Before The Deluge: A Portrait of Berlin in the 1920s, Otto Friedrich

Artifacts 75,

While Aaron tried to mop the floor, with minimal success, the older teens stood around and talked in loud voices about what they should do to Aaron for wrecking the lunch and lacking money. Aaron tried to tell himself they were just kidding around but some of the threats sounded like they could be real. They wouldn't really make him get on his bike and try to get away while they drove, would they?

After 10 minutes the employee said "OK, enough, you're just making it worse. He grabbed the mop back and in a few quick strokes had the floor clean again. The taller kid who hadn't said anything put the table back where it had been. The smoker, a new cigarette in his mouth, punched Aaron in the shoulder, hard, and said "That's for wrecking my lunch." Aaron noticed, though, that the employee had given him another slice of pizza, and another soda.

The older boys drifted back to the game, ignoring Aaron again while they took turns playing. Aaron wondered if he should leave.