Mikko Soiniemi - A Day in the City

AFTERNOON

There they stand, two men in the glistening sun. They are ready for a duel, with long steps they approach each other. Two men in their forties, willing to do what it takes. I can hear Morricone's tunes playing along with it. The tension hangs so thick in the air that it is hard to breathe. They walk up to each other and meet in the middle, just a handful of steps from each other, far away one imagines to hear a coyote singing his lonesome and woeful song. They are surrounded by what was once living meat but now is nothing more than compost. The graves of many are flagged with little metal wires to which red ribbons are attached, the two men stand in a sea of red flags, waving in the summer's hot breeze. Their eyes filled with determination and blood lust, so they meet on this memorable day in August.

Well, one has to explain the circumstances, why in a suburb of an ordinary town in Germany two men are about to duel. It is a matter of life and death and one of the combatants is my own father. The bravest man there is, all day long this memorable Sunday his family was by his side and briefed him for the confrontation, sometimes openly asking if it is worth it. But a man has to stand by his word. And so they face, both of them bound to meet by fate, not challenging their destiny but accepting it. High noon, it is time. The place for the duel is our front yard, covered in said flags. The men will battle it out, they are ready. Right before the duel I can see my father's right hand, it is shaking, he is nervous, but does he back down? Hell no.

The red flags wave gently in the wind, as if they did not know that they are the reason why these two dare devils have to face. They act innocent, claiming to not know that they will alter two families' lives. They look harmless, but they smell. They send their little venomous stench out into the warm summer air. Poo, dog poo, our dog's poo, there it sits and waits patiently for an unsuspecting foot.

And so they meet, my father and the neighbor, hero and villain.

Like ballerinas they curve around the ferocious mines that cover the yard.

In the setting sun - yes it took them that long - they face each other and the duel is faster than our eyes and ears can follow it.

“We will need a fence”

“Well, then build one”

“No one wants a fence”

“Yes, no one”

“So we drop it”

“Yes, we drop it”

The heroes return to their families and celebrate their victory. Was it really worth it?

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