The Violin Shop

Chapter 5 Let’s Make a Deal To the child all is wonder, Dangers appear as harmless games. To the mother all is peril, She sees the Reaper in the flames. The morning after the investment dinner, Arlo Jofre woke from a deep and dreamless sleep at precisely 5:30 AM. He hadn’t needed an alarm clock, even though he went to bed just four hours earlier. He rose before the sun as a habit, his body never failing to wake him up at the same time. The Spaniard threw the covers off and began his morning routine. While his espresso was brewing on the stove, he did some calisthenics in the kitchen to get his blood pumping, starting with jumping jacks. Just as he finished a set of push-ups, the sound of steam pushing the high-octane liquid up through the brewer let him know his caffeine was ready. He grabbed an old ceramic mug from the cabinet above the sink and poured enough steaming espresso to fill the large mug to the brim. He did not add sugar, cream, or milk, as he liked the ...

Chapter 4 The Other Family Business An eye for an eye, A heart for a heart, A debt for a debt, Just a droplet to start. One droplet now ten, Ten thousand times more, Old walls closing in, Crushing all. Such is war. In the years immediately following the conclusion of World War II, Austria was in a wretched state of depression. The dogs of war had run wild over her beautiful hills and valleys, and laid waste to the romantic charm of her towns and cities. What was to be done with Austria going forward? What should be done to her or for her? What of her people? Some argued that Austria deserved the bed of devastation in which she lay, since she was technically part of Germany after being annexed by the Nazis in 1938. They argued that she should be allowed to rot and wallow in her misery as punishment for her part in the war. Others saw Austria as more of a helpless victim who had no choice but to join Germany when faced with the possibility of invasion by th...