Please click HERE for complete Audio/visual page
Mrs. Abel and A Flat With No Roof!
Mrs. Abel - listen here
Last week, Mrs. Abel of Vienna told me an interesting story that had happened at the end of the War. And, although, now very funny, was, at the time, no laughing matter at all. In fact, it was really quite serious.
Mrs. Abel, who was just a young girl at the time, was out with her mother and sisters. They had gone to visit their granny. And, arriving home in the evening, they were all in good moods. It had been a wonderful day. But, then came the shock. Their top floor flat had no longer a roof. It was gone!
The girls and their mother were speechless.
It turned out, that whilst the girls and their mother were out, a Russian missile had taken their roof clean away! And, luckily, the rest of the building had suffered no damage at all.
So, what to do next? Organize.
Books, pictures and many other things, too, were put into cupboards for safety, and the beds were all moved to the back – the only part of the flat which still had a roof. Dry nights at least. And, so the family lived for the next three or four weeks until a temporary roof was erected. Open-air living with wonderful views of the sun and the moon and the clouds and the stars.
But, there was one funny thing that the girls have never forgotten. A Sunday lunch with a difference. Whilst happily enjoying a fine simple meal, it started to rain. No problem. The umbrellas were ready and waiting. And, lunch carried on as if nothing was happening. Lunch under umbrellas at home. Just eating in the rain – what a wonderful feeling – we're happy again. And, of course, the cucumber salad tasted of rain. A taste Mrs. Abel has never forgotten.
Last week, Mrs. Abel of Vienna told me an interesting story. Eating and laughing under umbrellas, and cucumber salad that tasted of rain. Things could have been worse. At least, the Schnitzels were great. And, that's what's important.
Mrs. Abel and lunch in the rain.
Vocabulary and Language Assistance
erected – errichtet
it turned out – es hat sich heraus gestellt …
at least - mindestens
no laughing matter – nicht zum lachen
open-air – Freiluft
quite – ziemlich
suffered no damage at all – nicht in Mitleidenschaft gezogen
umbrella - Regenschirm
whilst (while) – während
