It started with roasted chestnuts(Dill McLain) The icy wind blew him straight in his face. Only a few pedestrians were out and about in the city on that late morning. Jakob was on his Corona walk in the old town of Zurich. A project that he had introduced for himself to bring some variety to the constant everyday life during the pandemic. So he always drove from his place of residence, a little outside Zurich, into the city and parked his car in a prominent place. There were tons of parking spaces available as a result of the Corona virus. From there, he went for a long walk.
On this Sunday, it was freezing cold winter weather, and Jakob would have loved to go to one of the restaurants to warm up and sip a hot drink. But in most places the tables and seats that were restrictive for Corona reasons, were already occupied by guests who were taking Lunch. Therefore he pulled his cap lower over his ears and forehead, put his hands in his coat pockets, and continued his walk through the alleys.

He stopped at the bookshop and extensively studied the displays with the latest works. Next to him, a female figure was also studying the books on display. Jakob examined the reflection of her face in the shop window. After a while, he turned his head to look at her more closely. The unknown woman wore a beautifully cut, dark blue wool coat with an elegant shawl collar. She had skilfully tied a plaid scarf around her head, the tips fell over the collar at the back. And she wore an inconspicuous facemask in skin-colour - probably made of silk, it seemed to him – to protect against the Corona virus. He turned his gaze back to the bookshelf, but he didn’t notice the titles or the books. Instead, he continued to try to examine the stranger next to him more closely via reflection in the glass window.

Just when turning his head again to inspect her anew from the side, she turned her face to him and was obviously smiling at him from under the Corona mask. He could see this in the warmly shining eyes that literally beamed at him. It hit him right in the heart. He stared at her in disbelief without uttering a word. Finally, she nodded to him and wished in a friendly voice, «Have a nice Sunday!» And walked away.

Jakob stood there frozen, as a pillar of salt. Maybe more like an old, stubborn donkey. He was so confused. After taking a deep breath, he left the place and walked briskly away. At the end of the row of houses, he turned the corner and hurried down to the river. There he stopped and stared at the water with hunched shoulders and a stone face. Why on earth could he not say anything to this nice lady? It did not let him calm down. Minute by minute, he was getting angrier and angrier with himself. «I would have loved…», he cursed out loud at the river. But he could just hold back. In the end, he comforted himself inwardly. Because she was most probably in a committed relationship and an attempt on his part to get to know her closer would then anyway have failed.
At this thought, his head suddenly became hot despite the cold. An attempt to get to know her? How did he come up with something like that now? Jakob collected himself, adjusted his scarf, pulled his cap back more down over the forehead and continued on his way. This time along the river and at a brisk march. He tried to organize his thoughts.

Jakob was 73 years old and had been a widower for seven years. He led a full life, had enjoyable hobbies and traveled extensively. He had thought of a new relationship sporadically, but it was all too complicated and time-consuming for him. Somehow he was not brave enough either. The fear of inadequacy and of being rejected kept his initiative firmly in check. But now suddenly something seemed to have thoroughly shaken him up and fully awakened – there in front of this bookstore. And he, big idiot, had screwed up his chance!
Shaking his head at his own inadequacy, he headed for the chestnut stand, which appeared a little further on. The seller packed the last portion of chestnuts for him – because this morning, as he happily explained, he had sold more than ever before – and wished with a grin, «Enjoy!»

Jakob turned around with the chestnut bag in hand and almost bumped into the lady from before. His heart leaped and raced. He stuttered, «We can share this portion of chestnuts!» And with the last strength, he gave her a smile. «Oh yes, I’d love to!» came her answer as she slowly removed the facemask and put it in her pocket. Jakob believed that the ground should open under him and let beautiful fields of flowers bloom. The two stepped aside and calmly began to take turns reaching into the paper bag and enjoying the chestnuts, as if they were a well-rehearsed couple. Every now and then, they smiled at each other and chattered personal phrases.

When the bag was empty, Jakob took a deep breath, beamed at the lady and explained in a sophisticated manner, «And now, let’s go to that nice restaurant over there and sip a hot drink!» After saying this, he took her hand.
Her name was Doris, she was 71 years old and single. The two drank four glasses of mulled wine, told their life stories and turtled happily. From that day on, they stayed together forever.

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