Socks

Date/Timing: 12 April 2006
Setting: Gottlieb home; Berlin, Germany
.
The sitting room clock chimes eighteen-hundred and Doctor Schulte, across the dining room table, sighs, «I suppose that's all we can do for tonight.»
«I suppose so,» echoes Hermann, closing his workbook.
«Now, you begin uni next week?»
«Yes, sir.»
Doctor Schulte sighs again. «I suppose you will be too busy to continue these lessons.»
Hermann rubs his neck. «Actually, sir, I believe I will have enough time, even with my classes.»
Doctor Schulte brightens like one spotlighted. «Truly?»
Hermann nods.
«Wonderful! Will the same times be acceptable?»
«They will be fine, sir.»
«Doubly wonderful!» He /thumps his hands against the table, pushes to his feet. «You have given this old man the best news of his week!»
«It is only Tuesday, sir.»
Doctor Schulte 'pfft's, waves off the comment. «It will be hard to surpass, especially given my quiet days ahead.»
Hermann hums, leads the way to the foyer.
«Your family does not celebrate the holidays, do they?» Doctor Schulte bends for his shoes.
«Only my grandparents do, sir.»
«That is too bad.» The man stands, straightens his jacket, smiles. «You could use some of the food which comes with the celebrations.»
Hermann chuckles. «Thank you, sir. May your evening be pleasant.»
«It has been my pleasure, young man.» Doctor Schulte smiles, pats Hermann's arm. «You are one of the quickest studies of the Russian language I have been blessed to teach.»
Hermann ducks his head. «Surely you overstate matters.»
«Not me!» He laughs quietly. «Inflating egos leads to explosions and I am much too old to deal with that sort of mess.»
«Thank you, sir.»
«You have earned the praise, Mr Gottlieb. In fact, you are picking up Russian so quickly I am sorely tempted to add Yiddish to your curriculum, just to take advantage of that magnificent brain of yours.»
Hermann blushes, shifts his feet.
«There are places for modesty and places for pride, young man. /This is one for pride.»
Hermann looks up, puts his shoulders back. 
«That is better. I will see you on the twentieth.»
«Yes, sir. See you then.»
Doctor Schulte bows and saunters through the door Hermann opens for him.
Hermann closes up, locks the door, and lets his shoulders drop. He sighs, trudges back to the dining room, gathers his books and plods to his bedroom.
A box waits on his desk.
Hermann frowns, stows the supplies on the shelf, shuffles back to the doorway, hollers, „Bastien?“
„„What?““
„Where'd this package come from?“
„„Courier brought it while you were working!““ 
„Th—“
„„I signed your name!““
Hermann rolls his eyes. „Thank you!“
„„You're welcome~!““
He parts the tape and opens the lid.
A note atop a layer of waxed paper.
- May the new term be a worthy adventure! These should help you keep up your strength.
Chag sameach,
Oma and Opa 
Ps. Don't let Bastien eat them all. -
Hermann laughs, checks his wall calendar.
Opa and Oma would already have left for their kosher retreat by now. 
He makes a mental note, parts the paper, revealing a half-dozen jam-filled pastries. He lifts one out, takes a nibble, squees.
Quince rugelach, well-made.
„„What's in the box?““ yells Bastien.
„Socks!“ Hermann calls back around another mouthful.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Berlin (setting)
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Klaus
Category:Klaus (ficlet)
Category:Adina
Category:Adina (ficlet)
Category:Conversations via snail mail
Category:Bastien
Category:Bastien (ficlet)
Category:Ficlets with images