Hidden Depths by Ally Rose Page B

school, I want to work for the family, in the boatyard, at the café, or help looking after Axel. Anything, I don’t mind,’ Felix said, imploringly.
    â€˜I’ll complain to the education board, get Janowicz fired. I’ll bet he was a Stasi informant. Then you can go back to school with your head held high,’ Klaus fumed.
    â€˜Onkel. You’ll need extra workers if you and Bernd get the golf course.’
    Klaus was adamant. ‘But your education is important!’
    â€˜Felix, please,’ Ingrid began. ‘Don’t jeopardise all we’ve built up here. It’s illegal not to attend school and I don’t want the authorities turning up here, not with the ongoing adoption process with you and Axel.’
    Felix understood immediately the ramifications of keeping a stubborn line of resistance.
    â€˜OK, I’m 16 next year and legally allowed to work – I’ll go to school till then.’
    Herr Janowicz didn’t get away with his behaviour. Klaus vehemently complained to the school, who were embarrassed and apologetic and Janowicz was sidelined and retired slightly early. However, the staff were wary about Felix returning to school in case of further disruption but he settled down and completed the rest of the term without further disruption.
    That summer, the Football World Cup in Italy captivated the Germans’ imagination in their year of reunification like no other tournament ever had. All over Berlin, satellite dishes adorned the flats in anticipation that the West German footballers would do well in the tournament. Around Motzen, satellite dishes were uncommon, so when Bernd brought a satellite dish on his last visit, installing it on the roof of Das Kino in time for the opening ceremony, it became a celebrated village affair.
    The locals and visiting tourists were charged a small entrance fee, just as they were when films were shown on the large screen at the weekends, to watch the matches live from Italy. Klaus and Bernd shared the profits and this enterprise made a good profit for the month of the tournament. Here, the seeds were being sown for their future working partnership, which would bring the hardworking brothers and their families a rich and rewarding harvest.
    Felix worked in the café, helping Ingrid serve drinks and snacks during the matches at half time when the surge of customers was at its’ highest. Axel, now nine months old, sat in his playpen at the back of the café. Ingrid took him everywhere with her. He was a happy and contented baby and with his blond quiff of hair he enchanted all who set eyes upon him.
    The mood in the country was euphoric and football fans as well as abstainers were caught up in the buoyant, party mood. West Germany reached the semi final, played in the heat of an Italian summer in the city of Turin. It was a tense, nail-biting and gripping spectacle of football against an old adversary and rival England which after playing extra time the score was 1-1 so the outcome was decided on penalties. The Germans scored four out of their five penalties whilst the English missed two out of their five. Final score, West Germany 4, England 3. Germany was in the final. Das kino erupted out of their seats with a giant roar.
    â€˜JA!’
    Klaus turned to Bernd and hugged him. ‘We won!’ And when he’d calmed down a little said, ‘We deserved to win. We were cheated by the England in the World Cup final in 1966. That was never a goal, the ball didn’t cross the line.’
    Bernd was used to his brother’s weird concepts. ‘Who cares? We’re in the final!’
    Four days later, on 8 th July, the final of the World Cup in Rome, West Germany beat Argentina. Das Kino was again packed to the rafters and the crowd in the hangar was ecstatic, their cheers of delight audible at the far side of the lake. Everyone had lost any apparent reserve, embracing the moment and one another. Felix hugged