Driftwood Love

18. Fish on the Reeperbahn

Time seemed to fly by, and suddenly Laurin was standing at the door to pick up Laszlo. Laszlo looked adorably sweet. He wore short jeans, his dark blue favorite T-shirt, carefully patched up, a testament to Aunt Merle's loving hand. One patch especially stood out: a fiery red square as a chest pocket, the shirt was very "well-loved." His curls were wild, testifying to the free nature of a child whose world was full of adventure and imagination. When his father opened the door, the excitement in Laszlo's eyes was unmistakable.

Over Laszlo's shoulders, safely stored in a backpack that seemed to tell of many adventures, peeked a small, worn teddy bear. Despite its frayed condition and an eye hanging by a thin thread, this bear was an indispensable companion. Laszlo had declared that this very feature brought luck, which led to no one daring to touch the wobbly eye.

In sharp contrast to this image of childlike playfulness stood Laurin, who embodied summer and style in one person. His outfit consisted of a loosely fitting linen shirt with rolled-up sleeves, exuding a relaxed elegance. The pants, light and airy, casually played around his silhouette, revealing stylish espadrilles. A pair of sunglasses casually positioned in his hair completed the image, making Laurin the epitome of a modern, lively man who understood how to effortlessly combine lightness and depth.

"Hey, my little hero," Laurin began as he bent down to lift Laszlo. Affectionately, he ran his fingers through the curls and planted a tender kiss on his cheek. Laszlo, in his childlike informality, instinctively shrugged his shoulder, wiped his cheek with his shoulder, and protested with a mischievous grin, "Dad, I'm already big, I don't need a kiss." His laughter, however, betrayed the deep affection he held for his father.

"Tonight is guys' night," Laurin announced with a certain solemnity in his voice. "Marlene isn't here. She celebrated her birthday yesterday and received a spa weekend from her friends, including Monday." Laszlo's eyes lit up with joy. "Oh yes, yippee!" he cheered, squirming in Laurin's arms until he was set back on the ground.

I stood a bit aside, clad in baggy sweatpants and a holey T-shirt, my hair tied in a bun. "Yeah, I guess I won't be getting old today," I muttered, more to myself than to the others. My words were tinged with a hint of irony as I added, "Please don't tell Laurin too often that he should be bored to foster his creativity." My challenge was unmistakable as I looked directly at Laurin.

"Oh, sorry," he replied, visibly trying to smooth things over. "I didn't mean any harm." He seemed lost for a moment, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and drew strange patterns on the ground with his foot.

"Marlene is really tense right now," he started again, his voice carrying a mix of apology and explanation. "We have a lot going on and a big future ahead. So, we all need to be a little considerate of each other."

I bet Marlene could really use some "wellness."

Yet I didn't let up, my words were sharp but not without care. "I'm not talking about me. I mean, please don't always scold your son. He's just a kid."

At that moment, the air between us seemed to vibrate, a mix of the unsaid words and my still hurt pride hit me deceitfully.

As I realized he was quite tame without his girlfriend, I couldn't help but sigh internally. My ex, Laurin, seemed almost submissive in such moments. Taking a deep breath, I knelt down and spread my arms wide. Into this safe embrace, Laszlo plunged with a joyful "Mama, I love you so much." I held him tightly, feeling him nestle his head into the crook between my neck and shoulder. "Be good and have a nice evening," I said to him. "And when you come home tomorrow, we just have to sleep one more time, and then we're off to the sea." Laszlo's body trembled with excitement.