Green Neon

3 The Old Man

In the late afternoon they drove back to Piraeus where they prepared a quick dinner of meatballs and a delicious tomato sauce. While they were still eating, the doorbell rang. Christina's "Nä!" sounded a metallic "Levkos Stavros" from the intercom, whereupon she pressed the door opener. When someone knocked, she glanced through the peephole and then opened the door.

The visitor who greeted them with hugs was an old man. Tom put him at about 60 years old. Deep furrows ran through his face, and the snow-white, bushy eyebrows stood in striking contrast to his skin color, which was very dark even by Greek standards. His almost black eyes looked lively and happy, which was underlined by pronounced laugh lines. The man had a full head of white hair and wore a light gray suit that was a few sizes too big for him, a white shirt, and brown sandals with bare feet.

Tom heard Christina mention his name, and the man looked him up and down, then walked toward him with slow, somewhat hesitant steps. As Tom stood up, he reached out and hugged him in a torrent of Greek words that Tom didn't understand. Christina translated how happy the man was to see him and that he also had two sons and all sorts of other pleasantries.

At that moment, the doorbell rang again, and another "Levkos Stavros" croaked out of the system. This reoccured an additional two times, more or less as with the first visitor. Now it dawned on Tom that none of the visitors' names were Levkos Stavros. Rather, it seemed to be some kind of code.

The second visitor was about the same age as the first, also dark complexion, and even the clothes were similar. The third was about 10 years younger, he wore brown pants and a rough blue shirt. Then there was another knock. Christina let in the fourth visitor, who had entered the house through the back entrance.

He was about 25, tall, slim, and pale with short black hair. Tom was struck by the young man's eyes which looked so much older and sadder than the first guest's happy eyes. Without a word he shook his hand.

The men sat down on the sofas. While Christina made coffee, Tom placed two carafes of ice water and a silver-colored tray with glasses on the living room table. Then he sat down in one of the two empty chairs and the eldest of the men spoke to him in Greek. Tom was grateful when the youngest translated his words into rather clumsy English.

First he was asked where he came from and where he was going, then the visitor who had arrived frirst, and whom Tom secretly called "The Old Man", wanted to know: "How do you like it in Greece?"

Tom raved about Athens, the Acropolis and Plaka. The answer didn't seem to satisfy the man: "Where is it nicer, in Germany or in Greece?"

Tom thought for a moment.

"Actually, Germany is okay, but of course Greece is much nicer."

"You have to be so polite," he thought, and it wasn't a lie either.

The old man smiled and said softly:

"Greece is the most beautiful country in the world, but Germany is free."

He observed Tom's reaction very closely, which the German boy also noticed. He found that more was expected of him than superficial kindness. Before he could comment further, however, Christina entered the room with the coffee cups and sat down on the last free chair.

A discussion ensued, during which Tom's name was mentioned several times. He became more and more insecure. Finally Christina turned to him:

"We talked about what we want to tell you. My friend will now tell you a few things. But you have to promise me that you won't talk to anyone about it."

A strange feeling had been lingering with Tom about this gathering since morning. Something was going on here, but what? It looked like answers were forthcoming, but he had no idea what to expect. Nevertheless, he made the desired promise to Christina.