The Daughter of the Führer

XXII

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I decide to try lifting myself up but the only thing I manage to do is fall back onto the ground, thankfully Mr. Alex is there,
《Can't you stand up by yourself?》
I don't like the idea of being carried home, in someone's arms, it's too embarrassing, and undignified. But most of all, I don't want to see the faces of Grandma and Uncle Carlo or the rest of the village seeing me in the arms of a Nazi.
《I understand, don't worry, we'll get home and I'll explain it to your parents.》
He explains with an unusual calmness.
《I don't have parents... I only have a dad, but I don't know where he is!》
He stares into my eyes with a look of compassion, and pity.
《I didn't know, sorry.》
And after that, I don't speak for a few minutes.
《No don't worry, it's fine... you didn't know, so it's only fair that you bothered to tell my 'parents'. However you can explain it to grandma and Uncle Carlo.》
I explain to him, trying not to make him feel guilty for asking.
Anyway he's kind and Michele was wrong about it, he's worried about me so much that he's willing to take me home, when it's more convenient for him to leave me here alone, or take me to the same place where he and Jakob took that little family.
《Come on, I'll take you home, lean on me a bit and I'll lift you up, alright?
He asks me, and I nod and start crawling slowly towards him, the minimum for him to reach me.
《Perfectly, if you hurt anywhere, don't hesitate to tell me. 《All right. You have to give me the directions because I just got here recently, and I still have to memorize the streets, just tell me what area it's towards and I should get there on my own, but don't trust it too much.》
He explains with some embarrassment as he tells me.
Now that I think about it, he's from Germany, but from which area?
《Where did you live before? You know, before I came here.》
I ask him curiously.
《Oh, yeah, I lived in Frankfurt, in the southwest part of Germany.》
《It must be beautiful as a city! 》
《Yes it is, I was sorry to leave but work called me back here and orders must be carried out without objection. So here I am.》
She explains, with a face mixed between wistful and calm. A strange combination, to be honest.
《Grandma's house is towards the ascent to the castle. There! 》
I tell him while pointing my finger towards the direction in question.
《All right, hold on tight because it doesn't seem to be a short road.》
《It's fine》
And so she starts walking, while I tighten my grip around her neck to avoid falling off her arms, and hurting myself even more.
《One thing you haven't told me yet is your name.》
He asks me and I answer him, almost immediately.
《My name is Linda》
《An original name, if I'm not mistaken it's a Deutsche name.》
《I think so, maybe my mum loved German names.》
》I know one thing for sure, I don't tell her that my dad is German and that explains my name.
《Anyway, you're very smart for your age, what is it that you'll have.... 10 jahre, 11...》
《I'm 12 years old, and soon 13!》
I say proudly, after all, I'm grown up now.
《Then you're no longer a child, you're a full-fledged kid now.》
《Where do I turn now? 》
He asks me, and I burst into laughter, we were talking about age, where he's from, and he pops up with his question of 'where do I hang out'.
I think he also understood the reason for my laughter, which he also adds.
《Never would I have imagined myself having fun over nothing》.
《Me neither, Mr. Alex! 》
《Don't call me Mister, you make me feel old. Do I look old to you? 》
《No, you don't. But it's respect, Uncle Carlo and Grandma taught me that.》
《All right, but don't call me Mister, just Alex.》
《All right, Alex》

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