Читать книгу The Twins - Sheldon Cohen - Страница 12

Ten days after the wedding, Alfred and Helene returned from their honeymoon, and Alfred went back to work. After several months, his boss, Sigmund Halder, fell silent and a frown masked his jovial face. Alfred commented, “What’s eating at you? Something’s wrong.”

“Could be,” he said. “Have you noticed that business has dropped off?”

Yes, Alfred had noticed less work, but his only emotion had been one of happiness over the reduced workload. Now, with Sigmund’s change in personality, he realized how this could affect him. “Uhh, yeah, but I figured it wouldn’t last long.”

“So did I until I checked. I went to the University of Munich because I stopped getting orders for the special research projects, and I found out that they had cut back. We also lost the vase account from Franck Company. These were our two biggest accounts.”

Damn, the old man was right as usual, thought Alfred. No more special shaped glass tubes. He said it might happen. “How come we lost Franck?”

“They discontinued the line. Disappointing sales. It’s rough to have a business when you have to depend on just a few other people. You’re at their mercy, and there isn’t anything you can do except lower expenses or replace the lost business with other accounts.”

Alfred did not say anything, but he could sense that he was in peril. His father’s words of warning rang in his ears. This could not be happening to me, he thought. Things were different now. He had a wife to support.

“I’ll be leaving on a sales trip to try to sign on some new accounts. I’ll be back in about ten days. You take care of things until I get back,” said Sigmund.

The words sounded like an ultimatum. Alfred knew his job was on the line. This sudden change caught him unaware. What could he do? He would have to continue work, but keep his eyes open for other opportunities. He would not tell Helene yet, hoping for good news from Sigmund.

Sigmund returned from his trip after only six days. “It’s bad news, Alfred. I’ve never seen worse times for this business. People are not buying, and they’re not interested in new products. I’ve got no choice. I’m going to have to scale back, and that means there’s no place for you here anymore. I’ll have to be a one-man operation again.”

Alfred had thought about his becoming unemployed, but the concept had seemed unreal, and his mind had refused to come to grips with the possibility.

Sigmund continued, “I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do. I have no choice. The only thing I can offer is some part time work if I get some unexpected orders.”

I knew it, thought Alfred. “I’ll look around for work. I’ll find something,” he said, trying to act as if he was unperturbed.

Damn, I can’t talk to the old man. All my life he tries to tell me things. What a pain. But…shit, he was right again. The words of Ludwig rang in his ears. “Go ahead; learn your lesson the way most people do, the hard way. After you have enough of those knocks, maybe then you’ll wake up, but I doubt it.”

That evening an angry and depressed Alfred went to the beer hall. He saw Heidi.

“Where’s Frieda?” he asked.

“She doesn’t work here any more.”

“Where’d she go?”

“I don’t know. I was off for a week and when I came back she was gone.”

“I’ll be dammed. What did you hear?”

“Nobody else knows where she went either. Here one day, gone the next.”

“How about a beer, Heidi?”

For months, Alfred had difficulty finding work, so his father-in-law gave him a temporary job as a maintenance man in his hotel. The sudden change in his status created some tension with his wife, since Alfred was not going out of his way to find employment elsewhere.

“Don’t you think you should be looking for full-time work?” said Helene, her green eyes blazing.

As if expecting the question, Alfred was quick to respond. “I am, and I may have found one. Are you ready for a surprise?”

Helene wrinkled her brow and stared at her husband. “What?”

“I have a job offer in the United States.”

Helene’s big eyes opened wide. Then she shook her head, her light brown hair cascading across her face. “I can tell you’re not kidding,” she said.

“Never been more serious in my life.”

“What do you know about the job?”

“My bosses’ cousin has a big glass blowing business in the United States. They don’t have many glass blowers there, so most of the people who work for him are from Germany. He has a factory in Virginia and needs some more men. The salary is great.”

“But you weren’t making a lot of money here as an apprentice.”

“Sigmund told him I’m over the apprentice stage and ready for anything. I got a lot of practice blowing those crazy shapes for research, and once you learn how to blow them, you can do anything. His cousin is looking for someone with experience. In fact, if I can prove that I know what I’m doing, I’ll become a supervisor in two years.”

“Did you give him an answer?”

“I told him I’d get back to him real soon.”

“Are you telling me that you were waiting to talk to me?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s a surprise, but you have to go where you can make a living. In addition, if I’m a good wife, I have to follow you. How are we going to get the money to go?”

“That’s the next thing I have to figure out.”

He was surprised that Helene was not opposed to the idea of his accepting a job offer in the United States. He returned to the shop to make the final arrangements. “Thanks for the offer about the United State’s job, Sigmund. My wife likes the idea, so I’m ready to go. It should be an adventure.”

“Good, I’ll write my cousin right away and make all the arrangements. I’ll tell him that you’re ready and you’ll be writing to him. Do that in about a week, and tell him that you accept his offer. He tells me that he loves it in the United States and that where he lives is just like parts of Germany with mountains and forests. You won’t regret it, and good luck to you and Helene.”

“I really appreciate it. It’s great that you thought of me, but I’ve got one problem.”

“What’s that, Alfred?”

“It’s money. I don’t have it. I’ve been out of work for a long time now. I don’t know how I’d get there.”

“Can’t you get a loan from your brother or father?”

“I bet if I asked I could, but I don’t want to ask.”

“Why?”

“Helene and I want to say we did this on our own and didn’t need help from the old man or Werner.”

“That’s pretty commendable, but it won’t get you there.”

“If you lend me the money, I swear I’ll pay you back out of my pay from your cousin. I’d even work it out with your cousin so that he would send you twenty percent of my paychecks until it’s paid off, with interest.”

That came as a surprise to Sigmund. He regained his composure and said, “That sounds like a pretty good deal, and something in better times I would jump at. The problem is I’m strapped. You know I’m just making ends meet since I lost the two main accounts. Even if I could come up with the money, what if something happened to you like the boat sunk or lightening hit you; that’d be the end of my investment. Lending money is a complicated business. I don’t think I could risk it now, and even if I could, I don’t have it. Fare to the United States, plus some living expenses, is a big chunk of money. I’m sorry. But I do have another idea for you.”

“What?”

“My cousin. He’s anxious for experienced help. Maybe he’d be willing to put the money up front and take it out of your pay for a few years. That’s a thought. Do you want me to ask him?”

“Is it okay to do that?”

“Look, I’ll just say you’re anxious to go to work for him and you’re trying to raise the money for the trip, but if you can’t, would he be willing to loan it to you? It doesn’t hurt to ask.”

“As long as you think that wouldn’t screw up my chances, okay.”

“It won’t. Let’s see what I can arrange.”

“I appreciate it, Sigmund. Thanks. How long do you think it’ll take?”

“Probably a few months. My cousin is shooting for a target date of about three months at the latest. So we’ve got time. I told him good things about you so don’t let me down. We’re both working with you in mind. I’m keeping him interested.”

“I sure hope you’re right, Sigmund. I owe you one. Thanks again,” said Alfred visually relieved.