0. The man in the suit


"But come back in time, Jill. The guests will be there soon!"
"Yes, mom and pop," shouted Jill and ran across the lawn, past the rose bed, under the fruit trees, and then through the bushes and along the fence. "One, two, three ..." Jill counted the fence slats quietly. On the eleventh she stopped and pushed her aside. It was loose and easy to move. Then she slipped onto the neighboring property.
The lawn beneath her feet was cut short and looked neat. The ten-year-old girl stopped in front of a huge copper beech tree the next time. A red balloon was tied to the swing, which was attached to a strong branch, which gently moved back and forth in a mild breeze. A smile crossed Jill's face.
She walked around the thick tree trunk. On the other side, wide wooden struts were nailed to the tree so that they could be used as a ladder. Jill climbed nimbly. She knew exactly where to put her feet. She had climbed up to the tree house often enough that she could have reached it safely blindfolded. Jill sat on a fork of branches, pushed the hatch open, and climbed into the tree house.
"Happy Birthday!" Jake shouted, jumping towards her happily. The dark-haired boy blew a brightly colored streamer on Jill's face. She looked around a little taken aback. Balloons and garlands adorned the little tree house. "Wow" was the only thing she managed to get out. She was really speechless. Jill looked at him with wide, delighted eyes.
Jake grinned contentedly. "Don't get excited too soon. I actually tried to bake," he announced, taking a small plate from behind a pile of balloons and holding a small chocolate cake under Jill's nose. Jill giggled. Admittedly, he already looked a bit misshapen and the small candle was a bit crooked, but she knew exactly what he must have made an effort with. She looked at him smiling.
Jake lowered his gaze and blushed a little at the tip of his nose. Jill's grin widened a little. They had been friends for many years, but she had rarely seen him blush or embarrassed. She leaned down a little and blew out the little candle. "Did you wish something?"
"Of course!" Laughed Jill. Jake put the chocolate cake on the floor and pulled a small, brightly colored packet out of the mountain of balloons, which was decorated with a red bow. "Happy birthday, Jill!" Jake announced solemnly. She looked enthusiastically first at the present in his outstretched hand and then at his face.
"Thank you," she said softly. Jill fell on his neck, beaming. "Thank you," she said again. Jake was a bit taken by surprise at first and before he had really understood what had happened, she had let go of him again."I wish it could stay that way forever," she said gravely, looking into his dark eyes.
Why did she suddenly look at him so sadly? She had just beamed. "Hey, don't worry," he said, smiling at her. "We are best friends - always - and that will always be the case." - "Promise?"
"Promise! And now finally unpack your present", Jake grinned and handed her the package for the second time. Jill accepted it with a grin. "I'm so happy, Jake. You tried so hard ..."
"Jill!" Suddenly came a voice from outside. "This is my aunt," said Jill, puzzled, and poked her head out to one of the small paneless windows. Her aunt Emma actually stood at the foot of the beech tree, but she was not alone. Next to her stood a man in a pinstripe suit whom Jill had last seen years ago and recognized immediately - her father. Actually, she had wanted to say something, but in surprise she couldn't utter a word and just stared down.
"Your father is here ...", her aunt began, she seemed a little confused herself, "he wants ... to take you with him."
“Take away?” Jill had a lump in her throat. She didn't even know if she should be happy to see her father. On the one hand, she hadn't seen him in such a long time and often wished he'd visit her, but on the other hand, he had become a stranger to her after all these years. Her aunt and uncle had taken on the role of parents for her.
The man down there was a stranger ...
"Yes, darling. I've finally found a suitable apartment, I've furnished you your own room. You can finally move in with me, my little angel." My little angel, that's what she had always called him in the letters, the last one Time had become increasingly rare.
"I .. I should move in with you?" Jill stammered, confused. “When?” She looked at her aunt for help. She looked tense at the floor.
"Now in a quarter of an hour we have to be on our way again," explained her father and looked up at his daughter with a smile. "It's a couple of hours by car, and I've got an important business lunch tonight. Now come down so your father can greet you."
Jill, turned to Jake. To her surprise, he smiled at her. "Now go on! You always wished that your father would finally take care of you. Your wish has finally come true!"
For a moment she looked at him in amazement. Then she finally climbed down. Her legs were heavy as lead, her knees trembled, and her heart only bumped when she faced her father.
He leaned down to her and hugged her stormily. "My little girl grew up," he said happily and looked Jill up and down. When she saw his shining eyes, she realized that he had to be genuinely happy to see her and somehow his eyes and his voice had something familiar.It was then that she began to be really excited to see him again.
Her father looked at Jake, who had also climbed down from a tree and - with a certain safety distance to them - was standing under the tree and was watching the scene. "You are her boyfriend?" He asked politely.
"My best friend," Jill declared proudly. "This is Jake."
“Nice to meet you, Jake.” Jake didn't say anything himself. All of a sudden, Jill's father glanced nervously at his watch. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you'll have to say goodbye now."
Jill was confused. Somehow it all happened too fast for her.
With weak knees she walked over to Jake and looked at him a little dejected. "I don't even know what ..."
Jake just shook his head. Much to her surprise, he smiled at her again. "That's okay. I'll write to you, we can call and visit each other. You will also have a great time with your father. Now you can finally catch up on everything!"
Jill swallowed and forced a smile too. If Jake saw it all so positively, she wasn't going to hang her head either. "But don't forget your present," he added and pressed the small, colorful package into her hand. Even though she had tried to pull herself together, Jill threw himself around his neck again.
"Goodbye," said Jill.
"Yeah, see you soon," Jake said goodbye.
Her father took Jill's hand as they left. With the other she pressed her birthday present party to her chest. Her aunt Emma trotted along in silence. She turned around again and gave Jake a depressed and apologetic look.
"There's a birthday present waiting for you at home ...", Jill's father was just saying when the ten-year-old girl got a little raindrop. She continued to listen to his joyous voice and looked up at the dark, clouded sky. Strange, it had just been clear and blue after all.
Jake didn't feel the cold drops that rained down on him and kept growing. He also didn't feel how much time passed before he finally turned around to go into the house. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. Boys weren't allowed to cry!




[i]End of prologue[i]