My deal

They are sitting outside in the open stone hut where in summer we have the occasional barbecue. Rain pouring down, moonlight through the branches of the plum tree, and their voices rising and falling as each hand of the card game comes to an end. Uno it's called, we played it with them when they were small, now they do it with friends to the clinking of bottles of Bavarian beer and the crackling of the fire they have lit. They keep my office door closed of course but that makes the sound of their voices all the more interesting. Normally, I would be able to decipher what's being said but as he has friends over they speak German most of the time, then for while my son and the rest of the group break into sustained bouts of English. All in all, a pleasant evening.