After the summer harvest, children built a straw castle near the village using leftover straw. They had to be cautious to avoid being caught by farmers, assigning guards to keep watch. Despite the discomfort of the itchy straw and darkness, they enjoyed their adventure, relying on teamwork and creativity to expand their secret hideout.
The narrative describes a group of friends camouflaging a project in a cornfield while smoking strong cigars and later HB cigarettes. They reminisce about their reckless moped rides to Behringersmühle, highlighting the daring antics of Günther and Siegbert, the latter facing fuel issues. The story takes a somber turn as it reveals Siegbert's tragic fate in 2013.
As children, we admired Alfred Persch's estate, with its impressive garden paths and charming statues. The enchanting pond with goldfish and a fountain felt like a fairy tale. Alfred, a former barber, skillfully cut our hair in his modest salon, where he was kind and patient, despite a subtle tension with his wife.
Sepper, also known as Josef Turn, was a dedicated worker at the post office and a bustling entrepreneur. He sold home-grown vegetables, salads, and even colorful sandstones for garden walls. Always active, he transported goods with his old Ford station wagon and often shared his products generously.
Various traders visited our farm to sell their goods, including a horseradish seller and local shoe merchants, each speaking in their dialects. The most intriguing were unannounced livestock traders, with whom my father skillfully negotiated. They used a secret language derived from Yiddish, still recognizable today, to ensure better deals.
The story depicts a family's struggle as they manage their self-sufficient farm amidst neglect and economic turmoil. With emaciated cattle and a chaotic household, they rely on their own resources for food and water. Georg learns to preserve meat and stock firewood, but the 1929 stock market crash threatens their fragile stability.
The narrator discovers a working Junghans wristwatch on the path, initially mistaking it for trash. They reminisce about childhood visits to a special barber shop in Knetzgau with their father and brother, highlighting the journey across the Main River and the vibrant atmosphere of the busy men's salon filled with the scent of hair products.
A lively party took place in the common room with a record player and games like blind cow. Guests shared stories while enjoying drinks. Georg and his daughter Elfriede navigated a heavily loaded wagon with care, arriving safely in Knetzgau. The narrator fondly recalls their first wristwatch, a simple yet cherished timepiece, as they invited French women to dance to 1960s songs.
The story revolves around visits to a gatekeeper's bus shelter, where the children enjoyed sledding and spent a night in their grandfather's old smithy. Despite the uncomfortable conditions and frequent awakenings, they persevered in their adventure. The next morning, they returned home, only to be caught by their parents.