Chapter 49 - A slight disagreement over the T4 Euthanasia Programme

“Out of the goodness of my heart, I've taken a young girl on work-experience,” Sylvia told me. I imagine Dad encouraged her to do so. Again, perhaps one of his social experiments. “I’ve agreed to pay her whilst she’s working for me, but I swear she’s useless. I’m sure she’s special needs, autistic or something. She spends so long on simple tasks, it’s costing me money.” Dad sometimes agreed with her comments, as couples do, and observed the lack of compassion from a woman, whose ancestors may have suffered under the hardship of the industrial revolution.

I suspect a contributor to her attitude, was her father. I remember witnessing his anger at the success of the Brazilian football team, during the nineteen ninety-four World Cup. “Monkeys that swing from trees, when they’re not kicking a ball!” he shouted at the television screen, as the players ran across the pitch, heading for success. The idea that some humans are inherently superior to others was advocated in Sylvia’s family. Yes, Niemöller’s observations were still relevant in my Britain, towards the end of the twentieth century. 

To present balance, I confess my father challenged Sylvia’s dad. “My father, God bless his soul, would say the same of the Brazilian team. But aren’t we all related to monkeys?” he asked, keen on accuracy, particularly if the plan is to hurl insults. 

“More so the Great Apes Dad.” Nathan felt obliged to enlighten his father. I think we all learned more about human evolution that day, whilst we hollered at the men chasing a ball on some grass. 

I do not imagine Sylvia’s perspectives, similar to the ideology behind Hitler's T4 Euthanasia programme, were too much of an issue for Dad, and had little impact on their eventual decision to separate. I think the children —myself included— played a part. “Why doesn’t your brother come and visit his Dad much these days Helen?” Sylvia asked me, obviously critical. I was ignorant, as to why, and could not provide an answer. I am unaware as to whether Nathan knew that Sylvia was scathing about his absence. In later years, Nathan revealed that he believed Sylvia provided stability for my father’s unpredictability and was disappointed that they had separated. My reaction to the split was quite the opposite. I could not abide the discriminatory comments anymore and was thankful that I did not have to smile insincerely to Lancashire’s Crystal Carrington again. 

To once more provide a balanced explanation for the breakdown in a seemingly strong relationship, I will reveal that Dad grew frustrated with Fay, particularly as she entered her teenage years. I suspect there were other factors that contributed to the couple’s separation, but for some, playing happy families is hard, particularly when some of the children are not their flesh and blood —not of their ilk.