Red Roses

Chapter Fifteen " HZO"

Mike was right. The HZO was an organization for the homeless. "HZO" stood for aid organization Home for the Homeless - and now consisted of two sprinters which were painted completely black. If you didn't know them, you would have thought that the two vehicles belonged to the SEK. Both vehicles had an inscription with the HZO logo and darkened windows. "Come on," Mile said to me as we arrived at a parking lot near the main train station. Leon was also there that lunchtime. It was the first time that I had the opportunity to find out more about the organization.

We went to one of the vehicles and Leon knocked on the back door. "Hello, it's us," Leon said loudly and the door opened. I didn't even know that Leon came from the north. I always thought he came from Cologne. "He's not from Hamburg," Mike said quietly to me. He probably saw me looking. A somewhat thin boy with short black hair and a somewhat round head stood in the doorway. "Hello, have you found new members?" he asked and looked at us. "This is Matt, he was in the same class as me." Mike replied. "I'm Nate." the boy said to me, held out his hand and then said, "I've been with the organization for about four years. Together with Kayden, I run the organization and take care of problems when there are problems, like in the last few days." Leon and Mike entered the interior of the car and I was the last to enter the room. The interior consisted of a 10 square meter area which consisted of wooden flooring. There were always handles on the floor that then opened a flap. Apparently there was still space under the wooden floor. On the right there was a large window that could be folded up and underneath there was an approximately 2 meter ready sideboard with cupboards and drawers underneath. There was also a refrigerator in the corner, a small stove and a microwave next to it. All in all, it looked like a camper to me.
Over the next few minutes, Leon explained to me that they always stored the food in one of the refrigerators and then sold it to the homeless at certain times of the day.

Do you think the police will find the two cars?" Leon asked after a while. We had sat down on plastic chairs outside and were about to pack up because we saw that it was gray coming from the sky. I shrugged my shoulders and thought the police were nodding and looking for us. At least she had something better to do than look for us. Or maybe not. I didn't have an answer to that. "I have no idea, that could be the case. But as I said, what should she do against us? "We have everything under control and we're allowed to sell too." Nate replied and lit a cigarette. He held out another cigarette but I shook my head and raised my hand in thanks. " No thanks. "I don't smoke," I replied. He put them back in the box. So we packed everything up and stored everything in the cupboards and drawers.

Then I headed home again. When I got there my mother was in the kitchen talking on the phone. I knew she heard me but immediately went to my room. I didn't feel like explaining it to her and I didn't really have a clue either. I asked myself if that was really necessary. To have a friendship that consisted of theft. Did it make sense? And if so, what was the point? I lay down on the bed and looked at the clock. It was 7:19 p.m. There used to be this saying that someone thought of you when the same numbers appeared twice on the clock. But who should think about me? I just lived for the day. What should I tell the guy about what I did in my free time? A cool gust of wind blew through my room.
I was still looking at the ceiling of the room and didn't see my mother standing in the doorway. "Hello Matt, are you back again? " she asked me and I looked at her. "Yes," I answered her. "Would you like to come into the kitchen, there is still something from lunch?" she asked. "Aren't you hungry?" I asked and got up from the bed. "But I've already eaten." I had no idea when you would come. That's why I put some in the fridge for you," my mother said.
When I came into the kitchen I saw that the food from the fridge was already on the table. Anna was there too and had already warmed herself up. "Hello Anna, are you there yet? "How was school?" my mother asked her. Anna just nodded and returned her gaze to her iPhone screen. My mother put a pot on the stove and quickly made me some noodles. That was the only thing I could have done myself. Before, I never had the choice or opportunity to cook myself. I could have learned it, but I didn't always feel like it. Now it was my own fault. It was my own fault for not taking care of it.

After eating I took a shower and then wanted to go to bed but my mother said she wanted to talk to me. I didn't know what, but I had an idea.
"All right, Matt. I know I didn't really act nice yesterday. But you have to know, it's not your fault, it's my work. It's incredibly difficult for me to take care of everything since your father is no longer there. I believe that we all have to stick together and then we can do it," said my mother and looked at me and Anna. "Yes, it's good, Mom, that you can see that too," Anna replied. I was shocked for a moment because I wouldn't have expected such a reaction from Anna. She was always so cheerful and happy. But of course I could understand if she was feeling bad. But it was also a bit of her own fault. After all, she didn't even have a place to go to school and passed the time every morning in the youth home.

The youth home was not far from our apartment and had the task of supporting young people and helping them in everyday life. Anna had no room there but went there anyway. She actually had no problems, had friends and was open. Completely opposite to me. A boy who was rather reserved and quiet.
After I assured my mother that I still needed some time before I could move out, she told me that she had found an apartment. This is bigger and we all have more space.
I told her that I wanted to think about it. Let's see, maybe I'll find a solution to my problem soon.

I went to bed very early that evening and fell asleep quickly. For a brief moment I pondered over Leon and Mike's action and the question of whether it was justified to steal the food and drink in this way and then sell it again. Even if my mother or my sister didn't really know much about what I was doing with Leon and Mike, I was sure that they had an idea. They only had a small inkling of a suspicion. Maybe I should talk to them or leave it alone. But I think talking was the best thing in this situation. I should have just told her that I was at the department store with Leon and the rest and stole bread and other food. It was all for a good cause. A good cause and a good deed. At least something, I thought. Maybe I'll just tell my mother tomorrow. Until now she thought that I wasn't involved in the campaign. In addition, this action was not entirely unknown in Berlin. Even the newspapers and the local police warned about it and told every shopkeeper to always be careful to close his shop.