London, 1919
“And children, today we will study about differences between the plants and animals. Tell me, what differ plants from animals?” the teacher said. Ed quickly raised his hands. “Yes, Edward?” she asked. “Plants produce their food by themselves, while animals don’t,” he answered. “Good answer. Any other?” she asked. A girl raised her hand. “Animals move, while plants don’t,” she said. “No!” Ed said. “Plants do move!”
“Okay, we’ll talk about it later, Edward. Let’s save Kate’s answer for now,” the teacher said. “Now, I’m the one talking. Look at the board,” she said as she took a chalk.
“Animals do move, that’s right,” she said. “But actually, plants move, do you know that?” she said. The class shook their heads. “But the plants stay in their place all the day!” a boy said. “Yes, moving can mean switching places, but in plants, that’s not the point,” the she said. “If you watch those flowers,” she said as she pointed a small plant. “Their petals are closed in the night, but they bloom in the morning. That’s why they’re called the morning glory,” she said. “So the flower bloom counts, ma’am?” the girl asked. “Yes… it counts. And also about the sunflowers,” the teacher said. “Don’t you see the sunflower moves towards the sun?”
The students thought for a while. “Yes, it does,” Ed said. The teacher smiled. “I’m sorry, Kate, but your answer is wrong,” she said. The girl looked down.
“Now,” she said as she looked around and realized something. She walked towards a desk and knocked the table impatiently.
“Hey, Karl, wake up!” Ed whispered from his desk. Karl was shocked. He looked at the teacher who was only an inch from him.
“Now, now,” the teacher said. “What time did you sleep last night?”
Karl grinned. “I’m not sure… about eleven, I guess,” he said. “A boy of your age aren’t supposed to sleep at such a time,” the teacher said. “And you shouldn’t sleep in the class, either,” she said. Karl looked down. “After this lesson, you may not go home. You stay here,” she said. “This may be last lesson, but that doesn’t mean you may sleep in the classroom. Understand?” she said. Karl nodded. “Let’s continue the lesson, then. Now about Edward’s answer…”
1400 hours
Karl walked out of the school hurriedly and looked around. There was barely anybody but a few men crossing the street. He sighed. “Ed must’ve left me behind,” he grunted.
“Karl!”
Ed ran to Karl. “You’re still here?” Karl asked. “ “Yes. Why?” Ed asked. “No, I’m just…” “I promised to wait for you, so I must fulfill it, right? A promise made is a debt unpaid,” Ed said. Karl smiled. “Thanks a lot,” he said. “What are you talking about? We’re friends, aren’t we?” Ed said with a big smile. Ed ran to his bicycle. “Let’s go!” he said as he left. Karl ran to his bike and quickly chased Ed.
Karl walked slowly as he put his hands on the front. Ed was hiding behind a cupboard as he watched Karl looking for him. “Now, now, where are you, Sheffield?” Karl said as he looked around. Ed giggled quietly and took a book from the floor and started reading.
Karl looked into a wardrobe but he found nothing. He looked back and realized a book was gone. He walked quietly to the cupboard and looked to the other side of it.
“BINGO!”
Ed was shocked. “Ah, how’d you find me?” he grunted. “It’s simple. A bookworm in hiding will usually bring a book to read in hiding,” Karl said. “Wow, you really look into details of things,” Ed said. Karl laughed. “Once more time? But you search for me this time!” Karl said. “Okay, you bet! Why not?” Ed said.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Ed ran out of the room. “Mum, I’ll get it!” he shouted. He opened the door and saw a woman standing there.
“Good afternoon, Ed,” she said. “I guess Karl’s here?”
Ed nodded. “Wait a minute, Frau Von Werner,” he said as he ran to the book room.
“Who is it?” Karl asked. “Your mum. I think she wants you to go home,” Ed said. Karl was shocked, but then he sighed and walked out of the room.
“Karl, let’s go home. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about,” Mrs. Von Werner said. Karl nodded. “See you tomorrow, Ed. Regards to your mum,” Mrs. Von Werner said. “Bye,” Karl said.
Ed locked back the door. “I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling,” Ed whispered.
“What the heck?”
“Yes,” Mr. Von Werner said. “I’m terribly sorry, Karl.”
“No, you’re kidding, vater!” Karl said. “I’m so sorry, Karl,” Mr. Von Werner said. “Your mum can’t stay with us anymore.”
Mrs. Von Werner looked at her son sadly. “Whom will I stay with?” Karl asked. “We’ll talk about that with the judge,” Mr. Von Werner said. “But now… we have to go back to Germany.”
Karl looked down. “I know it’s difficult for you, sohn. I’m sorry,” Mr. Von Werner said. “No, that’s really fine,” Karl said. He walked to his room.
“Karl! One more thing!”
Karl looked back. “We’re leaving tomorrow. I’ve told your teacher about that,” Mr. Von Werner said. Karl nodded and got into his room. He locked the door and laid his backs against the wall. Soon after, he felt his cheeks wet.
2100 hours
Ed tied his blanket on the window and crept out of his house. He looked around to make sure nobody was around. After he made sure, he took his bicycle and cycled to a field a few hundred meters away.
Karl sat on the field as he looked around. A few minutes later, he saw a silhouette getting close to him. He stood up and waved his hands. Ed honked the trumpet a few times and parked his bike.
“Sorry. Have you been waiting long?” Ed asked. Karl shook his head, and then he smiled sadly. “What’s wrong? You looked sad,” Ed asked. “Ed, promise me you won’t tell anybody about this?” Karl said. Ed thought for a while, then he smiled. “it must be something important,” Ed said. Karl nodded. “Promise?” Karl asked again. “Okay, mein freund,” Ed said. Karl sighed and sat down. “My parents… They will divorce,” Karl said.
Ed was stunned. “What? How come?” he asked. “I don’t know,” Karl said, his voice unclear. “I don’t know!”
Ed patted Karl’s shoulders. “Karl, don’t cry,” he said. Karl didn’t say anything. Ed looked at his friend for a while, then he asked, “Then you will leave?”
Karl nodded. Ed looked down. “Will you come back?” he asked. “I don’t know,” Karl said. “But I don’t think so.”
The both of them said nothing in for a while. Then Karl swept his tears and looked at Ed. “Ed,” he said. “This is farewell, you know that?” Ed nodded. “I know, of course I know,” he said. Then he hugged Karl. “Don’t forget me, okay?” Ed said. “I won’t,” Karl said. “Never.”
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