#2 – Key moments

Jo took one last look in the mirror next to the front door, adjusted her rimless glasses and slung her shoulder bag over her shoulder, which contained the mysterious photo of the garden gate. Newton purred a sceptical ‘See you later’ before demonstratively curling up in his favourite spot.

On her way to the Kaffeeklatsch café, Jo slowly pushed her bike past the colourful facades, her thoughts spinning like wheels that weren’t quite turning smoothly.

She took the photo out of her bag and looked at it again: a weathered garden gate, overgrown with wild ivy, with the number 27 on it. Something stirred inside her at the sight of it, like an echo from the past whose origin she couldn’t grasp. Lexi stood behind the counter and waved cheerfully at her.

‘Punctual as a Swiss watch!’ Jo greeted her cheerfully. The smell of fresh coffee and warm cinnamon rolls filled the cosy café. Yara sat at the counter, a steaming cup between her hands, engaged in a lively discussion with Lexi about some political poster she had rolled out on the counter next to her.

‘Good morning,’ Jo murmured somewhat absent-mindedly and sat down next to Yara.

‘Everything okay?’ Lexi raised her eyebrows and handed her a cappuccino, the foam lovingly decorated with a question mark.

Jo smiled. ‘Good old Lexi.’

‘You know me. Details make all the difference.’ Lexi winked at her. Then her gaze fell on the photo in Jo’s hand. ‘What’s that interesting thing you’ve got there?’

Jo hesitantly placed the picture on the counter. ‘To be honest, I don’t know yet. It was in an empty envelope on my doorstep this morning.’

Yara, who had been busy with Lexi’s poster until a moment ago, leaned over curiously. ‘A garden gate with a 27 on it? Is it your birthday?’

‘No,’ Jo replied, ‘and as far as I know, I don’t associate anything special with that number. Just some vague memory I can’t quite place.’

‘Maybe it’s a riddle from one of your blog readers?’ Lexi grinned broadly. ‘The community loves to test you.’

Jo thought for a moment. ‘Maybe, but there’s no context. They usually send me clear questions.’

‘Why don’t you show it to the professor?’ Lexi suggested. ‘He loves tricky stories.’

Jo liked Lexi’s suggestion. Karl Hoffmann, a retired physics professor and mentor since her student days, had long since become more than just an occasional advisor to her. ‘Not a bad idea. We’re meeting for lunch today anyway. Maybe he’ll recognise something I’m overlooking.’

Her mobile phone vibrated. A quick glance at the display showed a message from her blog community: ‘Jo, could you explain why metal feels colder than wood in winter, even though they’re both in the same room? – Regards, Physicsfan97.’

‘Oh, a new knowledge question?’ asked Yara curiously, also glancing at the mobile phone. Jo nodded with a smile.

‘So, what’s your answer?’ Lexi leaned over the counter, eager to hear Jo’s explanation.

‘Metals have a higher thermal conductivity than wood,’ explained Jo, who was immediately in her element. ‘They conduct heat away from our skin more quickly, which makes them feel colder even though they are actually the same temperature as wood.’

‘Fascinating!’ Yara remarked appreciatively. ‘So that means the metal sucks my energy out faster?’

Jo frowned and thought for a moment. “Hmm. Interesting comparison. In a way, yes. When two things with different temperatures touch each other, they try to equalise their temperatures. Since metal can conduct heat very quickly, you could almost say that it draws the heat energy out of your fingers faster than wood. So you feel it more intensely and your finger cools down faster.‘ Lexi had an idea: ’Then I’m like a magician. I touch something with my finger and poof… it has energy!” She tapped Yara. ‘And now you can get back to work!’

Everyone laughs. ‘It works the other way around, too. I mean, you can try putting your finger on a hot stove. Then you’ll get energy,’ laughs Jo.

‘Wow, physics can even be funny,’ remarks Yara. ‘I should read your blog more often.’

Lexi grinned contentedly. ‘And now you’re even smarter. I love listening to you, Jo. You always manage to explain things so simply.’

‘It’s an occupational hazard,’ Jo joked, feeling visibly more at ease. The conversation with her friends gave her back the familiar feeling of security that had been missing since she found the photo.

‘Say, maybe the gate belongs to a house around here?’ Lexi said thoughtfully. ‘The 27 could be a house number.’

Jo looked at the photo again. ‘Maybe. I could drive around a bit later and have a look.’

‘Sounds like a plan,’ Yara nodded. ‘And if you need any help, we’re here.’

Jo felt warm inside. ‘Thanks. Maybe I’ll get back to you.’

At that moment, the café door opened and Felix Wagner entered, laden with two boxes of new books. He greeted the women briefly with a nod and a friendly smile. Jo returned it sheepishly. Lexi, who couldn’t miss a thing, nudged Jo lightly with her elbow. ‘Hmm, the bookseller is delivering new reading material? About three minutes after Jo parked her bike here. Interesting.’

‘It’s just around the corner,’ Jo replied hastily. Lexi touched her chin and raised an eyebrow playfully. ‘Exactly. Very interesting.’ Jo felt her cheeks begin to glow tellingly.

Felix put down the boxes and approached with a smile. ‘Good morning, everyone. Would you like some new reading material? Maybe something on everyday physics for Jo?’

Jo laughed uncertainly, instinctively reaching for her cappuccino and glancing again at the mysterious garden gate. Felix followed her gaze. ‘A mystery?’

Jo hesitated briefly, then showed him the photo. Felix looked at it closely and then said, thoughtfully and seriously, ‘I could swear I’ve seen that gate before.’

Jo’s heartbeat quickened noticeably. ‘Really?’

Felix nodded slowly. ‘I’m not sure, but it seems strangely familiar.’

Jo glanced from Felix to Lexi and Yara, who now also looked curious. The small, inconspicuous photo had suddenly taken on greater significance, and Jo knew she had to follow up on this mysterious clue.

Outside, it began to rain softly. Jo took a last sip of her cappuccino, pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders and smiled determinedly.

‘Looks like I’ve got a little expedition ahead of me today.’

Lexi raised her cup with a smile. ‘Here’s to key moments!’

The cups clinked softly, and Jo secretly hoped that this was the beginning of just such a moment.

To be continued…