Sunlit oak tree

The end of the working day turned out to be anything but: Wilhelm brought disappointing news home. He was fired. It seemed to be predictable, but it’s not clear what to do now. He simply could not tell this news to Anna, so he went into one of the bars in the city center and ordered himself a glass of beer with his last money. I needed to console myself somehow. There was noise and commotion in the establishment; there was no outflow of visitors. It’s strange that people have fun and drink on the most terrible days. Maybe this is a sign that all is not lost in people? A man in a raincoat suddenly sat down next to him — short in stature and with a flat face, on which practically no emotions were reflected. His mechanical voice put Wilhelm into a stupor. — You are Wilhelm Weissenberg, aren’t you? “The man was in slight shock from what he heard. — Well, suppose, what is it? Why do you need me? — Wilhelm stopped a waitress passing by and ordered himself a beer. — I want to offer you something. — Wilhelm became wary. Their conversation, which smoothly began with the fact that there is now unemployment and inflation, smoothly flowed into Wilhelm’s life; He spoke with great sadness in his voice about his difficult life and the lost war. The stranger, in turn, fully supported him, agreed, talked about politics and how this was the only thing that would always matter. Wilhelm was about to leave, briefly saying that he was not interested in politics. The man hastily said that he, like all Germans, harbors anger for the shameful loss. Wilhelm turned around and looked at the man seriously. He approached and said the address in his ear and added that if Wilhelm wants to improve his life, he can try his luck and try to get there. The money they will pay him there will be enough to live on. Wilhelm walked away. It wasn’t enough for him to get involved in this nonsense. Of course, it was worth thinking about, but what will happen next and how prosperous will his future be? *** The day dragged on slowly and lazily. Augustine was reading a book that he took from the table in the living room. There was nothing to do anyway: they didn’t know where they were and what kind of area it was; Finding themselves in complete isolation, they had to wait for adults. Anna had recently left, and Wilhelm was due to arrive soon, but for the children everything seemed too long, too boring, too complicated. Agnes sat by the window and watched the children play in the yard. They were dressed in simple dresses and had almost no bows. Augustine, as the eldest, had to look after everyone. The boy did not like this heavy burden; he was not used to being responsible for anyone other than himself. He looked first at Yum and then at Yunna, who were sleeping after lunch. The house was quiet. Augustine closed his eyes, counted to ten and opened them again, finally convinced that there was no point in reading a boring book about politics. He closed it and stood up to put it back in its place. — Augustine, do you think we will be able to go to our school that we went to before? — Agnes was sad, she didn’t like anything here at all. And she didn’t want to take a step out of this apartment, but judging by her brother’s answer, she would still have to somehow learn to live in a new environment. “It’s unlikely that our parents will take us away from here now.” I think we’ll have to go to a new school soon. Maybe all the changes are for the better. — Augustine tried to lie, but Agnes shook her head. -You’re bad at lying. — Agnes turned away from her brother to the window. The clanging of a key was heard in the keyhole and the door opened. Augustine looked out — Wilhelm arrived, tired, and it was clear from his face that he was dissatisfied and saddened with something. — Augustine, how are your sisters and brother? — Augustine greeted him in response and said that everything was fine. Wilhelm went to the kitchen and lit a cigarette. The boy was still standing on the threshold. — Sit down if you want. I know you’re bored here, but I gave your mother my word that you’d be safe, even though you’ve probably got too much on your plate. “The man exhaled smoke, and it entered the boy’s lungs. Wilhelm never achieved anything — he was not even given his last salary, he was simply kicked out of work. That conversation at the bar also stuck in my head. We need to talk to Anna. — Tell me honestly, are we a burden to you? Wilhelm took a drag on his cigarette. — How can I tell you?.. Did you hear what my wife and I talked about yesterday? — Augustine nodded his head in confirmation. — No, it’s not like that, it’s just that, you see, we never had our own children, and we don’t know how to bear responsibility for strangers. But don’t worry, adults can solve many problems, so Anna and I will try to do everything for your well-being. “Tell me,” Augustine said carefully when Wilhelm wanted to get up from his chair and was already turning away, but the boy’s voice made him turn back to him. — Why have you never come to us? Anna said that my grandparents quarreled, and you took your grandmother’s last name, and we took your grandfather’s last name, but why didn’t you come to us? — Wilhelm sighed. — Augustine, you understand, it’s not just that our parents quarreled, it’s about complex issues. But we never came, to put it briefly, only for the reason that we were never invited. Your father is a good man, he built a business, he raised you. — Wilhelm was choosing his words — it was clear that it was hard for him. Having not communicated with Augustine’s father for so many years, he forgot that they generally exist not only as formal relatives. The boy absorbed everything like a sponge; his parents never wanted to explain anything to their children. For them, “no” was no without explanation; if it was “yes,” then yes without explanation. Augustine was interested in listening to an adult who at least explained something and helped the boy build a picture of the world. “It’s just that no one ever came to us: neither grandparents, nor other relatives, so I asked. — Augustine was picking at the floor with his shoe out of boredom. — Family matters are always difficult, don’t think that no one needs you. These are just old grievances, but I think everything will be fine now. I think you will be able to communicate with other members of your family. Just not with everyone at once. — Fine. “Augustine ran away, and Wilhelm, sitting on a chair, was still looking at the family photograph hanging on the wall. The last time they all got together was for Augustine’s birthday. Armen then flared up that he and Anna arrived later than everyone else, and then they were simply late because of work. Yes, Armen never changed his opinion about a person, a person had only one chance before making a good impression on him and presenting himself correctly. It couldn’t have been any other way. He did not give up on these principles, even when his brother was late. Agnes looked at the pattern on the carpet — it was the only thing interesting to her in this room. Augustine was talking about something with Wilhelm, and the girl had nothing to do. Until the moment when Anna came to the apartment. The girl was floating and almost dancing with joy when she saw her aunt on the threshold. Looking into the room and making sure that everything was fine, Anna went to the kitchen. At this time, Augustine came out from there. Anna said hello and walked towards her husband in high spirits, carrying newspapers in her hand. — Wilhelm, you won’t believe it! — she told her husband from the doorway in a joyful voice. “Anna, I can already believe in anything, so you’re unlikely to surprise me.” — Anna threw the newspapers on the table, Wilhelm immediately reached for them and opened them on the first page. Everything is bad again. After briefly flipping through the newspaper, he was convinced that there was not a single column of good news in it, and began reading an article about trading on the stock exchange. “I agreed to move to the apartment I told you about.” — Is it true? “Anna nodded approvingly at him. — This is really good news. I think it will only be better for everyone, and especially for the children. But I wouldn’t be so happy, Anna, I was fired from work today, so I don’t know if we should even count on this apartment,” Wilhelm said dejectedly. Anna was not happy with her husband’s attitude. With such a life motive you will not go far. “They will charge the same amount as they took for this apartment.” — Anna put the frying pan on to heat up. — Why were you fired from your job? — The management has changed. — Wilhelm turned the page of the newspaper, pretending to be completely at ease. Anna was annoyed by this. “Wilhelm, can you put down your newspaper and pay attention to me?” — The man looked at his wife. — Thank you. I haven’t got anything yet either, I haven’t been given a promotion, and besides, they said that they can equalize the salaries with other teachers. “You were such a valuable teacher for them.” — Wilhelm examined the refrigerator, opening the door, and closed it again, sadly making sure that it was empty again. “Although I was also kind of valuable.” — Let’s not despair, in any case I can organize lessons here, and you… — Anna, don’t worry, I’ll find a job. At least they were going to lay me off anyway — this is not news. “Wilhelm stood up and walked out of the kitchen into the hall where Augustine and Agnes were sitting and telling little Yume something. Wilhelm, looking at the three of them, understood that he had only one option — to move into politics. He hardly has any more chances. “Anna,” he said, returning to the kitchen. — I want to talk to you. There is an option to earn extra money, but… — But…? — She stopped preparing dinner. — But they offered me to join the party. — Anna sat down next to her husband with a gloomy face. — Did you agree? — No, I said that I would think about it, but I doubt whether I should get involved in this at all. Your father was an official, maybe he knows something about the NSDAP? — I will call him. But you go anyway, we need to grab every opportunity now. And it doesn’t matter what it will be. Do you understand me, Wilhelm? — Yes, I understand. What are you thinking of doing? — The question came to Anna suddenly. She began stirring the carrots again, adding onions and some meat. — I found several students from my class for additional classes. They didn’t promise much, but it’s better than nothing at all. — Anna lied very convincingly. — You’re right. — Wilhelm got up to call the children for dinner. Augustine felt like no one else that something black and gloomy was clearly hanging over the house, and it was only because of them. Dinner passed in quiet silence. Agnes asked a question about school. — Agnes, I think that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow I will get you into the school where I work. And you and Wilhelm go and change your last names, and we will officially be your guardians,” Anna answered her. — Is everything that bad with your parents? — Augustine looked at Wilhelm; he put down his fork. — No, it’s just that your parents left, so they asked us to look after you. — OK. — Augustine buried his nose in his plate and began to finish eating. Agnes ate poorly, but the feeling of hunger overpowered her. The dishes in this house were not beautiful and similar to what was served on hot baking sheets in their house. The food was delicious, although a little bland. Before going to bed, Augustine remembered his tree and his bookshelves. What happened to them, what happened to his railroad, to his easel? What happened to Agnes' dresses and her dolls? What actually happened in their house? Ah, if Augustine had been older, he would have taken his sisters and brother with him and gone with them to live separately, but he was too young to understand how the world really works. Maybe it would still be possible to stay in their house and not leave it? Maybe it would be possible to remain one? Edith would come and watch them, and he would still be reading under the tree. Agnes would take care of the flowers. And the sun would still shine as it did yesterday, illuminating the clearing where they loved to run and pick berries. And the mother would bring armfuls of flowers home and make bouquets. Augustine cried that night. He promised himself two things: the first was to never forget his home, and the second was to return and sit under the oak tree again, no matter how many years passed.