The shoemaker
In late August 1939, a man brings his shoes at the shoemaker.
Three days later, war is declared. Mobilized, he moved to the front, and he was taken prisoner. Liberated by the Russians in 45, he fought with an officer, which earned him ten years of Gulag. Traded by the Americans, he finds himself in the United States and settled there.
And now forty years later, he returned to France as a tourist. Of course, this man will see his street. It has changed much, except that the shoe repair store is still there. So out of curiosity, he enters and asks the old man behind the counter:
– How long have you been here for?
– Oh, my dear sir, since before the war!
– So is it to you that I gave my shoes to repair! It was late August 1939. Three days later I was mobilized …
He tells his whole story. And he adds:
– In fact, you may still have my shoes? It would be funny …
– Wait … I’ll see says the old man.
He lifts his door and down the basement. From below he shouts:
– What color are your shoes?
– Yellow!
– Are they square with brown laces?
– Yes!
– They’ll be ready on Thursday …