CHAPTER 13 - OLDENBURG, GERMANY—DECEMBER 2, 1916 #2
Max took a sip. “It’s good.”
Anna smiled.
Norbie blew on his soup. “Anna mentioned that you are from Leipzig. Do you have parents living there?”
“Nein,” Max said. “They’re dead.”
Her breath turned shallow. “I’m sorry.”
Max nodded.
“My condolences.” Norbie sipped soup.
“Anna told me about your wife,” Max said. “I understand that she enjoyed playing the piano.”
“Very much so,” Norbie said. “Helga played beautifully, and she sang like an angel.”
“She sounds wonderful,” Max said.
An image of sitting on her mutter’s lap at the piano flashed in Anna’s head. She buried the memory and took a bite of soup.
“Do you live with someone in Leipzig?” Norbie asked.
“My fiancée, Wilhelmina.”
“She must be happy for you to attend guide dog training,” Anna said, feeling relieved to hear that Max wasn’t living alone.
Max gave a small nod, and then took a bite of bread.
“Anna is engaged, too,” Norbie said.
“Bruno,” Anna said. “He’s an oberleutnant at the front.”
“Congratulations,” Max said, his voice sincere.
For the rest of dinner, Anna spoke about Emmi, Dr. Stalling, Rolf Fleck, the trainers, and the shepherds at the guide dog school.
And while she was telling Max about Paul Feyen, the first graduate of the school, her eyes gravitated to Nia, who was under the table with her chin on top of Max’s boot. She likes him.
“Anna’s a talented trainer,” Norbie bragged.
She lowered her spoon. “I’m a nurse turned canine caregiver.” But someday I’ll find a way to be a trainer.
“You’re far more than that,” Norbie said.
“You’ve taught Nia to follow commands, and she can guide you through town with your eyes closed.
” He patted Max on the shoulder. “My daughter underestimates herself, Max. She’s a remarkable nurse and trainer, and someday Nia will make a faithful companion for a veteran. ”
Nia raised her head from Max’s shoe.
“Thank you for dinner,” Max said. “I’d like to wash the dishes.”
“I usually wash and Anna dries,” Norbie said.
“Please, I insist.” Max stood and placed his napkin on the table.
“Very well.” Norbie stood and pushed his chair to the table.
“If you should need me, I’ll be in the workshop trying to fix a grandfather clock that refuses to strike on time.
” He placed a hand on Max’s shoulder. “The hourly chimes might keep you awake. But after a few nights, I’m quite certain you’ll grow fond of them. ”
“I’m sure I will,” Max said.
Anna cleared the table. She filled the sink and provided Max with a dishcloth. Working in tandem, Max washed and Anna dried.
“Norbie is quite supportive of you,” Max said, handing her a bowl.
“Ja,” Anna said.
“You’re lucky to have him.”
Anna smiled. She wiped the bowl and placed it inside a cupboard.
He washed spoons and rinsed them in water.
Anna’s mind raced. There was much that she wanted to know about Max. What happened to your parents? How were you injured at the front? Instead, she settled on a question that she believed would be less intrusive. “What were you doing before the war?”
Max removed his hands from the water. “I was a pianist.”
“Oh,” Anna said.
“I graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Leipzig. I was starting a career as a classical pianist with plans to become a composer when the war erupted.”
“But you don’t play anymore,” Anna said, recalling his comments while tapping the keys of her mutter’s piano.
“True.” He handed her a bowl.
“Why?” she asked. “Were your hands injured?”
“Ears.”
Anna’s eyes widened.
“A shell explosion damaged my eardrums.”
Her skin turned cold.
“I’m no longer able to hear high-pitched sounds,” he said, his voice doleful. “It’s impossible for me to detect the upper octaves of a keyboard.”
Oh, God. “I am so sorry.”
He nodded and scrubbed a pot.
“Is there anything that can be done?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Anna’s heart sank. She finished drying the dishes, and she showed Max, per his request, the precise location of where she and Norbie stored kitchenware.
“Would you like to join me in the living room?” Anna asked. “Perhaps you could try out one of the braille books, or I could read to you.”
Nia stood and wagged her tail.
“I’m a little tired from the journey. I think I’ll go to my room.” He paused, fiddling with a button on his shirt. “But first, I’d like to tell you something. And I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.”
She clasped her hands. “Okay.”
“The work that you and the school are doing sounds incredible, and I’m certain that many battle-blinded men will be eternally thankful for your efforts to help them.
” He placed his hands into his trouser pockets and shifted his weight.
“But I’ve lost far more than my sight. My life was stolen from me at the front.
There is no way to restore my hearing and, without it, I have no chance of regaining a career as a pianist, let alone a composer.
I did not come here on my own accord; I’ve been ordered here by the government.
I realize that I’m extremely fortunate to have been given one of the few slots at the school, but I have misgivings about the school’s ability to repair a lost future. ”
Anna’s mouth turned dry.
Nia padded to Anna and nuzzled her leg.
“I do not mean any disrespect, and I hope you are not upset with me. I merely want to be forthright with you.”
Anna, attempting to dispel her angst, ran her fingers through Nia’s fur. “Please, you mustn’t quit. After a few days of training at the school, you’ll feel better about things.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that I was going to quit,” he said. “My intent is for you not to be surprised or disappointed when this doesn’t work out for me.”
“Promise me that you’ll at least give it a try.”
“I will,” Max said. “Thank you again for dinner.” He ran his hand over the wall to locate his stick, and he shuffled up the stairs.
Anna’s eyes welled with tears. She sat on the floor and cuddled Nia.
Nia licked Anna’s cheek.
“We must find a way to help him,” Anna whispered. She wiped her eyes and hugged Nia. “Somehow, we need to show him that his life is worth living.”