know that, at least not at first. It sounds like you know something about running a restaurant. That's what's important.'
Magda brought two plates and sat one down in front of each man.
'Magda,' Louis said, 'This is Andreas Muller. He's considering a job here. Andreas, this is Magdalena Bacherin. She does most of the cooking for the place.'
Magda gave Andreas a cold, appraising look and nodded in greeting. 'Herr Muller.'
'Frau Bacherin,' Andreas responded.
As Magda walked away, Louis chuckled. 'Don't mind her. She seems cold at first, but she's really a nice person.' He gestured to the plate. 'There you go, Andreas, one cheeseburger. Dig in.'
Andreas picked up the sandwich and took a bite. As he chewed it, he had to admit that it had a lot of flavor, but he still didn't understand the obsession Americans had with hamburgers. He looked around nervously. 'Louis, I enjoy talking with you, but when is the owner coming back? If I cannot get this job, I must look elsewhere.'
Louis chuckled. 'You're right, Andreas, and let me apologize. I haven't been completely open with you.' The big man stood and extended his hand again. 'Andreas Muller, my name is Louis Garrison and I'm the manager here. You've got the job.'
'Thank you, Louis, uh, Herr Garrison.'
'Please, it's been Louis up to now; let's keep it that way. I think you're going to do well here, Andreas. You passed the most important test as soon as you came in the door.'
Andreas was confused. 'What test, Louis?'
The big man pointed to the dog by the door. 'Buddy seems to like you.'
The dog heard his name and looked toward the two men, his tail wagging happily.
Veronika Heyder put the last touches on her sketch as Buddy lay on his sleeping mat in the store. The dog made an excellent model, he barely moved.
'Veronika!' Magda called out, 'You have a customer.'
Veronika finished the last bit of shading and then put down the sketch pad. She walked over to the table where the man had been seated. 'What will you have, Mein Herr?'
The man leered at her. 'Bring me some beer and something to eat, girl.'
Just the man's gaze made Veronika feel dirty, but she had a job to do. 'We have several items to eat, Mein Herr. If you would look at the menu, you can see our selection.'
'Don't talk back to me, girl. Just bring me some food!'
'Yes, Mein Herr,' she answered and quickly walked away from the table. She could almost feel the man's eyes on her.
'A basic sandwich and a beer,' she said to Magda when she reached the counter.
Magda began to assemble the sandwich. 'Do you need any help with that one?'
'No, I think I can handle him. I just want to give him his food and get him out of here.'
Magda placed the finished sandwich on a wooden tray and then quickly poured a beer. She placed it on the tray next to the sandwich. 'Be careful.'
Veronika picked up the tray and carried it back to the table. 'Here you are, Mein Herr. Can I get you anything else?'
She let out a short scream as the man grabbed her, pulling her onto his lap.
****
Louis heard Buddy's barking and immediately rushed to the front of the store. In the dining area he quickly spotted the problem. Buddy was barking furiously at a dirty-looking man he had backed up against a wall. Magda and Veronika were behind the dog with angry looks on their faces.
'What's the problem here?' he asked.
The man quickly answered, 'That dog is mad; he attacked me!'
Veronika countered angrily, 'He touched me, Herr Garrison!'
'She asked me if I wanted anything else,' the man protested.
'I didn't mean that!' Veronika spat at him.
'I'll handle this,' Louis said calmly. 'Magda, take Ronnie back to the office.' He waited until the two ladies had left and turned back to the man. 'You scum, who do you think you are? I don't know how you're used to doing things, but that's not the way we do things around here. Now get out of my shop.'
Buddy growled to back up Louis's statement.
The man looked at Louis, then the dog, and apparently decided not to argue. He quickly gathered his things and walked to the door.
As the man opened the door and stepped out, Louis released the breath he had been holding. 'And don't come back. You're not welcome here.'
****
Magda left Veronika in the office and went out to the dining area. She saw Louis starting to clean off the table where the man had been seated.
'Herr Garrison, I will take care of that,' she said to him.
'Are you sure Magda? It's no problem.'
'Yes, you have more important things to do.' She waved him away from the table.
She quickly gathered up the untouched food and put it back on the tray. Just as she started for the kitchen, she changed her mind.
She walked over to where Buddy had returned to his mat and knelt down by the dog. Buddy raised his head in response. She could tell that the confrontation had taken a lot out of him.
'I know we do not want you to beg for food from the customers, but you have earned this one,' she said and placed the uneaten sandwich down in front of the dog.
As Buddy began to eat the unexpected treat, Magda gently patted his head. 'You are a good dog.'
Louis was startled when Johannes came bursting into the store, breathless from running.
The teenager panted heavily as he spoke. 'Herr Garrison, come quick! Something is wrong with Buddy.'
'What is it, Johannes?'
'I was walking Buddy at the park and he lay down by a tree. He won't get up, Herr Garrison!'
Louis flashed a worried look at Andreas.
'Go!' his partner ordered.
Louis grabbed Johannes by the shoulder. 'Show me!'
The boy nodded and the two of them ran from the store to the park as quickly as they could.
'Over there!' Johannes panted.
Louis looked where the boy pointed and saw Buddy lying by the tree. He quickly rushed over and knelt by the dog. 'Buddy, what is it?'
The dog carefully raised its head with a painful expression, but didn't get up.
'Oh God, Buddy!' He carefully scooped up the dog and began to run. The veterinarian was several blocks away, but Louis carried Buddy at a full run the entire distance.
****
Louis gently stroked Buddy as the dog lay silently on the examination table. The veterinarian had just told him that nothing more could be done for Buddy and that it was only a matter of time before the dog died. Buddy was in a lot of pain and it wouldn't get any better.
Louis knew that it was time for Buddy to go. 'We've been through a lot together, haven't we, Buddy? You helped me raise my kids and get them off to college, took trips with me.
He chuckled sadly. 'Who would have thought that the two of us would take the most amazing trip of all together, a trip through time?
'We had to start a new life together, a new home, a new job; and you were right there with me every step of the way. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here.
'But it's time for you to go, isn't it, old friend?'
He looked up at the veterinarian and nodded that he was ready.
The vet brought the syringe over to the table and gently injected its contents into Buddy. As the injection
