The Perfectionist

Chapter Five

The monastic life had imposed a greatly pleasant impression on our Dieter, it was a change for him. As we have written before, he had unconsciously let the events that were happening pass through him blindly, as if he smoothly glided through time, and he was met with no time or capacity to deeply ponder on them yet. He felt that he enjoyed the monastic life very much, it suited him very well, and though he had yet to become accustomed to it- to adapt fully to the monastic methods and practices- he knew that he had truly belonged, and was not an ill-fitting stranger.

The monastic life was quite different from anything Dieter had experienced before: every hour of the day was used for something useful, and the monks were almost constantly occupied with the tasks and matters at hand. The ringing of the bells dictated their days and nights, and they obeyed their every calling. The day started with mass (the chapel was still dark around this time), then followed breakfast in the mess hall, then followed two additional masses, then followed the individual jobs with which each monk was obligated, and they had all dispersed into their concerns as the morning was advancing. Brother Johann, for instance, had gone off to sweep the floors of the corridors, which was to occupy him until the bell for lunch had rung. The abbot and Brother Pieter had given Dieter some guidance regarding how to keep the library in good order, and the abbot, perpetually busy, had taken the opportunity to hastily visit Brother Heinrich in the back garden and inquire about the sheep. Quite late into the afternoon, the monks had gathered for lunch; at the table, Dieter noticed a miserable gypsy woman seated with them, intently listening to the grace being read aloud with furrowed brows, while another, fair-haired girl of fifteen, seated next to her, idly played with her food, and now and then let out a mischievous snicker. Guests were common, Brother Pieter whispered, but before Dieter could say anything, the cook had come into the room, and had enquired everyone about the food. The two women had left together after the lunch was finished, and the monks dispersed yet again. As Dieter scanned the shelves in the library, he found himself full of questions, and asked away:
''Brother Pieter, from where were those girls?''
''They work at the tin factory,'' Brother Pieter replied, flipping through the newspaper, ''Many of the beggars here do.''
''And I suppose that the gypsy man that I saw on my arrival here does as well?''
''That is correct, dear.''
''And what of his son?''
''The boy is reared by his mother, of course. I don't think she works at the factory.''
''Relating to the discussion yesterday, I personally think that the Tsar did not deserve death, but rather a permanent relinquishing of his power. And I agree wholeheartedly with Brother Johann, by the way. However, one brother said something which I am still quite troubled with.''
''What is it?''
Dieter turned to Brother Pieter: ''He stated that mankind as one body is imperfect, and that damnation is inevitable.''
''Ha-ha-ha! I must confess that it did make me think, though I immediately concluded with the happy mental declaration that original sin is not our doom. God loves us, Dieter, He loves us more than we could ever begin to understand. There is an eternal joy in this knowledge, which cannot be defeated by any power on the whole of the earth. Our flaws are nothing to despair over, and the Lord is more forgiving than anyone could fathom.''

Dieter left the shelves, and sat tranquilly across Brother Pieter on the table. Shaking his worry off, he opened the volume which he had been reading before, and began to read. After dinner had finished, and the Complice mass completed, Brother Johann joined Dieter in the library some time before all the monks had gone to bed. While Dieter organized the shelves, Johann related to him the tragic story he had heard that morning of an old man's forlorn conquest to brave the Rhine.
''The poor soul didn't even have a good enough boat, you understand,'' he said, wiping off a tear, ''I told him that it was a courageous thing he did, that I thought him admirable for such an endeavour, though he brushed it off most indignantly. The reverend father told me, he was with me then, not to waste my tears on frivolous affairs, but rather on genuine sufferings for which pity can be of help. The old man wasn't even a beggar, you see.''
''What was he?''
''A landowner who visits sometimes out of sport, and who had lost a river competition.''
Dieter chuckled.
''But he deserved my pity nonetheless! Anywho, tell me, Brother Dieter, for I have not heard anything from you yet, how is life in a monastery for you? I know that on my first months my progress wasn't quite the smoothest.''
''I do not deny that I am greatly enjoying myself; though nothing is new, everything is different, and I am living out a change in my life. I say thanks to God that it is a good change, and not one from which I can be embittered, or even worse.''
''How are the brothers?''
''The finest company in the whole world. Their conduct impresses me beyond expression, and I am more than grateful to live with them.''
''But I presume that you miss your family?''
''Of course, though I have already spent a great deal of time away from them, and have long since been independent.''
''When I first joined a year ago, I felt as if they were all saints! It is the most wonderful thing in the world to feel as if you are becoming a part of them.''