Russians from the East and rats and traitors within the Nazi party. Sometimes Herman thought if he could just talk with the Fuhrer alone the two of them could renew the old magic.

Herman had decided to let things manage themselves some time ago.

Herman was shocked by the turn of events never the less. Arrested and treated as a common criminal by the Americans.

Herman vowed to improve. He spoke with the psychologist every day, followed the routine to get off the morphine that had plagued him since his war injury in the first war and followed the bland diet that the jailers felt he must be on if he was to live through the stress of the trial to be properly judged and hanged.

Summoning his deepest strengths Herman Goring joked and relaxed. Herman managed to make the best of his ordeal of the trial and by shear personality inspire the other defendants and bring some normalcy to his traumatized Countrymen. 

Only at night did Herman worry about his Art collection, his house in Ober Salzburg and his defeated Countrymen.

Sometimes in spite of it all it is best to let things manage themselves.