Joseph had volunteered to relocate when his company needed a temporary presence in Frankfurt. He had grown up nearby, and thought it would be fun to visit the small village on the Rhein only a half an hour away.

He stood in line at a local bakery with the familliar smells bringing back forgotten memories. The church bells tolled in the distance indicating that it was now a quarter of an hour passed three O’clock.

“Immer mehr und mehr neger . . . es wird immer schlimmer!” An old woman said to her friend in a thick and raspy Hesse dialect. Everyone acted as if they hadn’t heard what she said. Mostly not wanting to associate themselves with that statement.

“Können sie sich bitte widerholen? Ich hatte was verrücktes im ohr.” He said in reply, smiling at the old woman.

She looked into his eyes; her face turned red realizing that he understood what she had said. There were a few chuckles from the other patrons.

“Sowas iss ja Un-Er-Hört!” the old woman said so obviously embarrased, and left the store.