Gathering at the fig tree(Dill McLain) Matilda drove along a rather lovely stretch on the coast, but she did not take notice either of the landscape or the sea or anything else. She was on the last part of her daily tour delivering the mail to some tiny villages of the province, and she entirely concentrated on the road. It was more than wise to do so in this rather lost corner of the region because there were often drivers racing along at high speed and even moving with two wheels over the white line. Sometimes a large truck was rattling along with thundering noise, or abandoned dogs and cats suddenly came out of the nowhere rushing across the road not paying attention to the traffic. It was mid-October, the scorching period was now finally over, there were more often cloudy days, and one needed a pullover or a jacket. The sandals went definitely to hibernate in the cupboard.

Initially, Matilda had been working as a secretary at a private bank. In her spare time, she had played the flute in a famous classical orchestra that regularly had performed in other cities within the country or even abroad once or twice a year. Her world had been fully intact, and she had been able to live with enough money and to realize her dream – to be active in the field of classical music. She had been engaged to a smart young man, a banker, working for one of the largest banks in the country, and already a member of the top management. But then, her life had changed within twenty-four hours to the worst, when her employer, due a giant business transaction that had gone wrong, came into significant financial trouble and soon after went bankrupt. The lack of suitable reserves had caused that all employees had been released onto the street without a job. The times, in general, had at that point been rather difficult on the job market due to a financial crisis that had swept over the country. Like most of the others, Matilda had not been lucky to find another job in the same branch. Despite excellent recommendations, and after some weeks of permanent job search and many disappointments, she had felt the world falling on her head and was in danger to get carried away by depressions. Her boyfriend had not been able or not been willing to help or support her with ideas or motivation, a fact that pushed her more and more into a kind of abyss.

Then, one morning, when looking through several job platforms online, she had found the advertisement for a half-day job to deliver the mail somewhere out there in the countryside. Like in numerous cases before, she had immediately filled in the attached form and applied for the job. Without really figuring out what it all was about, and thinking that she anyway would not get the job. However, she had the same day received an answer and a job. This job offer had been on the platform for several weeks, not finding the interest of any of the many unemployed people.

Matilda had climbed out of the abyss she had fallen into. And with renovating hope she had prepared for her new life out there in the province. First, she had to attend a three-week course and introduction into her new employment. She had to move into a new, tiny flat in one of the villages. Finally, she had to accompany the former person in this job for one week to get acquainted with the tour. He was a man of mid fifty, who had to give up the job because of health problems and he had been offered an alternative position in one of the back offices of the distributor headquarters. It all had gone swift, kept her very busy and had distracted her entirely from the shock of having been unemployed. She had started to feel a sure release and certainly glad to be able to earn enough money to support herself. A sad fact had been, that unfortunately, she had to give up her free time occupation as a flautist in the large orchestra. This had been a tough thing to swallow. But then, there had come another terrible experience that rocked her young life enormously. Her boyfriend had let her down simply stating as an explanation, with an ice-cold expression on his face, that they did not have the same targets in life anymore. Because for him, it had been impossible to cope with a partner accepting such a low job somewhere out in the countryside, with no outlook for a prosperous future and a life with specific amenities. Matilda had been shocked about this sudden outbreak and snooty behaviour of her fiancé. Some inner power had come up and let her tell him to go and become happy in his career and luxury world. And she had added that somehow it had been good to find out about his real character and personality. This fact had helped her to face their parting with more inner defense. She said goodbye, and they parted.

Of course, she had spent many hours weeping with short pauses after this dreary encounter plus final farewell. It had been her last day off before beginning in her new job. Since then, five months had elapsed and she was in the meantime, thoroughly acquainted with her latest work. In the afternoon, she played the flute and even composed small pieces of music. That fascinated and pleased her, and made a bit up for the loss of the place in the orchestra. With the modest salary for her half-day job, she could live, but not make high jumps. For the holidays she would have to find a simple solution, which meant most probably to stay at home. But overall, life was now indeed better than it was right after the loss of her previous employment. The following endless and unfruitful job search had caused such a degrading impact.

Matilda checked the time and reduced her speed. She was in perfect time and just needed to deliver the mail in the very last village. A little, sleepy hamlet with only about sixty inhabitants, of which one hardly saw more than ten. The others were either not present, maybe at work or then hiding all day inside. To most of the houses, she could drive by the motorcycle. However, to a few, she had to walk on narrow, sandy footpaths, and on three occasions she had to climb quite a steep slope or approach via some rocky path. She parked the motorcycle, took the last mail delivery in her hand and began to walk uphill to the house of Mr Robles, who lived alone in a lovely Finca, built in the local style of the last century. He lived there now alone since quite a while, and he insisted on getting his mail personally delivered right into the corridor, and not into a letterbox, which he had removed. She climbed now the last few meters up the rocky stair leading to the entrance and saw Mr Robles just leaving the house with a basket in hand, walking over to the group of enormous fig trees. It was a great surprise because usually, Mr Robles was sitting in the living room on one of the two sofas, with the back to the door. And he was always talking in English to some invisible visitor, it had to be a regular guest or friend. In any event, she had the order to deposit the mail on the small table at the wall, which she always did after a loud “Good morning Mr. Robles” and then leaving again with a loud “Goodbye Mr Robles”. He used to wave and without turning his head say, “Thanks, have a good day!”

But now, he was standing under these fig trees. He was picking some figs directly from the branches as well as collecting some fruits from the ground. He was quite a good-looking man, younger than she thought, and had elegant movements. Matilda approached slowly and then said, “Good morning Mr Robles, should I bring your mail to the house?” He turned around and glanced at her from foot to toe. He raised his eyebrows up and down, and then answered, “Good morning Miss Postman!” and stepped forward to investigate her again from head to toe. Matilda became a bit uncomfortable. Also, she was aware that she must look rather unfavourable in her yellow pants and waistcoat completing the usual uniform of the employees delivering the mail. Then, her lengthy hair for sure looked dishevelled and matted from having been under the helmet. Besides, she did not wear make-up anymore. Because she had thought several times to herself, 'for what in this godforsaken area would this be necessary, no one cares for me anyway!'

Mr Robles said without further introduction, “Miss Postman, you should lose some weight, it would fit you much better, and, of course, also be better for your health!” After he had pronounced this, he became aware, what an idiot he was being. He was confronting a person doing a job, and whom he did not even know, with such a personal attack. For a moment, he doubted his own mind and wanted to make up for it, but did not know how to do it.

“Well, you might be right. I have been overeating for the last months, after a personal crisis. Thanks for the frank statement that reminds me to do something about it!” came the dry voice of Matilda, who then was about to turn around and leave. “Wait, please, come back!” Mr Robles shouted and dropped the basket with the figs, to run behind her. Matilda stopped, turned her head toward him, and he could see tears running down her face. Precisely at this moment, it began to rain. Large massive drops fell to the ground, it was one of these short and robust rain showers typical for this southern region that let people become wet through and through within seconds. Mr Robles rushed to Matilda, moved the arm around her and guided her quickly to the house, “Come, we go inside and have a drink and a chat!” He directed her to the sofa and asked, “What can I offer you, tea, coffee, juice, wine, water?” Matilda was looking around while he was talking. After discovering a piano through the open gateway to the next room, she now jumped up. Her face lit, and she rejoiced, “You have a piano, you must love music!” She slowly walked across the room in the direction to his music room, muttering, “I too love music, I am a flute player!” Mr Robles smiled and rushed behind her across the living room, “Aha, a flute player, well, I also do have a flute!” He disappeared into a corner of the piano room and then came back with an instrument case and said amusedly, “Here, Miss Postman, your flute, let me hear it!”

Matilda took the flute out of the case, adjusted it briefly and began to play. Mr Robles stood there like a statue, his eyes wide open in total surprise. He could not believe it. This young woman was playing like an angel a very demanding piece. Fascinated, Mr Robles sat down, leaned back and crossed his legs. He carefully examined the young woman while she was playing right in front of him, and in fact, he found her very attractive. Now her face was alive and was full of light and passion, and she seemed to be right in her element.

After she finished, he applauded enthusiastically and jumped onto his feet. He reached out with his right hand, presenting himself, “Congratulations for your excellent interpretation. My name is Jo – from Jonathan – and I would like to invite you for dinner so that we have time to chat! How about tonight, I will prepare a ‘risotto Jo’ and a dessert with the figs?” Matilda nodded with a shy smile on her face, and after a short glance at her watch, she exclaimed, “Uff, now I am late, I must go and deliver the daily report, see you tonight then!” and rushed out of the door.

Jonathan had grown up bilingual, the family had travelled a lot because of his father’s profession, and he had to change about five times his school. His father had been a British diplomat with Spanish ancestors and his mother a Spanish piano player. From her, he inherited his deep love and devotion for music, especially classical music. He had learned to play several musical instruments and had played in various orchestras. He had worked as a conference translator and also had regularly accompanied visiting VIP guests and served as private translator. After some romantic relations of longer or shorter duration, he had met his future wife. A daughter of the wealthy owner of a large enterprise that had been for over a hundred years in the hands of her well-known family. After marriage, they had moved into a generous house they got as a present from her father. Jonathan had continued with his work as a translator and also with his music projects. She had worked a bit in the advertising department of her father’s enterprise, as a kind of figurehead of the family. Still, she also had spent a lot of time with her numerous friends on the golf course, and at auctions and exclusive spas. Since they both had been fully occupied with their activities, spending only a fragment of their spare time together, it had not been obvious – at least not in the beginning – that they had absolutely opposite ideas of life in general, of the future as well. They had not much in common, apart from both being charming and good-looking, and used to moving around in a particular selected society. When she had announced to be pregnant, the joy had been on all sides. Knowing that they had been expecting male twins had made everybody enthusiastic. Especially her father had been so endlessly proud to have two male heirs soon. He had seemed to be the happiest man in the world and had kept on overwhelming the young couple with expensive presents of all kinds. The baby room of the twins had been more an experimental platform for every new toy produced. And in the garage there had already been small electric cars ready for them, to curve around in the large garden when old enough. Half of the house had looked like a mad fairy tale. The expectation had been tremendous, and these twins had been famous before even being born.

After his wife had finally given birth to the so ardently awaited twins, there had been a terrible shock. Intense as a massive earthquake: the baby-sons had been of quite a different and distinctive skin color! This fact had first left the closest members of the family speechless and cheese-pale. Jonathan had immediately realized that if the babies had not been exchanged in hospital by an error, his wife would have had to present them all an explanation. When he then had stood in front of her bed in hospital, his wife had looked at him with a guilty and truculent face. Finally, she had been confessing to him of having had several affairs. Lastly with a prominent sportsman she had met when visiting with some of her girlfriends in the spa of a sizeable exclusive hotel. At the time Jonathan had been at a guest performance abroad with the orchestra.

Jonathan had been standing there musing. Somehow he had not even been so terribly surprised. At this very moment, he had been fully aware with one blow that their marriage had been long over. Not having noticed that the door had opened behind him, but still remaining there looking at her and the two babies. And with a friendly voice, he heard himself asking, “Does the prominent sportsman know his double luck?” raising his eyebrows and showing almost a bit of an amused face. “Yes, he knows it!” had a resonant voice from behind announced and then a distinctive tall man in a sports outfit of a famous brand had stepped forward. Jonathan – a well-educated man and gentleman – had bowed lightly wishing the two all the luck in the world and left.

Outside in the waiting area, he had found her father half-lying on a chair. A young man in a white doctor smock had been bending over him, apparently giving him an injection. His father-in-law, the great manager, had suffered a severe collapse. Jonathan had then also bowed briefly in front of his father-in-law, wishing him a good and quick recovery. Ending with the comment, “I guess that you all have an understanding of the fact that I will file for immediate divorce and now do no longer belong to this family. Good luck, everybody!” and then had turned around. When he had reached the elevator, he had heard the voice of the great manager screaming with his last strength, “But the prominent sportsman is already married and has several kids, you can’t leave us now!” Jonathan had shrugged and disappeared in the elevator. Like a robot, he had been packing for the next hours at the house his things, filled his car and then had driven off. Jonathan had installed himself in the holiday house inherited from his Spanish mother. He had filed for a quick divorce, which under the specific circumstances, had been an uncomplicated affair. And once he had initiated this step, Jonathan had let the whole misery fall on him. For several weeks, he had been leading a deep suffering phase where anger had been alternating with pity as well as desperate phases. Jonathan was drinking too much, sleeping at daytime and spending the nights walking up and down with the fists in the pockets, thinking that his life had no reason any more. He had felt endlessly hurt, cruelly betrayed and come to a conclusion to avoid any close contact to the female breed of this world. He had stated this loudly various times on his terrace, cursing and swearing.

After some weeks of caring for his inner wounds and getting through the tunnel, he then had risen from the pain and ashes of his failed marriage, and he had reorganized his own life. He had decided to work at home for a company offering online courses in English and devote the other part of the day to his great passion, music. This way he had been living in the house in this small hamlet for over two years in a kind of self-imposed seclusion from the world.

Now he was humming when preparing things for the upcoming dinner with Matilda, and he carefully decorated the table. When the doorbell rang, he rushed full of pleasure to the door and could hardly believe what he saw. Matilda just looked great. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, a light make-up emphasized her beautiful eyes and well-cut face. She wore a stunning, dark blue dress falling to her ankles and assorted ballerinas. Jonathan felt his heart pounding and let her in with a charming gesture. While walking behind her to the salon, he suddenly felt the wish to dance.

After dinner, they exchanged their own stories in detail and took part in each other’s sad experience. Now, of course, she knew why he usually sat on the couch in the morning, seemingly talking to someone. Because he then gave lessons online at the time when she delivered the mail. After she told him that she thought he had daily visitors to discuss with, they burst out laughing and could not stop - for quite a while. Then Jonathan suggested playing a music piece in duet, she on the flute, and he on the piano. They played until midnight, and before leaving, she had to promise to forgive him for his rude statement in the morning. Furthermore, she also had to promise to come regularly from now on for dinner and for playing music together.

And so it was. The two met several times per week for dinner and playing music, and after about a year, Matilda quit her job and moved in with Jonathan. They were not only a harmonious couple in everyday life, the two also became a very successful music duo and performed regularly in public, where they also presented their compositions, which were very well received. Besides, they composed music for the film industry and earned good money. Some years later, their two pretty daughters continued the family tradition as famous violin players.

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