He smiled. “I think that seems more than fair.”
They finished tuning the remaining strings. Max replaced the cover on the piano and sat beside her on the bench. Placing his hands on the keyboard, he played a few scales and chords.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“It sounds beautiful. Mymutterwould have been proud to play a piano so finely tuned.”
“I’m glad.”
“I wish I had kept up playing the piano. I can barely remember my chords, let alone play a song.” She looked at him. “It seems such a waste to allow it to sit idle.”
He paused, resting fingers on the keys.
She hoped that her comment might influence him to attempt to play, perhaps a few more chords or a melody on the base clef keys. Instead, he rose from the bench.
“I should probably get some rest,” he said.
“Ja,” she said, feeling disappointed. “Thank you again for tuning the piano.”
“You’re welcome.” He patted Nia and shuffled toward the stairs.
“Don’t you want to take Nia with you?”
“I can find my way,” he said. “Besides, Nia will be sneaking into my room later.”
Anna chuckled.
Nia’s tail brushed over the floor.
“Good night,” he said.
Anna, reluctant to leave the piano, hugged Nia and stroked her fur.It must be horrible for him to fix an instrument that he’s no longer able to play. Yet he did it for us, and in honor of Mutter.Her chest felt like a gutted, hollow gourd, and she was saddened to see him leave when there was so much more that she wanted to know about him.He’s easy to talk with, and he makes me feel like I’m deserving of being a guide dog trainer.
Nia gave Anna a wet lick on the cheek.
She kissed Nia on the head and whispered, “I wish this piano had a thousand strings to tune.”
CHAPTER19
OLDENBURG, GERMANY—DECEMBER12, 1916
Max, standing on a snow-covered street with his coat pockets filled with an assortment of Norbie’s repaired watches, patted Nia with a gloved hand. “Are you up to making a few more stops?”
“Are you talking to Nia or me?” Anna asked, standing beside him.
“Both,” he said, his breath misting in the frigid air.
“I’m okay.” She put down her bag—which contained several small clocks and timepieces, as well as four beets and two turnips—and examined Nia’s paw. “She hasn’t limped much, and her pads look to be all right.”
“Good,” Max said, feeling relieved. “Perhaps you could direct me to the homes with the largest gardens.”
“Straight ahead,” Anna said.
“Forward,” Max said, gripping the harness.
Nia padded ahead.
For the past few days, Max had worked with Anna and Nia under the close supervision of Fleck on the school grounds. He’d diligently worked to improve his skills, not merely for himself but to show Fleck that Anna and Nia were worthy of being on the training course.Elfriede and the dogs with kennel cough will soon recover, and Fleck needs to see that Nia and Anna are doing a superior job.Each day, his dog handling techniques improved, and his bond with Nia grew. At times, it felt effortless for him to be guided by Nia, as if the dog could sense his thoughts before he gave a verbal command. Today, he was eager to continue working with Nia and Anna on the obstacle course, but Fleck had surprised them and the entire class by giving them the afternoon to train in town.
