Fog

At the moment Gina wasn't quite clear what she was doing that simple sentence should say. "That's right, I'm new to town." Then she turned back to the book to signal to the librarian that she would now like to continue reading. But it wasn't that easy.

“I've already heard that they should have a new waitress in the nine-armed Kraken. That’s you, then? ”

Gina swallowed once to dispel the growing annoyance at the continued disturbance. "Yes, that's right!" She turned around with a big smile. “It's a nice pub. Have you been there before? ”

The librarian, whose name was marked with Mrs. Foster on a small plaque on her chest, wrinkled her nose and said with a pointed mouth,“ I certainly won't go in there! Only drunkards and gamblers hang around there, that's definitely not the right place for a decent woman! ”

Gina lost her smile at this cheeky insinuation. “Well, thank God I can contradict you. We have many guests who drink their beers in the evening with us, but none of them have been really drunk the whole time I've been there. And there is no play either! ”She added quickly.

"I know what I know." With these ambiguous words, the librarian turned on her heel and carried her pile of books to the reception desk.

Gina was somewhat indignant about this treatment, it had pretty much robbed her of the fun of rummaging. Nonetheless, she strolled through the premises and also looked at the children's and youth book department on the first floor of the house. After all, she had to admit with no envy that the librarian understood her work and had conjured something very special out of this library. Finally she found nothing new to discover and with a heavy heart went to the reception desk. There the librarian without a word issued her a new library card and entered the books on her index card.

Gina couldn't contain herself anymore. “What did you mean when you said earlier that we are playing?”

“Well, everyone here knows that! Though you really may not have been around long enough to notice. But you will see. And the pastor said it again in his sermon two weeks ago. It's just not right for adults to play. Where there is play there is vice, and vice leads to Sodom and Gomorrah, to corruption and dissolute customs! You should keep your eyes open. I won't say more about that! "

" As you think, "Gina replied snippily." Thank you very much. Goodbye. " She stuffed the books in her purse and left the library.

At the door Gina was pleasantly surprised because the fog had become lighter. In the sky you could already vaguely see the sun as a large bright spot and even the train station on the opposite side of the street was already clearly outlined.

Only in the lower-lying areas of the town did the fog waft unchanged. So she decided to continue the walk through Main Street and its shops for a while. In the chocolaterie, which she already knew, she replenished her supplies and strolled through the lightening midday sky, past fashion stores that presented clothes that were priceless to her, in the direction of the Anglican Church. There was a small public park in front of the church, where she wanted to sit on the bench for a while, despite the damp air. It was a strange panorama. The sun had driven the mist on the hilltops so far that Gina could sit in the midday sun, which was a little warm. Everything that was around the bay on the ridge of the hill shone in its light, but the entire area below, far out to sea, was still in a thick haze. Only very far in the distance could one make out a thin waterline again.

"Hello young lady. What drives you into the garden of the Lord? ”Next to her a medieval man dressed in black had suddenly appeared. “Please excuse me, I didn't mean to scare you. May I introduce myself? My name is Reverend Hummingworth of the Church of England. ”He jerked his thumb over his right shoulder behind him, disrespectfully.

Gina rose politely. “Good morning, Reverend. My name is Gina, Gina Trippelten-Mews. I'm the new waitress ... "

" ... of the nine-armed octopus. I know. ”He gave her a friendly laugh. “In a place as small as this one, news is quickly silent.”

“Yes, that's probably true.” And forgetting any sense of diplomacy, she added: “And then you are probably the pastor who railed against the gimmick in our pub ? ”

The Reverend raised his eyebrows in amazement and indicated the bench with his hand. "May I sit with you?"

"Of course!" She took her bag and slid onto the very end of the bench.

“And what exactly did you mean by your comment about the gimmick? Did you mean gambling addiction? "

" I don't really know, "Gina admitted somewhat meekly." I was just in the library and had to endure the librarian stalking me and me from behind disgusted that the place where I work is supposed to be played, and how terrible it all is. "

The Reverend laughed heartily and Gina looked at him in amazement. When he had calmed down, he said:" I'm afraid you got caught a little between the fronts of a religious war. It is my Catholic colleague from the other side who has been raging about it in his pulpit lately. "

" And what is it about? Days that I'm there now, at least not noticed anything. ”

“ Well then nothing will have happened, ”remarked the Reverend cryptically. "Incidentally, I consider board games to be quite harmless fun among adults." Then he spontaneously changed the subject. "Do I see you in church on Sunday?"

"I don't know." Gina was visibly embarrassed. "I don't go to church often."

The pastor smiled and stood up. “I have to apologize again, I really didn't mean to embarrass you. Still, I have to say goodbye to you now. I wish you a nice day and I would be happy to see you again soon. ”He bowed slightly, turned and walked away down the gravel path in the direction of his church.