Last Train to Paris
a group novel
Published by
a graduating course of English
Kurt-Tucholsky-Schule
Books on Demand
Bibliographical Information of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
This publication is listed in the Deutsche Nationalbibliographie of the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek; detailed bibliographical information can be accessed under http://dnb.d-nb.de
© 2013 Kurt-Tucholsky-Schule
Printing, Production and Layout: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 978-3-7322-1211-8
This novel was written by my graduating class of English at a German school in Hamburg. Each year every class has to read a novel, in 2012 it was a novel written by a 17-year-old. This was when the idea came to my mind. When I asked my class whether they would like to try writing a novel themselves they immediately said ‘yes’. I told them right away that it would mean a lot of work besides the regular coursework but they were quite enthusiastic.
There is no question about it, it was very hard work. We needed to agree on an outline of the plot so several people could work on different chapters at the same time. Others were doing some necessary research or working on the first drafts or proof reading. Researching, writing and rewriting, typing, correcting, and again rewriting and typing – everybody worked very hard but we also had a lot of fun. Of course there were times when we came close to abandoning the project but the hope that one day it would be done and the school would finance the print made us go on.
Back row from left to right: Zeleihka Foladi, Jimmy Brüning, Robert Oestmann, Torben Wißmeyer, Eren Ime, Mohammed Ponten, Yasin Özdemir.
Front row from left to right: Maria Jark, Nafize Karacelik, Aisha Saddika, Bedirhan Alimoglu, Oguzhan Maras, Evgenia Kyrlidou, Vanessa Bilardo, Esra Dede, Anica Tolic, Seher Canbolat, Gianna Paschburg.
Kneeling in front: Elham Rahmani, Hayat Starken.
We want to thank Mr. Seifert, another teacher at our school, for reading correction our final draft and Mr Gudjons for readily finding a possibility to finance the print.
Catharina Benzmann
Nick was hungry. As he was sitting on the bed in his tiny room he couldn‘t think straight because of his merciless hunger. His four walls didn‘t offer much to do. On the left side was his bed made out of straw and on the opposite side, just below the rarely cleaned window, was his desk which was full of books about geography, history and culture. He was a real book-worm, who read everyhing that the library of Mr. Bence, just two crossroads away, had to offer. His closet was not really a closet, but an old cupboard which his mother had given him to put away the few clothes he had. Nick lived in a big but not very clean house. The family did not have enough money and time to take care of the house. The grass wasn‘t green like the grass at the neighbor’s and it did not grow in every place. The color of the wall was a bit dark and looked really dirty. One could not see that the color of the house had been nearly white once. At the base some bricks were missing. And if one took a careful look one could see that moss was in the rainwater gutter. The reason why the house was so neglected was that the family had just time to get enough money to pay the mortgage but not to take care of it. Compared to Nick‘s surrounding area the house didn’t fit. Those houses there were clean and their owners took care of them or had somebody who did this.
A sudden tremendous rumble out of his stomach broke the silence and he felt that he was starving. Inconspiciously he went downstairs entertaining the hope of finding a bountiful table with his family sitting around it. But his expectations were, as always, not fulfilled. On the worn-out kitchen table that looked the years it had been in use was nothing but two slices of bread, some cheese and a little note which said: “I‘m in town with your sister – love Mum.” As he sat and ate he looked out of the kitchen window and suddenly a sunray illuminated the grey room. He enjoyed the warm sun smiling at his face, and felt a little better than before.
An unfamiliar noise which he could not identify reached Nick‘s ears. That must be the biggest car he ever heard. He was curious and tried to sneak a peek through the window. A huge blue truck came up his street and stopped about 100 feet away, directly in front of Mr. Sander’s house, who had moved to Kentucky in order to open up his own restaurant. A very expensive-looking black car with matten windows stopped just behind the big truck. Nick went into the living room to get a better look at what was happening. The passenger door of the car opened and a strong-looking man with a black suit and short hair came out. He looked like the stereotype of a business man. The man commanded the driver of the blue truck in a brusque way to open it. The driver of the black car came out and opened the back door where a middle aged brown haired woman emerged: slim, tall and, in a few words, a feast for the eyes. After an appraising glance on the house she went to the man, who obviously was her husband, and talked to him. That must be the new neighbors, Nick thought. He just wanted to leave his protected observation point as another person came out of the black car, it was a girl, a beautiful girl, so beautiful he had never seen before. She was tall and her long blond hair waved through the wind. Her skin was white like snow; her eyes were shining like stars. Her smile captivated him. She wore a flowered colorful dress. Simply put, she looked like a fairy. He thought she was the only child because he could not see brothers or sisters, only her and her parents. Nick observed her closely. She was quiet and she was listening to her dad because she did all the things her father ordered her to do. She didn’t say anything against him. But their relationship seemed to be simply good because her father always said to her ‘darling’ or ‘baby’ or something else. Only her mother was a little bit iffy. She looked arrogant and snobbish. She was the opposite of her daughter. But they looked happy. And Nick was also happy because this gorgeous was his neighbor now. He didn’t know her but he was sure that would change soon. He stopped breathing for some seconds, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen was standing just about 100 feet away.
Some weeks passed till Nick met the mysterious girl again. She was like a good book to him, just irresistible. A few times he saw her parents running out of the house but he could never take a look at her.
It was hot, stuffy and there were a lot of people in Mr. Bence’s library, a little too hot, Nick thought. He read a book about the sights of Paris, his favorite book. Nick had vowed to himself that he would visit France if he had the possibility. The little bell above the entrance rang and a girl appeared at the door. It was her. Her long blonde hair surrounded her graceful body. Over her white dress she wore a blue blouse with white ribbons. But her green eyes didn’t notice Nick. She went straight to Mr. Bence and began to talk to him.
“Hello Uncle Endric.” she opened. “Good afternoon, Lily. How is your father?” Mr. Bence answered.
“He is fine but that is not the reason of my visit. I want to borrow a book about the sights of Paris, do you have one?” Lily said.
“I only own one book about Paris. Nick, the youth over there has borrowed it. Shall I ask for it?” “No need, thanks.” Lily said and started to go.
“No, no, no,” her uncle barred her way. “I’ll do it for you.”
“Why? Is something wrong with him?” Lily asked her uncle.
Uncle Endric knew Nick and what their financial situation was like because Nick had had problems to pay the dues a few times.
When Lily was leaving Endric he stopped her and said: “I don’t want you to get in touch with this guy because I know my brother and his attitude toward such people. Well… I don’t want you to talk to him. He is not good for you; he may influence you in a bad way. His family is poor. If you were seen with him… What do you expect your father to think about you?”