‘No, they’re for me, actually.’ Martha Bollen began rummaging in the glass jar of home-baked ginger snaps that sat on the counter. She slipped the biscuits into a paper bag and plumped it down on one of the scales’ copper pans, placing a weight on the other. ‘I’m giving you three extra,’ said the shopkeeper, squinting at the needle on the scales. ‘For the boys. With love from Martha, tell them, from the shop.’ Frau Maenhout wanted to refuse the offer - the doctor’s children weren’t allowed any sweets - but being afraid that Martha would pepper her with all sorts of unpleasant questions again, she just nodded her head and said, ‘That’s very nice of you. Thank you.’ She took the bag and stuffed it into the shopping trolley that held the fresh goods she came here to buy for Dr Hoppe’s household nearly every day. Her wicker basket was full as well, brimming with, amongst other things, tissues, talcum powder and a packet of nappies. Frau Maenhout had started taking on more and more of the doctor’s housekeeping.
