The Perfectionist

Chapter Eight

On a sunlit, fresh morning, hearing the birds sing overhead and in the nearby forest, Katarina- coiffured, painted, and attired in a fur coat, vibrant dress, and low hat- sighed, and said:
''I'm fixed and finished with all these train and cab rides. I never want to go on a train or cab again.''
''And what of the ride back, dear?'' her husband, a jovial man of about twenty-seven,  returned.
''Don't talk to me of rides back, Thomas, I want to see my brother now. And it's Dieter, not Helmut, Helmut is only ten years old!''
''I don't remember a Dieter.''
''That's because you've the brain of a sheep.''
''Hah! And how old are the rest again?''
''Werner is nine years old, and Sonya is sixteen. My, you really have forgotten everything!''
''My mind is filled with Scandinavia, my dear, you will have to forgive me. Have you ever seen a monk before, anyhow?''
''No.''
''Then it shall be a first for both of us. I'm excited!''
''What a buffoon you are!'' Katarina laughed, leaning against the monastery gates, her hands behind her back, ''I've come to see only one monk, my brother, the rest I am not planning to meet with.''
''What, you kill-joy! But I fancied myself just now praying with them, you see, asking them to bless me and pray for me. How fun is that?''
''It's not a matter of fun! I am simply going to see him, catch up, and then journey onwards to Hamburg.''
''That sounds terribly dull.''
''You're terribly dull. But hush, now! I hear one coming.''

She turned around and stood before the monastery gates, waiting for the approaching monk (who happened to be young Brother Karl). Upon reaching them, without opening the gates, he presented a curious smile, and asked:
''Yes?''
''Good day to you,'' Katarina started enthusiastically, looking at him through the bars, ''We've come to this monastery to meet with Dieter, Dieter Siedemann.''
Brother Karl paused briefly in confusion, then said happily:
''Oh, Brother Dieter, the new novice?''
''Yes! Brother Dieter.'' (When Katarina said this, Thomas raised his brows and smiled)
''And who is he meeting with today?''
''His older sister Katarina, and her husband Thomas.''
''Thomas Müller, if you please,'' Thomas added playfully.
''I regret to inform you that all the brothers are in mass at the moment, but you can enter, and wait at the back of the chapel, if you wish.''
''Hear that, Katarina? We're going to see monks in mass!''

***

The couple silently entered the chapel from the back doors with Brother Karl. The high decorated ceilings, the scent of incense all around the room, and the deep hymn sung by the monks, all which Thomas quietly synonymized to the ''Our Saviour's Church in Copenhagen'', were much to the liking of the two newcomers, who had received the chapel with wonder. Katarina glanced quickly around the chapel, trying to find Dieter, and once she caught sight of him, singing away with the others, his eyes on his book, she gasped, and, nudging Thomas, pointed at Dieter.
''Oh,'' Thomas said, ''I remember him. That one is Dieter?''
''Yes, that's Dieter!'' she whispered.
''It's strange I recognized him. I hadn't seen him often when I had first begun frequenting your house, and I believe you told me you had a brother in the university. That brother is- Mr Dieter?''
''Yes, but after university he came here. You were off for business when he had announced it, and our wedding day was drawing closer, thus you hadn't the chance to see him from then on.''
''I see! And now he is a religious brother. Say, how many masses do you do in one day?'' Thomas asked Brother Karl, with beaming eyes.
''Seven, sir.''
''Seven! My, I can barely persuade myself to attend the Sunday mass!''
Brother Karl laughed.
''It is so bizarre,'' said Katarina, ''I never imagined that in my life I would see Dieter in a habit. He looks so different. You see, brother, at the time when he left for the monastery I was closely anticipating my wedding, and I could not concentrate on both significant events at once. Thus I had not given him a proper goodbye. I was terribly occupied with my own affairs than on him.''
''I'm sure he thinks nothing of it, Mrs. Müller.''
''Yes, but I regret that I was so selfish. I hope he is happy to see me.''