Short Stories : The Greatest Journey of Our Life (Chapter 9)

Short Stories : The Greatest Journey of Our Life (Chapter 9)

 

CHAPTER 9

Goodbye Sergei!

Somewhere, Alexander and Sergei were sleeping in a basement. Somewhere, two men were standing in front of a door, and somewhere, far away, a dog barked. The two men heard this dog!

"Are we going in?" Asked Anton. >> We can still call the militia! <<

>> We go in, at least I do! <<

>> Now I've accompanied you so far, believe me, I'm waiting out here now, of course I'll come with you, even if it's crazy! <<

Jürgen patted him on the shoulder. >> Thank you! << Then he opened the steel door.

The kids were there! Some looked at the two drowsily. Others just kept sleeping. Jürgen looked at everyone. It didn't take him long to find it, it was already the third! He was awake and looked at him waiting. >> Hello! <<, Jürgen greeted him. The boy just nodded. "You have something that belongs to me!" He continued.

"Me?" Asked the boy back. Anton carefully watched the situation.

>> Yes, you! If you're an honest person, you'll give it back to me now. << He underlined the sentence by holding out his hand and waiting for the boy to put the wallet in it.

The boy didn't even think of giving anything back. Slowly he got up and ran towards the door. Jürgen was able to catch up with him shortly before he reached it. His hand reached for his arm. At that moment the others rose. Anton had a bad feeling about it, so slowly the situation seemed to be getting out of control.

"Let go of me!" Asked the boy.

Jürgen was now clearer. >> Please give me my wallet! <<

The boy looked cold in his eyes. >> I don't have her wallet! <<

>> Would you prefer us to call the militia? <<

No reaction! Jürgen nodded to Anton, who knew if he had to call now. He quickly picked up Jürgen's phone and wanted to dial the number. At that moment, several children pounced on him.

Jürgen was still holding the boy. He now pulled something out of his pocket, but not the wallet, but a knife. Before Jürgen could react, he felt a sharp pain on his hand. The grip loosened and the boy took the chance, opened the door and ran away. The others in his group did the same. The basement was empty in no time. Anton slowly got up and wiped the dirt off his coat. Then he looked over at Jürgen, who was busy stopping the bleeding. With one hand he pressed a handkerchief onto the wound. His neighbor came closer. >> It looks worse than it is. I told them yes, these children have completely different values ​​and rules. Basically, we can be happy that it didn't turn out worse. Should I call the militia? <<

Jürgen shook his head. >> Leave it, there is no point. <<

>> Good morning, dear Alexander! <<, Sergei shook his friend awake.

He opened his eyes drowsy. >> Did something happen? <<

>> No, but I'm bored! <<

"Boring?" His friend repeated questioningly.

>> Let's go for a walk! <<

Alexander, who had been on his feet all night, didn't feel like it, but he wanted to do his friend a favor. He rose, still tired.

>> Why are you always so tired? <<

>> Will be the age! <<

Sergei slapped him on the back. >> Ha, ha, that's good. You're not old! << With these words he climbed onto the box. Fortunately, Alexander looked around again. There was the radio! He took it and tapped Sergei. This turned around in surprise.

>> Here, you almost forgot the radio! <<

>> Thank you, but we would have come back. <<

>> Sure, but if someone comes down here in the meantime, do you think they wouldn't be happy about a radio? <<

>> Yes, you are right! Thank you, Alexander! <<

So they strolled through the streets. Alexander looked up and became thoughtful. >> It will definitely snow today! <<

Some children were on a slope with their sledges. Sergei looked sadly at them. >> Too bad we don't have a sled. I would like to go sledding again. <<

>> Ask them if you can drive once. <<

Sergej's face brightened. >> Yes, a good idea! << With great strides he ran to the other side and spoke to a little boy. The latter just nodded and let him have his sled. Sergei drove down the slope several times. Then he spoke to the boy again, surely he thanked him. When the little boy got back to him, he had to catch his breath. >> That was great! <<, he enthused. You could have driven some time. <<

Alexander couldn't help smiling. >> Well, that would look stupid. I'm unfortunately too old for that. <<

Sergei looked at him and grinned. >> You are never too old! <<

His little friend stopped again in front of a bakery. >> Look there! << He pointed to the cream cake in the display.

>> Do you want a piece? <<

>> Gladly! <<

So they went in and Alexander ordered a piece. On the side were small tables where you could eat what you ordered. Greedily grabbed it. As he swallowed the first bite, he looked at his friend. >> Don't you like one? <<

>> No, I'm not after cake! <<, he lied. He would also have liked to order a piece, but he had to divide up the little money. Yes, that's how it was when you lived on the street, you could never tell whether you had money the next day or not.

Now he was sitting in Anton's kitchen, reflecting on what he had experienced. His neighbor came out of the bathroom with a gauze bandage. >> We first have to wash and disinfect the wound! <<

>> You know your way around. <<

A smile played around Anton's lips. >> I was a medic in the military for five years. This injury is still easy here. I've seen a lot worse. <<

>> I can imagine that! <<

After the wound was cleaned with a damp cloth, Anton brushed it on. Jürgen made a face because the stuff burned like hell! The former medic carefully wrapped the gauze bandage around his hand. "In a few days everything will be healed." He calmed him down. Then he put a kettle of water on the stove. >> I make us a cup of tea, it will do us good now. Would you like a cup too? <<

Jürgen didn't answer his question. He still had to think of the boy. >> I don't understand that! <<

Anton ran into the living room and came back with a cash box. It wasn't finished, but it was always well hidden. Nobody would find her that easily! He took a few bills from her and handed them to him. >> Here you have some money. You have to get to the embassy somehow. <<

>> Thank you very much! As soon as I have a new card, they will get the money back. <<

His neighbor waved him off. >> Oh, I live very modestly. The few rubles don't hurt me, keep it! <<

He didn't feel like discussing the money now, so he was silent. But he would not keep it! His neighbor put two cups on the table and put a tea bag in each. The kettle started to whistle. He carefully took it off the stove and poured the water into the two cups. >> I hope you don't have the worst impression of Russia now. <<

>> No, everything is just the way it is. There is also misery and misery in my country. <<

>> It used to be better here. Something was done for the youth. Pictures like now would have been unimaginable back then. Now we have the freedom and can travel anywhere, but what use is this freedom if you have no money to travel. <<

>> I understand, that's what worries me so much, this injustice in the world. Everyone should have a home and enough food. <<

Anton looked at him seriously, >> Was life ever fair? Life was always unfair! <<

Tonight Alexander wanted to try his luck at the train station. After all, there was more to be earned than on the street where he usually was. As soon as his little friend fell asleep, he crawled out the window. It was a good thirty minutes to the train station. When he was halfway there, it started snowing again. >> Shit! <<, he heard himself say.

>> Hello Alexander! <<, slang from the side.

It was Dimitri! He was sitting at an entrance. In front of her was a box with some kopecks. Next to it was a bottle of vodka, which was almost empty. He looked bad. A totally dirty coat, a torn and just as dirty jeans, his face drawn by the intoxication. Nevertheless, Alexander took pity and threw a note into the box. He would surely put the money back into vodka, but you could blame him. No, life on the street was hard and without alcohol or glue it was unbearable. Unless you had a good friend.

Dimitri thanked her. However, it was already tight that it was difficult to understand. He actually wanted to ask him how he was doing, but he preferred not to, the sight answered his question anyway. "I have to go on!" He said instead. >> All the best to you! <<

There was a lot of activity in the station. People arrived, people drove away. Alexander looked around carefully, no militia nearby! Now he could only hope that the militia would not chase him away again. He couldn't bribe the officials, something had to be earned first. So he paced up and down and waited. But he didn't have to wait long. An older man was already watching him and was coming closer. Alexander estimated him to be sixty years old. The man was wearing a suit and had a briefcase with him. It was certainly a businessman. Without losing a lot of words, he got straight to the point. >> What are you asking for? <<

>> It depends on what you want. <<

>> Everything! <<

At that moment he was knocked aside with a violent blow. It only took Alexander a few seconds to understand the situation. The attacker was about his age. He stared at him with a glassy look. This was again a sign that the guy was on drugs and was not to be trifled with people like that.

"What are you asshole doing here!" He shouted at him. The man was already leaving. Before he could answer, the attacker's hand slapped his face. >> This is my district, and you bastard don't take any customers away from me, understand! <<

Alexander ran away as fast as he could. The guy shouted several swear words at him, but he couldn't hear that anymore.

It was snowing so hard now that you could hardly see anything. The cars were moving at walking pace and the wipers were working at full speed. Only now did he remember that he had given Dimitri his last money. He didn't deserve anything either. That was real shit today. He turned into a side street. He stopped in front of the wheeled container of a hotel and looked around. There was no one to be seen. He pushed the lid open with all his might. It stank of fish, but you couldn't eat it anymore, unless you wanted to be taken to the hospital with food poisoning.

At that moment a door opened and a cook came out with a bucket. Alexander quickly closed the container again. The man hadn't noticed him yet. >> Hello! Do you have anything left to eat? <<

>> Always these beggars. Do it so that you get ahead, there is nothing here! <<

Well, it was worth a try. So he went on. There was a supermarket nearby so he could try his luck. When Alexander finally arrived, a few children were already standing there and searching the containers. Today really wasn't his day!

Suddenly Sergei woke up. In the dark he groped for the matches and lit a candle. This gave at least a little bit of light. His friend was not there! Maybe he had to go and be back in a minute. So he waited a few minutes, but nobody came. Where did his friend go? Nothing would have happened to him? Many questions and no answer. He took the radio out of his coat and looked for a station that played nice music.

Suddenly the door opened and flashlights blinded him. Only one had such large lamps. The militia!

Without thinking much, he ran to the box to escape through the window. But one of the officers was faster, before he could get his hands on the window, the man had grabbed him and pulled him off the box. "Leave me alone!" Roared Sergei and panic came over him.

"You're coming with us for now!" Said the other.

>> Please let me go! <<, the little boy begged.

They wouldn't let him go today. It was a raid! Once again, some street children were picked up and taken to homes, only to leave again and land on the street again. An eternal cycle!

Alexander was already near the basement when his eyes fell across the street. A patrol car! Next to it two officials and ..

He didn't think he saw properly, that was his little friend Sergei. An officer opened the patrol car door and pushed Sergei inside. Alexander quickly ran to the other side without paying attention to the traffic. A BMW had to brake hard because of him. The window opened. "You have no eyes in your head, probably tired of life!" The driver shouted after him.

Alexander didn't care at that moment, he ran towards the patrol car. He knew one of the officers. He had locked him up in a cell one night. But now there was no time to think about it for a long time >> Hello, he belongs to me! <<, he greeted the two officers, still out of breath. While one officer was at the driver's side, the other turned to Alexander. "Not now!", He replied coldly and got in too.

Sergei looked at him sadly. The first tears were already running down his cheeks. >> Alexander! Alexander! <<, he then shouted. Then the car drove off.

Alexander ran after him and screamed. >> Sergej! << He ran as fast as he could, but the distance widened. Little Sergei waved to him one last time, then the vehicle was gone! There he was, out of breath and all alone.

He had just lost the most valuable thing you could lose, his best friend. Good friendships were also rare on the street. Where would you take him to? Safe in a children's home, but which one? Tomorrow he wanted to inquire at the responsible police station. He would get his friend out of there! With tears in his eyes, he ran back to the old cellar. He would have to spend that night alone!

When he got there, he thought of Sergei. His little radio was on the stone floor. The little one must have forgotten it in a hurry. As he always said, my dear Alexander! He was just cute. He fell asleep that night crying, and somewhere far away this dog barks again!

Continue Reading to The Greatest Journey of Our Life (Chapter 10)