The patter of rain filled the room where they sat sheltering and relaxing. A gray sky beyond the window, black clouds, a red umbrella propped in the corner of the room—
He sat calmly on the sofa, opening a letter that had just arrived that morning.
"Is that another letter from him?"
Coming from behind was a woman with a towel draped over her head. Her uniform, only barely dried, still gave off a damp, sticky warmth, but neither of them seemed to mind.
The woman sat down beside him and peered at the letter's contents without waiting for confirmation.
" ... I still don't get it. He always sends word even when no one asks him to, and he always tells you to wait. Wait for what, exactly?"
"I don't know either, but that's just how he is. It's been years, and he still hasn't changed one bit, has he?"
"When's he coming back to Germany? Last time he was here, he didn't even show his face once. I already asked Uncle Wendel about it, but he wouldn't tell me a thing."
"Do you miss him that much?"
The question came with a small laugh, teasing intent behind it. But the girl only pouted and gently drove her elbow into his chest.
"I'm asking for your sake, idiot. He's got plenty of promises left with you, and he still owes me one thing too. At the very least, I won't let him slip away before he settles all of it."
He just let out a small laugh. "Yeah, well, maybe he really is busy. Come on, don't forget what his job's like—I heard he got transferred out to some remote posting recently, after butting heads with his superior."
"What an absolute idiot ... Uncle Lawren's warned him so many times already, but I guess he's never going to back down that easily."
Still gazing at the letter, he tried searching for any other message that might be hidden within it. But there was nothing else there.
"Three months ago he said there'd be another package coming for me, but there's still no word on it."
"What package?" the girl asked.
"I don't know either. He just said it'd arrive someday, and that I'm free to accept it or turn it down. But ... he never once told me what it actually is, or when it'll get here. I mean ... shouldn't he be a little quicker about it?"
"You're right. University entrance exams are coming up soon, and in the end we might end up leaving this place without ever being able to send him word."
"No, that's not what I mean. If that were the only issue, Uncle Lawren, or Fritz and Franka, could help take care of it."
" ... Then what's the problem?"
As the girl tilted her head in confusion, he grinned, twisting his face into something thoroughly ridiculous. Honestly, it was a sight that irritated the girl to no end. But the answer she was about to hear would irritate her even more than that.
"If it takes any longer than this, the package is going to miss my birthday entirely. And if that happens, I won't be able to think of it as a gift anymore."