Shop of lost things in All for you

Cyril came from Staffordshire and had just turned 70; he was making his way along Dresden Road on his way to the British legion in Longton town centre.

All those years of history and war so long ago on his march through Germany and he ended up living in a town with the same name.... Dresden.
Dresden this German city had been ripped apart by allied bombing. He was based there for 2 years back then, helping the Red Cross; those memories plagued him for years after. Death, hunger, orphaned children; many times he sat with tears in his eyes thinking of what mankind had done to man.
`Here he was once more walking that road, with that name, but this time it was in his home town. He had done it so often that he no longer gave it much thought only the occasional reminder on the 11 day of the 11 hour at the 11 month, and even then it slipped easily back into his past memory.
He came to the bottom of the hill that was the climb up to the town; this climb took its toll on his legs every single time and today was no exception in fact today he felt even more tired, half way up his legs felt quite shaky and his breathing becoming hard, he noticed a chair sitting on the foot path tucked up against a shop window, he didn’t look in the window he was just thankful to sit and rest his weary legs, he held his walking stick in both hands just in front of his legs and after a few moments rested his head on his hands, and closed his eyes, just for a moment he thought, just for a moment.
After a while as he got his breath back and sat looking up and down the street, then turned to look at the shop behind him, odd he thought he hadn’t seen this shop before yet it looked very old, he looked up at its name “The shop of lost things” he turned the name over in his head a couple of times to comprehend its possibilities.
Something gave off a dull shine just behind the half net curtain that stopped him being able to make out the object properly and what the contents of the shop may be, feeling rested he stood up looked into the window once more, them made his way inside.
Within moments he thought he was in an Aladdin’s cave, everything was there that took him back in years to his youth the first thing he spotted was the marbles he laughed loudly to himself he could name every single marble that was on show
Cat’s Eye, Corkscrews, Ades, Oxbloods, Swirls, and Bumblebees. And there look a Guineas and a Cornelian’s. Cornelians were often called “Bricks,” and black and yellow marbles were “bumblebees.” And look there was a top from the old ginger beer bottles pictures of the people who had crossed sea the North Atlantic fliers, then he spotted a mouth organ very similar to the one he used to play as a teenager, he picked it up turning it slowly in his hands his eyes glistened at the memories of it how often he had played the one he had, had and he wondered. Could it be just a lucky chance could this be the one. Tears rimmed his eyes as his wishes rose within him, there it was carved into the side “C Cooper”, his heart seemed to leap as it took in the meaning of it, my god he had lost this in the trenches in France, he tentatively put it too his lips and blew a little to see if it still had any sound and a wheeze came out of it, he tapped it a couple of times on his hand to shake out the dust and put it to his lips once more and blew a crystal clear note from it then a few more, more tears welled from his eyes as he played it for just a minute.
A young woman stepped out from behind the curtain that led into the back of the shop, he smiled as she said hello, and Cyril replied hello and explained the joy he found at seeing all the things from his youth that he had played with. As he talked he was looking round then he saw what caught his eye in the first place the dull shine was coming from a silver figure of a soldier sitting behind a Vickers heavy machine gun, his voice faltered and then stopped as he picked it up, lord he thought how many times I had to carry this bloody thing. his mind reminisced while he held it. He put it down and smiled at the woman who watched him.
Then he spotted some old photographs in frames stacked on one of the shelves and slowly looked through them, each one took him back to various times in his life, the last one was very dusty and he placed it on the counter to wipe it off, as the dust cleared away his heart began to beat very fast he felt quite strange, when he finally cleaned the last bit of dirt away the picture showed a young girl with braided hair that gave her face definition with her high cheek bones. “Valtraut” the name a semi whisper escaped from his mouth, the young woman didn’t quite catch what Cyril had said and stepped over to see what he was looking at so that she may answer any questions, she quickly apologised saying I’m sorry I don’t know how that photograph got there, I’m afraid its not isn’t for sale… Cyril stammered… this… is
Valtraut.

The young woman was taken aback at him knowing the name of the woman in the photograph.
He stood looking at her two tears slipped from the corner of his eyes, he started to explain the woman stopped him for a moment saying Ill just close the shop if you don’t mind.
she then asked him to join her in the parlour, taking the offered seat he sat down while the woman made a cup of tea, while doing so she introduced herself “my name is Kathrin, he replied hello Kathrin my name is Cyril, she asked him a few questions about what regiment he was with and where he had been since he left Germany, how long he had lived here in Dresden.
After they had settled Cyril began to explain how he knew the woman in the photo, Kathrin asking questions as they went along to clarify things, he explained that in the early years after the war it was frowned upon for soldiers to have German girlfriends and discouraged to the extent they would be sent back to UK or another country to break it up, those who tried to marry German women were refused, and in that same week or day were posted out with refused entry back into Europe stamped on their records, Cyril was posted to Malaya for 6 months and when he finally got back to UK and back to Germany he was never able to find Valtraut even through the Deutsches Rotes Kreuz.
An hour later and their chat had finished, Kathrin thanked him for telling her about his life, she asked him if he would like to pop back in tomorrow to talk again. Cyril was on high spirits and had a spring in his step as he walked from the shop.
That evening Kathrin phoned her mother feeling excited but unsure of how the news she had would be taken, Am abend mutter Ich habe einige Neuigkeiten für sie und gross mutter.
Kathrin retold the events of what had happened that day to her mother, and that Cyril had seen her grandmother’s photograph and even spoke her name and told her of where they met and where her grandmother lived all those years ago. Her mum sat stunned at this news.
Could this be the man she had always wondered about as a child, could this be the one. Her mum also asked questions about him then told Kathrin she would call her back when she had been to see her grandmother… Petra crossed the road and up to the apartment her mum lived in… She went inside and made coffee for them both then making sure her mum was comfortable.
Ok mum I have had a phone call off Kathrin and she has spoken of a man that came into her shop today and enjoyed looking round it, Petra then said now mum this next bit is important and please do not get upset, this man saw your photograph in Kathrin’s shop and immediately recognised you and new your name, where you lived after the war, this could be the same man you have a picture of his name is also Cyril, her mother placed her hands up to her face unsure of how to take the news… he knew me, he called my name… is Kathrin sure, Petra said yes and again reaffirmed what she had been told. Tears reflected in Valtrauts eyes at the memories of the man she was still in love with from so long ago.
Cyril Popped into the shop few days later and was happy to just sit and talk to Kathrin who in turn of course asked question about him and what he been doing not telling him of the things that had gone on since they last met. She asked Cyril if he could come round again on Sunday as she had something new coming into the shop he may want to see.
It had been arranged Kathrin’s mum Petra and arranged for herself and her mother Valtraut to fly to England Friday evening and Kathrin would pick them up from Manchester airport.
They all sat in Kathrin’s flat talking about the meeting and told her grandmother that Cyril had also never married and she had asked him to come round Sunday afternoon at 3pm to see a new thing in her shop, and so it was all arranged over Saturday of what was to be done.
Sunday and from the flat they heard the knock on the door of the shop, they all went downstairs but Valtraut and Petra stayed behind the curtain that kept the parlour from view out of site, they each peaked out watching as Kathrin spoke to Cyril Petra also watch her mums reactions to all this, Valtraut looked at him carefully and her head started to nod and she smiled at Petra, her eyes wide saying yes its him… Kathrin asked Cyril to hold on a moment while she went to get something.
She quickly checked with her mum and grandmother of what they must do, her grandmother took the lead and walked out to the front of the shop where Cyril was looking round, he turned as Valtraut walked in and was surprised to her and apologised saying I’m sorry you surprised me I was expecting Kathrin. He smiled and looked carefully at her something in the back if his mind was saying I know her. Valtraut said hello Cyril in her German English accent and like a light in the dark the memory of the voice came back to him growing brighter then the recognition of her face came to him, Valtraut, Valtraut is that really you, she smiled and nodded slowly they walked to each other arms reaching out and hugged tears streaming down their eyes.
Kathrin and Petra stayed where they were for a while then Kathrin stepped out and smiled at them both, Cyril’s face was full of questions, Valtraut said Cyril this is Kathrin my granddaughter who you have met and this my daughter Petra.
Cyril said hello still feeling dizzy at the way things had gone. Come along said Kathrin lets go and get a coffee and a sandwich that I’ve made. They all went through to the parlour Cyril and Valtraut watching each other, Petra letting them sit together. Time passed as Cyril and Valtraut told of how they met and what had happened in the years in between. Then Valtraut spoke directly to Cyril and said I have one more thing to tell you, first she looked at Petra who nodded and smiled and at Kathrin who also nodded in agreement… Cyril I please this is one thing I will now tell you. After you left I found out I was pregnant and I had a daughter, our daughter, and Petra is our daughter… Cyril once more was lost for words but his reactions was to hug Valtraut and then Petra, once more tears in their eyes as they hugged, Then Petra holding Cyril’s hand said Papa, Kathrin is my daughter your granddaughter she she has lived here for nearly ten years this her shop of lost things.
MRJB