A Morning in Berlin

A very short story about a morning in Berlin.

I rolled over in the low IKEA bed and looked at my iPod, my temporary alarm clock. The dim screen showed a time of 7:34 against a background of The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai. I had nearly an hour and a half before the alarm would go off, so I tried to go back to sleep. It was no use. I was fully awake because my circadian rhythm was off. Traveling always did that to me, no matter how short the distance. It is a short flight from Birmingham to Berlin, and very short cab ride from Tegel to Stresemannstrasse which was all the travel I had done the day before.

I knew that any attempt at sleep would have been unsuccessful. I put my feet on the tile floor and felt a chill come up from my toes all the way to the back of neck where the hairs stood on end. I slipped on a robe, my scuzziest pair of flip flops, grabbed my towel and shower caddy and set off down the hall. It was the best time to get a shower in the hostel. All the people who needed to catch an early flight had already finished, everyone who had gotten drunk the night before (as many tourists are apt to do in Germany) was still sleeping off the alcohol, and no one young enough to crash in a hostel would get up at this hour for a tour.

As expected, I had the bathroom nearly to myself. I nodded to the only other young woman standing at the sink, brushing her teeth. She's probably a teacher or something, I thought as I stepped into the shower stall, here on a school trip. At that time, I imagined that I would one day be a teacher doing the same thing. I was wrong, but I have no regrets about that.

I stepped into the steaming water, feeling it wash the morning chill away. My boyfriend would not be arriving until the next day, and I relished the realization that I had a full day in Berlin all to myself. It was my favorite place in the world. I considered what I would spend the day doing, feeling that the city was my playground. I had no plans or obligations, no worries or cares. Should I spend the day at Alexander Platz? Perhaps I should go for a walk in the Tiergarten? Then again, I could always take the train to Potsdam and take in the idyllic countryside.

I got out or the shower, wrapped my towel around my head and went back to my room. I pulled on my jeans and sweater, both from H&M, and brushed out my hair. If I were a more stylish girl I probably would have blown it dry and styled it, but as a general rule my beauty routine did not take more than ten minutes, so I put my wet hair into a french braid. Feeling I ought to do something to look presentable I put on mascara and blush, which was the full extent of my make-up.

Key, iPod, purse. Check, I mentally tallied as I zipped my boots and walked out the door. In the end, I decided to do the things I most enjoyed in Berlin, but which no one else ever seemed to want to do with me. I walked down the strasse to Balzac Coffee, near Potsdamer Platz. I wished immediately that I was a more stylish girl as the cold March air blew over my wet head.

By this time it was about 8:30, so there was a bit of a line for coffee, but nearly everyone was ordering it to go. After ten minutes my turn came and I ordered a chai latte, no whip.

“Zum Mitnehmen?” asked the clerk.

“Nein Danke,” I said, and put five Euros on the glass payment tray.

He took my money and put the change back on the tray. Money is not usually exchanged hand to hand in a shop in Germany like it is in the US. I was not sure why. The way I saw it, the germs on your hand would end up on the money, which the clerk would then pick up and have anyway. But then again, I'd never known many Germans who were much for physical contact, at least not as much as Americans.

The barista called out my order and set the perfectly frothed latte on the counter. I picked it up, inhaling the sweet spiced aroma and chose a small booth at the back of the shop. After I sat down, I shrugged off my jacket and comfortably crossed my legs at the knee under the table. I picked up my mug, letting the heat warm my ungloved hands. I thought of Berlin. All the secret places hidden in the Tiergarten, waiting for my return. All the forgotten monuments scattered around the city, waiting for me to find them. The graves of the brothers Grimm, so well kept in the St. Matthaeus Kirchhof Cemetery, waiting for my respects. I thought of Berlin. My Berlin.

Author's Note

I've had a serious writer's block for months now, so I decided to do a writing exercise to get my feet off the ground. I'd love it if anyone could offer reviews on flow and style. Thank you!

Reviews

[Cake Box]

Wow! This is amazing. It flows really well. The only thing that threw me off was this bit at the beginning. "I had nearly an hour and a half before the alarm would go off, so I tried to go back to sleep. It was no use." I'm not entirely sure why, but it didn't really match the rest. Your style is really relaxing and fun to read! Its reminiscent and romantic. Maybe that's why that bit about the alarm didn't fit, its too matter of fact. I loved how you drew in the historical elements and the cultural customs (the money exchange bit). This was a really great piece though!

[zainul]

Nice work to get rid of writers' block

[McKenna]

Thank you all for your criticisms and compliments! I agree that some parts feel a little disjointed, particularly those pointed out by Melita and J.A. Lucero. I will certainly be going back and editing this piece in the future. Thanks again!

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

This felt like my own little getaway. The writing style is smooth and very easy to read. It all flowed from one thought to the next. Not once did it feel like work. The details are so vivid that it reads like a storyboard. It really felt like reading a story from a movie director, but there were moments where you allow the reader to use their imagination to create their own image. (Exploring the city) That was a very good teknik you used to get the reader involved. Allowing each reader to create their own adventure gives them incentive to get involved in the story and also provokes their own feelings to give each reader a unique experience. Well Done.

[J. A. Lucero]

I agree with Melita Jayne that your style of writing here is very relaxing. I really liked how I could feel what you were describing, and although they were simple descriptions it seemed like that was necessary. The only part that seemed to not flow was the part about the young woman being a teacher, I don't exactly what and I could have totally missed something. It fit there, it just seemed scattered. I still really enjoyed it though, great job.

[diaphanous]

i like this! i can't wait to see more!