ALFRED LICHTENSTEIN
475
to satisfYing Miss Frida's inclination occasionally. The servant girl rerrund–
ed him embarrassingly often of his promise. Every Tuesday afternoon a
certain Mr. Simon, who lived in an open sanitarium, and was always
accompanied by an attendant, asked for the magazines for undertakers; if
there were not enough available, he went off peeved, cursing the cremato–
rium. Kuno Kohn also came a few times every week, rarely to buy
something, mainly to visit his friend and to make an appointment for the
evening rendezvous. Students, ladies officers, workers bought their newspa–
pers. Only Ilke Leipke, in spite of Mechenmal's repeated requests, refused
to come to the kiosk.
This was a whim of Ilka Leipke's. She had much time for herself and
complained to her beloved many times that the days were more boring
than the nights. Ilka Leipke also loved her sweet dwarf no less than in the
early days of their acquaintanceship, even though Mechenmal was increas–
ingly high-handed and nasty in his treatment of her. It went so far that he
enjoyed it when she cried; he was never content until he had brought her
to tears. Then it gave him pleasure to comfort her. Mterwards, however, he
was very good to her; basically, he loved her. He let Ilka Leipke caress and
kiss him. He was a bit larger than she, but she held him on her young body
like a child. They told stories to each other. They laughed. They kissed.
They often went over the story of the way they met. They discovered
thousands of new details, or made something up because it was fun. The
girl found, in a box in which small items lay, a clipping from a newspaper,
which read like this:
MARRIAGE REQUEST
A young, somewhat small, very good-looking man, tired of being
alone, is looking for a similarly inclined lady, with honorable marriage
in mind. Money an advantage. Send friendly replies to Max
Mechenmal.
Or Mr. Mechenmal took out of his wallet a blue letter with violet-red
spots, which he held out srrulingly to the girl. Miss Leipke then read it
well, in a gentle, loving voice:
Very honored gentleman
l
Read your request for marriage. To my
regret I cannot supply capital. For my part I could do without the
marriage, of which I have no need yet. I am by trade a woman. I am
small (but wow!). I am tired of having boyfriends and therefore am
