LITMIR.BIZ

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you prefer, beautiful Leah?

      – I really like Johann Strauss. In my opinion, his music is light and airy.

      “You have excellent taste,” the young man said, continuing to waltz, and after a pause he continued: “Leah, let me note, you dance beautifully.”

      – I did ballet as a child, but then I had to quit.

      After a pause, Leah asked:

      “Joseph… isn’t that a Jewish name?”

      “In your mouth, my name sounds like it has never sounded before.”

      – If you don’t want to, you don’t have to answer.

      – Yes it is. You and I are of the same nationality, and the fact that we met here today, at a German wedding, is fate.

      “In our city, meeting, as you put it, ‘people of our nationality’ is not such a rare occurrence,” the girl smiled. – It’s not for nothing that Mainz is called Jerusalem on the Rhine.

      “Let me disagree with you,” Joseph continued, trying to defend his point of view. “You still won’t be able to convince me about the fate of our meeting.” As for Jerusalem am Rhein, everyone interprets it differently. For example, local Jews say that the city has such an informal name because they settled in Mainz at the beginning of the tenth century and founded the largest Jewish community in Germany here, and the Germans believe that this name comes from the fact that the city was the main center of Christianization of the Germans.

      – Okay, I won’t argue with you.

      “That’s smart of you,” Josef joked awkwardly.

      After a short pause he asked:

      – How long have you known Tilda?

      – I moved here when I was ten. Tilda lived in a neighboring house and helped me get used to the new city, to new people. Since that time we have been friends. How do you know Klaus? Are you working with him?

      – We studied at the university together.

      – Klaus said that you are a doctor, is that a fiction or true? – the girl asked with interest.

      – Yes, I am a doctor, and I dare say, a very good one.

      – What kind of doctor are you? A surgeon like Klaus?

      – No, I chose a different specialization – dentistry.

      – You must have a very interesting job! And I am a simple elementary school teacher.

      “There are no simple teachers,” Joseph objected. “This is a very important specialty, since it is teachers who shape the personalities of children.

      Looking towards the table, where Paul, already red with rage, was sitting, the girl lowered her head and said quietly:

      – Sorry, but I have to go.

      – Is it because your boyfriend has returned? – Josef asked gloomily, also looking at Paul.

      “I really need to go.”

      – Please, let’s at least finish the waltz. I’ve never felt so good.

      Looking at the angry Paul, the girl continued the dance. After some silence, Joseph said:

      “I hope that you will forgive my frankness, but you and him are absolutely not suitable for each other.”

      “I also ask you to forgive me, but I don’t want to discuss this,” Leah answered, turning slightly pale.

      “Believe me, you are meant for someone else,” the young man continued.

      – And for whom, if not a secret? – she asked sarcastically.

      “You are meant for me,” Josef said confidently. “I knew it from the very second I saw you.”

      – Please, don’t throw around such words. “I don’t believe in all these stories about love at first sight,” the girl said excitedly. “On top of that, this is all unnecessary, since I’m getting married soon.”

      “I’ll bet you a box of chocolates that if you give me a month, I’ll prove that I’m exactly the one you need.”

      Smiling faintly, Leah replied:

      – Unfortunately, you don’t have a month. After this dance we will stop our communication.

      “Then you’ll have to work in extreme conditions,” Josef joked. “In that case, I will try to convince you during this dance.” I hope that after my words you will come to your senses and not commit such a rash act.

      – You’re just wasting your time.

      – Leah, are you ready to argue or are you chickening out? Only as a decent person, I must warn you that at the university, among other things, I studied psychology.

      – Well, let’s try, but it’s all in vain. “I’ve already said that I don’t believe in miracles and I’m getting married soon,” the girl said seriously, deciding to accept the challenge.

      Josef collected his thoughts and asked:

      – Answer me, and first of all yourself, do you want to spend your whole life next to an unloved person? Live with him, give birth to his children, meet him after work, go to bed and wake up next to him?!

      – Why are you saying this? “I’ve already decided everything,” Leah said sadly.

      But Joseph was not going to back down and continued:

      – I ask you not to do this. Give me a chance to prove that you deserve the best, that you can love and be loved…

      The girl became embarrassed and lowered her head. Josef squeezed her hand even tighter and whispered in her ear:

      – Leah, my words may seem strange to you, but I don’t want to part with you. I would like this music to last forever.

      “Alas, Josef, as you probably know, everything has an end.” Very soon the last chords will sound and we will say goodbye forever.

      Joseph did not even think of giving up.

      – Leah, please answer me, doesn’t the end of something mean the beginning of a new one? Doesn’t the end of the day mean the beginning of the evening, and the end of the evening the beginning of the night? It is not at all necessary that everything ends for us with this dance. I would like it to serve as the beginning of the next stage of our acquaintance. You know what, after the dance I invite you to take a walk. Let’s get away from everyone and walk through Mainz at night.

      Looking again towards Paul, who was seething with anger, Leah replied:

      – Thank you for the invitation, but very soon I’m going to leave, and without you. You can invite someone else for a night out: there are a lot of pretty girls here.

      “I don’t need anyone but you,” Joseph continued to persist. “If you refuse, then I won’t even look at the other girls at this celebration.” With thoughts of you, I will wait until the end of the wedding, and then I will go home and draw,” the doctor whispered.

      – Can you draw? – Leah asked interestedly.

      “Yes,” Josef nodded. – At a young age, I attended art clubs and even took private lessons. I had a lot of sketches and sketches, but today, no matter how symbolic it may sound, I want to start my first serious work.

      “Since childhood, I dreamed of learning to draw,” admitted Leah, “but I never could.” And what are you going to depict?

      – Your dream.

      – What? – she asked again. – Did you say “dream”?

      – Yes, I saw him last night. I was looking for an interesting story for a long

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