Germany, 1920, under the Weimar Republic. The country is experiencing severe economic depression, and as a result their currency(marks) is basically worthless due to extreme inflation.
The feeling of dissatisfaction in the air was almost palpable. The German people were on edge and often it seemed as though they were riding on a thin line between quiet discontent and outright rebellion. But not everyone felt this way. Some were quite happy with their surroundings. But most of these people happened to be innocent toddlers who were just generally pleased with everything in life.
Two such toddlers lived across the street from each other in a small town. These two toddlers, two scrawny little boys, became friends in the typical way. One was playing a game, and the other wanted in on the fun.
The first young boy, with dark hair and big brown eyes, sat square in the center of the road. A bucket sat at his side. But this bucket was not filled with water. It was filled with marks, bundled together in one hundreds, each bundle tied together with string. But the boy had no clue about any of that. All he knew was that he was about to have some fun.
Smiling to himself, he dumped the bucket upside down. He picked up one of the bundles and laid it in front of him. Then he laid another next to it, and another. At first it looked as though the boy was crazy. But after some time, his thought process became clear. He finally took one bundle and placed it on top of the others. Now it was quite obvious. The boy was building a tower and the previous bundles had been the foundation.
The boy’s eyes sparkled with glee as he added more and more bundles. Finally, there were no bundles left. The boy inspected his work. He laughed out loud with joy. He was clearly pleased with his accomplishment.
“Wutcha laughing about?”
The boy’s eyes grew wide and he stood up in shock. His face relaxed a little when he saw the appearance of the speaker. He was just another kid like him. Scrawny, dirty, and obliviously happy. There were some differences though, the most noticeable in the face. This boy had bright blue eyes and curly blond hair that needed a trim.
“I was just playing a game,” the first boy responded cautiously.
“A game? A game! I want to play a game! Can I play too?” questioned the second boy at top volume.
The first boy’s expression turned into a frown. He wasn’t so sure he wanted this exceptionally loud stranger to be a part of his fun. “I don’t think so,” he responded coldly.
“Oh….” The second boy’s voice drifted off. His eyes grew wide with the kind of disappointment only a child could feel. The first boy felt a pang of guilt. He didn’t mean to make the boy feel bad.
“Okay,” he said quietly, “you can play with me if you want to.” The change in the second boy’s expression was immediate. “But you’ll have to bring more,” he added, gesturing towards the tower of money.
The second boy clapped his hands together with excitement. “Oh I have lots and lots of that!” He practically sprinted across the street to a house that the first boy assumed must be his own. It wasn’t long before he was once again in sight, this time with his scrawny little arms carrying multiple bundles of money that reached almost to his chin.
The first boy’s chocolate eyes widened with joy as he saw all of the wonderful brown stacks. To the adults they were just useless piles of paper, but to the two boys they were building blocks; something to keep them entertained for countless hours.
The second boy was in front of the first in no time. But unfortunately his balance was not so good. In an attempt to stop mid-run, he tripped and fell directly onto the tower, the money he was carrying scattering all over the street. His face contorted into a frown and he looked like he might cry. He made no attempt to stand up. “I’m so sorry,” he cried. “I ruined it!”
The first boy just stood there. He considered his feelings. He thought he would be mad, but he wasn’t. He realized he was actually more entertained than anything. This boy was funny. He let a small laugh escape from his lips. “You’re funny” he proclaimed in a typically childish way. He gazed at the damage. “We can just make a new tower. It will be bigger and better!”
The second boy wiped his eyes. He stood up slowly and allowed himself a small smile. “Okay.”
The two boys got to work quickly, stacking bundle after bundle of money. Their young faces displayed intense concentration. The first boy bit his lip, deeply focused, and the second boy’s brow actually began to shine with sweat. The sun began to dip behind the horizon. The boys raced against time to complete their structure. The last bundle was placed on top just as they both heard their mothers calling to them. Time for little boys to come inside and wash up for supper.
The two boys gazed at their achievement with sincere satisfaction. Then they turned to look at each other. The voices of the mothers called out again. Their expressions turned frantic. Neither one wanted to leave their building behind. They looked from the pile to each other and back again. Suddenly, they both exchanged a mischievous smile. Simultaneously they dove into the pile, knocking it down. They collapsed in a heap of dust and giggles.
The calls from the mothers came again, more urgent this time. Both boys jumped up quickly, grabbing bundles until there were none left. They hurriedly took off for their respective homes. Before disappearing inside, each looked back and smiled. A silent promise was exchanged in the form of smiles. Tomorrow? Same time? Yes of course. I can’t wait.
THE END
