I’d take a day trip to Poland every other week to look at some cultural sights, see an afternoon play at the opera house, and buy tax-free groceries. Mainly just to buy tax-free groceries, but I’d tell myself I’m also going to engage in cultural activities just so I can feel better about it. The morning direct to the border town to Stettin would leave at 8:20am from Lichtenberg station and arrive in its terminus in Poland at 10:00am. The morning would consist of visiting a museum and having a schnitzel at a café by the River Oder. Then, I’d watch the two hour show at 1:00pm, buy some groceries after that and head home on the 4:20pm back to Lichtenberg via Angermünde. €21.50 round trip flexpreis plus €6 for a bicycle ticket, well worth the tax savings.
The connection at Angermünde comes every hour, so I’d usually take a later connection and enjoy the tranquility of the small town. There’s usually no time to make dinner when I get back so I’d spend €3.50 for a spicy durum döner with pommes as a cheap, early dinner.
‘What’d you like this time Herr Got?’ The Syrian man would ask me across the counter.
‘Same as the usual, more chilli sauce and go easy on the green stuff.’ I’d reply as I slide a €5 bill across the counter.
‘Chutney sauce, my secret cilantro chutney sauce man, it’s got a name.’ He shook his head as se slapped the lamb wrap together with tin foil.
‘What’s wrong with white sauce, green sauce, and red sauce? It’s easy enough for me.’ I shrugged as I reached over the counter to help myself to €1.50 of change.
‘We’re not painting the Italian flag here Herr Got, it’s fine dining.’ He laughed. ‘Helping yourself to my money again?’ He added.
‘Just helping you with your business here.’ I said as I shoved the change into my back pocket.
‘Only you’d have the guts to come into here and help yourself to money. Allah restrain me if anyone else does this.’ He places the döner into the oven and made some fresh fries.
‘I come here all the time, we’re practically neighbors!’ I joked.
‘Yeah, neighboring towns 50 kilometers away.’ He rolled his eyes.
‘Keep your eyes on the timer, don’t burn my pommes.’ I pointed to the friteuse.
‘Yeah, yeah, don’t worry, I’m a professional!’ He boasted. ‘Ketchup oder Mayo?’ he asked.
‘Ketchup, can’t stand that German mayonnaise with fries.’ I groaned.
‘Here you go, have a nice day.’ He handed me everything in a small plastic bag.
I put the food in one of my bike pouches and cycled out to the lake in the middle of town. The benches were all occupied by elderly couples so I sat down at a pier to enjoy my dinner as the sun set beyond the horizon. Dinner was uneventful so I decided to head back to Lichtenberg on my usual 6:00pm train.
As usual, Sergeant Pohl and his Polizei team of six were there to greet me. They were always there on the 6:00pm train trying to catch illegal immigrants, after having checked me a few times his team would do it all in good humor as a running gag.
‘Welcome back to Deutschland Herr Got.’ Sergeant Pohl towered above my seat with his hands crossed.
‘Lemme guess, passport check Sergeant Pohl?’ I sighed.
‘You got that right, hand it over.’ He extended his right hand.
‘Here you go Dennis.’ I reach into by breast pocket and hand him a plastic holder with my passport in it.
‘Danke.’ He picks out his ID scanner from a pocket on his bulletproof vest and scans my passport.
‘Frank.’ I look at one of the other officers. ‘Why is Dennis doing this? You guy’s have seen my a dozen times and know my stuff is legit till next summer.’
‘Ask the sergeant.’ Frank took his hands out of his pockets and shrugged.
‘Dennis?’ I looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.
‘You always come and go alone so I thought we would keep you some company.’ He handed my passport back to me. ‘You obviously pay your taxes as it says here on your residence permit so I was just doing a little service for you to give you good company on your trip home.’ He gave me a sly smile.
‘I feel safe, but certainly not welcome.’ I placed my passport back in my breast pocket.
‘Safe is our thing!’ the sergeant gave me a thumbs up. ‘If you want welcoming, go talk to immigration, have a good day.’
‘Screw you Dennis.’ I gave him my middle finger.
‘Screw you too.’ He gave me the middle finger back.
