“A surprise?” James asks curiously. “What is it?”
„Ein Paket aus Deutschland.“
“From Germany?” James takes a closer look at the package. He recognizes the handwriting and adds disappointed, “Oh, from grandma Petzold.”
„Richtig. Woher weißt du das?“
James points at the reindeer-sticker on the front.
„Ach ja, das Rentier“, antwortet Jens amüsiert. „Na? Hast du eine Idee was es sein könnte?“
James rolls his eyes, but smiles at the same time. Of course he knows what it could be. It’s the same package every year – an Advent calendar for James and all kinds of German Christmas cookies and chocolate for the whole family.
„Möchtest du es aufmachen?“ Jens drückt seinem Sohn das Paket in die Hände und sieht ihn erwartungsvoll an. „Na los! Mal sehen, was dieses Jahr alles drin ist.“
“All right,” James says reluctantly. He puts the package on the table and starts opening it. The first thing he sees are green branches and little red packages, they look like pralines.
„Ui, da hat deine Oma aber etwas Gutes eingepackt.“ Jens nimmt eines der kleinen Pakete, wickelt es aus und steckt es in den Mund. „Hm, lecker.“
“What is it?” James also takes one of the pralines and starts unwrapping it.
„Lübecker Marzipan. Das ist etwas ganz Besonderes.“
“Oh.” James is not a big fan of marzipan, but now that he has opened it, he’ll take a bite.
„Und?“, fragt Jens. „Schmeckt’s?“
“Yeah, it’s all right,” James replies as he puts the other half into his mouth. It actually doesn’t taste too bad.
„Sag‘ ich doch.“ Jens lächelt zufrieden. Dann sieht er noch einmal in die Kiste. „Hey, sogar der Kalender passt dazu.“
James looks into the box as well. His dad is right. The Advent calendar is also red and has the same label on the bottom: Lübecker Marzipan.
„Mensch. Da hat sie dieses Jahr aber edle Sachen ausgesucht. In den letzten Jahren gab es immer nur die Kalender vom Discounter.“
James shrugs. He didn’t mind the calendars from the discount grocer, the chocolate doesn’t taste any different to him.
At that moment, the front door to the house opens and James’ mom comes in. The door is close to the kitchen, so they see her right as she comes in.
„Courtney,“ ruft Jens seiner Frau zu. „Schau mal, was meine Mutter uns dieses Jahr geschickt hat.“
James watches his mom enter the kitchen. She smiles but doesn’t get a chance to answer the question.
„Glühwein!“
“Hm, yummie,” James mom replies. Then she looks at the calendar. “I guess we’re in October again, eh?”
„Soll ich uns gleich mal eine Tasse warm machen?“, fragt Jens und ohne die Antwort abzuwarten geht er zum Herd.
James and his mom exchange an amused look as they watch him put the pot on the stove to heat up the wine. It’s the same every year, James thinks, but he enjoys the procedure. The best part of it is that his dad starts behaving like a little kid again, getting all excited. In a minute he’ll probably ask his mother for their special cups, but it doesn’t even take a minute.
„Liebling, wo haben wir denn die Becher vom Weihnachtsmarkt?“, fragt Jens fröhlich. Seine Augen leuchten.
“They’re down here,” Courtney replies as she reaches for the cups on the bottom shelf. Then she exchanges another look with her son, both their faces sharing an expression of amusement.
„Jetzt schaut euch nicht so an!“, ruft Jens entrüstet. „Ich freue mich halt über das Paket. Weihnachten in Deutschland ist etwas Besonderes und ich vermisse die Atmosphäre.“
“Yeah, you’re right,” Courtney agrees. “It’s a shame that we miss out on that.”
James would like to agree if he could. He’s heard a lot about Christmas in Germany and that it is a very special atmosphere, but so far, he hasn’t had a chance to spend a winter over there.
„Willst du dein 1. Türchen nicht aufmachen?“, fragt Jens erwartungsvoll und zeigt auf den Adventskalender.
“DAD! We’re in the middle of October!”
„Na gut!“ Jens zuckt mit den Schultern. Dann schaut er wieder ins Paket. „Hat sie auch Spekulatius-Kekse eingepackt?“
