The rainbow never sets

a wash stand and basin, a chamber pot, a bucket, and a chair. The bed had a large feather doona, not quilted, but the feathers were all in a heap. To regulate the temperature one could either shake the feathers all down towards the legs, this would keep one cool in summer, or one spread them all evenly to keep warm in winter. I thought I would have to get used to this type of bedding. We always had blankets or quilted bed covers at home, with a feather cushion for the legs only. But É I was now on a small farm. During the night I woke several times like emerging from a sauna. I would have to shake the feathers down completely, even then in autumn.

"Get up, Dieter," was the early morning call. There was just enough time to clean my teeth and wash my face and get dressed. Downstairs Heinz was already busying himself with cleaning out the oxen shed.

"What do you want me to do?" I asked him. "Don't know, suit yourself," he said rather grumpily. "I'm not your boss." And out came another pitchfork full of manure.

"Okay then, I'll start cleaning out the cow shed," I said, grabbing another pitch fork.

"I'm not here to give you any orders. If you want to know what to do ask the boss."

I thought it was pretty obvious what had to be done, so I just went to where the cows stood and began to drag out the dung. It was heavy and wet, but I didn't have far to go. The dung heap was just outside the stable door. I was sweeping with an old broom, when Martha and Helga appeared with their buckets.

"Come on, Dieter, you haven't even finished yet. Get some dry straw from over the barn there, so that we can start milking," Martha said. She seemed to be in charge of the girls.

When I brought in the dry straw, Helga said, "That's nice to have a clean place for milking. Thanks."

Meanwhile Herr Hoffmeister was putting some feed into the troughs for the oxen and cows, whilst the two girls were milking. Herr Kothe was looking after his two horses, and no one assisted him. Once the cows had been milked and fed they were herded into the paddock where we had picked them up last night.

After that was done, Martha said, "Go inside and have something to eat before we leave."

Heinz was already sitting at the table, munching on a slice of homemade bread and jam, with a pot of steaming hot coffee-ersatz before him. He managed to put away two or three slices of bread and jam, and I tried to catch up with him.

While I was helping Heinz to harness the oxen, Gustav appeared, with his jacket under his arm. We were ready to go, but the girls were not.

"I guess, we are going to harvest potatoes again?" I asked, just to break the silence.

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