chapter four - part two

So Konrad and the horse quickly ran up the stairs and then along a long hallway, looking for room 28. Suddenly they heard a child's voice: „Konrad, Konrad!“ The boy turned and saw a redhaired girl coming closer. She had pigtails sticking out from her head as if woven around florist's wire.
„Babette!“ Konrad said.
And then the two ran and shook each other's hands.
„What are you doing in the world turned upside down?“ Babette asked.
„Oh, we were just on our way through, to the south sea. I have to write a paper about it. Now we are looking for my uncle. He got kidnapped at the entrance and is currently supposed to sit in the beginners' course. Do you have any idea what he is doing there?“
„Oh dear!“ said the girl. „This sounds like a giant misunderstanding. Isn't your uncle a nice guy?“
„He is“, replied the boy.
„The guys at the entrance probably thought that you brought him for education!“ Babette seemed to be really angry. „Lets get him out of there, that should be easy, after all, I am secretary for education.“ She took Konrad by the hand.
„Wait a second!“ said the horse. „What is the meaning of your world turned upside-down? I'm not stupid, you know, but there are quite a few things I don't get here.“
Babette stopped. „It's like this“, she said. „As you know, not all parents are nice, just as not all children. Some of them are actually rather dreadfull.“
„Yes“, said Konrad. „If these bad parents refuse to change and if they unjustly punish or even beat their children – this happens a lot - they are commited to us. This helps most of the time.“
The horse scratched its head with a hoof and wanted to know hwo exactly those parents were educated.
Babette took a deep breath. „Mostly, we do the same unto them. It is not pretty, but necessary. As an example, we have here a certain Mr. Clemens Waffelbruch.“
„That's uncle Ringelhuth's landlord!“ exclaimed Konrad. „But he was at home just now! The horse threw a flowerpot onto his head not an hour ago!“ The horse showed his teeth and laughed quietly.
„All of us are here and at home at the same time.“ explained Babette. „This Waffelbruch has a son, Arthur by name. Arthur gets locked out on the balcony by his father for hours almost every evening. Especially if it is raining. And do you know why? Only because he is bad at math. He tries so hard! Arthur stands on the balcony, is frightened and cries and is cold. He got paler and sicker by the day. And because of all this fear, he nowadays cannot do any math at all.“
„I did not like this guy from the beginning“, grumbled the horse. „I should have thrown a few more pots onto his hat.“
„And now we put him on the balcony. The wind has to howl and it has to rain“, explained Babette. „We do this as long as it takes to show him how he tortures his son. Be quiet for a bit!“
They fell silent.
„Don't you hear anything?“ whispered Babette.
„Someone is swearing and crying. But it is far away“, said Konrad.
„That's old Waffelbruch“, whispered Babette. „I guess he will be ready in three days or so. Then he will of his own will swear not to torment little Arthur ever again. If he does, we will release him as cured.“
„I see“, said the horse. „And why are you here?“
Babette was a bit embarrassed. Finally she said: „It's because of my mum. She has not really cared for me for a while now. In the morning, i did not get any breakfast anymore, because she was still sleeping. Over noon, she is not home, so I do not get lunch, either. And in the evening, when I go to bed, she is not home, yet. The school-doctor send her a letter, which she threw in the oven.“
„And now?“
„Now she is send to school here and i am forbidden to care for her. Only sometimes, I have to go into her room and pretend I don't notice her. Then I have to leave again and sing in the corridor. Babette had tears in her eyes. „I feel so sorry for her“, she whispered. „She has already lost ten pounds. Sometimes, even though it is forbidden, i leave her a sandwich on the table.“ Babette sobbed and blew her nose.
„Don't cry“, said Konrad. „When you wee hungry, she did not cry, either.“
Babette blew her nose again. „You are right, of course“, she said, „but I pity her nonetheless. Lets just hope, the treatment is successfull. But normally, we have a great success rate.“ She tried to smile.
„I'm happy to hear that“, said the horse. „Now let us get uncle Ringelhuth out of your sanatorium, before he becomes even nicer than he already is.“
„That would be unbearable“, said Konrad. So they quickly left for room 28. Quite a remarkable sight awaited them there. The school-benches were filled with grown-ups. They all wore childrens' clothing, and some of them looked rather dangerous. Especially the fat ones. In the front, behind the lectern, sat a pale, serious boy. He was the teacher and when the three entered the room, he ordered: „Rise!“
The grown-ups rose. Only a particularly fat man got stuck in the bench. The boy who was the teacher shook hands with Babette and said: „Godd afternoon, Miss secretary.“
„Hello Jacob, did they bring in a new one a little while ago?“
„Yes“, said the teacher, „I don't think he is particulary evil, but he seems to be a bit dim. He's laughing all the time. Come over here, please, Ringelhuth!“
So uncle Ringelhuth ambled over from the last bench. The horse went into a laughing-fit, when it saw him. The uncle was wearing shorts, half-stockings and a sailor-jacket. On his head he had sailor's cap with the words „Torpedoboat Lower Silesia“ embroidered on the rim.
„Blimey!“ said Konrad and held on to Babette.
„Don't you like my outfit?“ the uncle asked, acting upset.
Babette explained the misunderstanding to the teacher, who then send a student, a barrister named Bollensänger to fetch Ringelhuth's clothes and cane from the office.
In the meantime, the lessen continued. Babette, Konrad, the uncle and the horse stood by the door and watched the show.
„Butcher Sauertopf!“ Jacob shouted, „rise! You are constantly beating your children around the head, is that right?“
„Yes“, said Sauertopf. „Those are my own, personal children and it is of no concern to anyone when and where I beat them! Understood?“
„One of the boys became sick. And our doctor said that Willi is going to suffer for the rest of his life because of the beatings he got for losing a dime.“
„Why doesn't your doctor come here, so I can give him a few slaps, too!“ screamed the butcher. „I harden the kids.“
„Yeah“, said Jacob, „I guess we have to harden you, too.We don't like to do this, but we will repay all the inhuman beatings you have dealt out until you understand what you did.“ He rang a bell. Four bigger boys came into the classroom, took the butcher and led him towards the door. „Around the head“, explained Jacob and the four nodded.
„He won't see reason this way“, said the uncle.
„Unfortunately only this way“, replied Babette. „I know these types. Luckily they're only few.“
Sauertopf was led away. He looked rather puzzled in his Confirmation-suit, that was way too small for him.

„Mrs Ottilie Überbein!“ Jacob called.
A thin lady got up. She wore a thin dress and constantly fingered her hair.
Jacob said: „You force your daughter Paula to lie for you. The child has to lie to her dad and the grandparents, so that no one finds out what you do with the family's money. That in fact, you do not go for walks with Paula but instead let her wait alone in a pastry shop while you lose the money playing Bridge.“
„This is nothing you should care about. I can do whatever I want.“ Mrs Überbein replied haughtily.
„We don't care if you lie“, said Jacob. „But we care a lot about you forcing your daughter to lie. We can no longer tolerate this. Paula can't sleep at night, has a guilty conscience and cries every time she has to tell a lie to her dad.“
„You exaggerate, little one“, said Mrs Ottilie Überbein.
Jacob was annoyed now. „I do not, in any way, exaggerate! The poor child does not know what to do. Who knows what could happen! Stop fiddling with your stupid hair, while I'm talking to you! We will keep you for another week. If you, by then, still don't know how to treat your daughter, we will take measures.“
„Now I'm curious“, Mrs Überbein snappishly.
„If you force Paula to lie for you again, we will tell your husband the truth.“ said Jacob.
„Everything, but not that!“ cried Mrs Überbein and had to sit down from shock.
„More about this tomorrow“, said Jacob. „Now Mr. director Hobohm!“

But at this point, Mr. Bollensänger returned and brought uncle Ringelhuth's clothes. Also the cane. The uncle changed quickly, twirled his cane and said: „And now, off we go to the south sea!“
„Oh, I had almost forgotten that!“ explained Konrad and shook Babette's hand. „This was very interesting“, he said. „I wish you all the best. I mean, about your mum, you know...“
„Goodbye, Miss secretary“, said the horse. The uncle was already in the corridor.
„Always straight ahead!“ said Babette.
„The same to you“, the confused Konrad replied and then he ran after the others.