chapter 3: the west

"Can anyone help me?" - Metin opened the trunk of the aged green Mercedes his father Sadik had bought thirty years ago. The car was still in a good condition even though the diesel engine had some dropouts. Paul and Thomas came out of the front door and supported Metin carrying some boxes with fresh vegetables into the house. The solidarity between the domestics and the Turkish community here in the quarter was almost exemplary and without the financial aid from Metin's two uncles who ran a successful food storage business in Ankara the whole situation would have been more critical. After they'd brought all the groceries in Metin scratched his bold head: - "Where do we start now, guys?" - Thomas fetched a handwritten list out of his pocket. - "Let me see .. the Halbachers and the Kleins need some food for the next days .. and, oh yes, Misses Rothausen has no flour and no milk anymore .." - Sadik appeared in the open door leaned on the black wooden walking stick he was needing since his second hip replacement. With a concerned expression he looked around and wanted to start saying something, but in that moment Metin laid his arm around his shoulder. - "It's ok, Baba, I've managed all. You don't need to worry. Have a seat in the kitchen, I will make some tea .." - Sadik nodded with a slight touch of a smile in his face and he turned slowly around. - "Could you ..?" - Paul lifted his right thumb. - "We'll handle that, take care of your Baba." - They knew how Metin loved his father, he admired him for all what he had done for him and his little sister Dünya even after the early death of their mother eight years ago. It has been not always simple to manage the grocer's shop and to raise two kids born here in Cologne in between two different cultures with all its contradictions but Sadik has never complained about the circumstances, he was grateful about the support of Metin's aunt Hürise who always came in the right moment when he had felt overextended what he never ever had admitted, his pride forbade him that. Thomas took some plastic bags out of the rack behind him and began to pack according to the list. He handed every readymade one over to Paul who labeled it with a blue marker. After a while half a dozen well-stocked bags with the names of the addressees on it stood on the floor. Dünya came in with a cup of tea in her hands. - "Looks good, boys, let's go." - She drank out and handed out Thomas the empty cup. - "It's good, Paul and I will take over the delivery. Why don't you accompany my brother and my father in the kitchen? They sit on the table without saying anything in the last minutes. Please, .." - She forced him carefully to the door. - ".. break up the silence and talk to them, you know I don't like it when they are so depressed." - Thomas watched Dünya and Paul getting each of them three bags and leaving the store. - "Back in an hour, see you .." - He went to the kitchen where Sadik and Metin were sitting both with their elbows on the table staring at an imaginary spot. He poured some hot tea into the cup Dünya handed him and had a seat on the free chair to the left. - "Everything fine?" - He could hear Sadik's massive breathing before Metin broke the silence. - "You know, Thomas, in moments like these Baba misses our beloved mother-" - "And I'm glad in the Name of Allah that she doesn't witness this all," - interrupted him Sadik, - "shame over those who had let it come so far, shame over them!" - Thomas and Metin flashed at each other a glance. - "We know, Baba, we know, it's frustrating, but you do all the best that you can, as everyone of us, and I'm very proud of you, me and my sister we learned so much of you and we love you and we miss our Ane as well as you miss her." - Since the school times they'd spent together both complemented one another, Metin's reticence inherited from his father has always broken up immediately in the presence of Thomas. He was some kind of unintentional catalyzer, from one moment to the other Metin could talk openminded about his thoughts and feelings. Sadik was glad over the intimate friendship his son shared with this atypical German whose social orientated intellect he'd always admired although he'd not always agreed with Thomas' left-progressive visions. - "Things will get better, Baba, trust me, I've got a good feeling about that." - Sadik raised his head. - "You believe oğlum?" - "Of course I do, Baba, people like you taught us not to surrender, no matter what happened. We will get through this, Baba, I swear, in the name of Allah and his prophet Mohammed!" - He hugged his father and kissed him on his forehead. - "Any news from outside?" - Thomas wanted to distract both from becoming too pathetic. Metin settled back with an official look. - "Only rumors. Nothing what is to be confirmed. The local councils up the Rhine are still in negotiations about forming a superior crisis board. Some cities in the Ruhr Basin try to stable their economy with own currencies, but that's only a transitional solution. Spooky informations concerning the southern regions, they seem to extend the state of emergency, some people mentioned the possible declaration of martial law. Internet connections are still interrupted, since one week now." - "Seems they're getting serious about forming a new state," - Thomas considered. Metin shook his head. - "Separating would be no good idea, this would only enforce the believes about their lack of team spirit. And it could damage the federal principles our nation's based on." - "But they were always known for their stubbornness." - "Don't mention. I've never got the fact that they passed the foundation of the Federal Republic of Germany maintaining their own constitution .. what's up, Baba? Everything alright with you?" - Sadik smiled teary-eyed at his son. - "You remember when I was really upset after you told me you want to study political science together with Thomas?" - Metin looked slightly confused. - "Yes, Baba, I remember, but what-" - "Shhh oğlum, just listen to your old father: you know I always wanted you to become my follower to run the store I've built up and I'm proud of possessing. But when I hear both of you now arguing in such a brilliant manner I'm enlightened with the spark of hope that the future can be build upon such smart young men like you are. I'm proud of both of you and I'm extremely happy that you're gone your own way. I want you to now that." - "Thanks, Baba. I appreciate that very much." - "So I do, Sadik, thank you." - While both father and son were holding each other by the hands Thomas stood up to refill his cup with some fresh tea. Those emotional parts were not really his business, he was more the rational type of character, even in his younger years he was known for his reason and his responsibility. In the moment he sat down again Paul appeared back from delivering the care bags in the neighborhood. -"Finished. What's next?"