First Day of Term (der erste Schultag; term — /hier:/ Schulhalbjahr, Trimester)
Ruth had spent twenty-three years (Ruth hatte dreiundzwanzig Jahre damit verbracht; to spend — ausgeben /Geld/, verbringen /Zeit/) managing Year Four at Greenfield Primary (die vierte Klasse an der Greenfield Primary zu leiten ; Year Four — brit. Grundschuljahr, Kinder von 8–9 Jahren; primary /school/ — Grundschule). She had survived Ofsted inspections (sie hatte Ofsted-Inspektionen überstanden; to survive — überleben, überstehen; Ofsted — staatliche brit. Schulaufsichtsbehörde), nativity plays (Krippenspiele), and the Great Glitter Incident of 2014 (und den Großen Glitzer-Zwischenfall von 2014). Nothing (nichts), she believed (so glaubte sie), could surprise her anymore (konnte sie noch überraschen).
Then she opened Happy Tails Doggy Daycare (dann eröffnete sie die Hundetagesstätte Happy Tails; to open — öffnen, eröffnen) and discovered (und stellte fest; to discover — entdecken, feststellen) she was wrong (dass sie sich irrte: «dass sie falsch lag»).
First Day of Term
Ruth had spent twenty-three years managing Year Four at Greenfield Primary. She had survived Ofsted inspections, nativity plays, and the Great Glitter Incident of 2014. Nothing, she believed, could surprise her anymore.
Then she opened Happy Tails Doggy Daycare and discovered she was wrong.
The building was a converted church hall on the outskirts of Bristol (das Gebäude war ein umgebauter Gemeindesaal am Stadtrand von Bristol; to convert — umbauen, umwandeln). It had a large garden (es hatte einen großen Garten), a tiled floor (einen Fliesenboden; tiled — gefliest; tile — Fliese, Kachel) that was easy to mop (der leicht zu wischen war), and a hand-painted sign (und ein handgemaltes Schild) that Ruth's husband Graham had made (das Ruths Ehemann Graham angefertigt hatte). Graham was not artistic (Graham war nicht künstlerisch begabt). The sign showed something (das Schild zeigte etwas) that might have been a dog (das ein Hund hätte sein können), or possibly a horse (oder womöglich ein Pferd), or perhaps a very hairy potato (oder vielleicht eine sehr haarige Kartoffel; hairy — haarig; hair — Haar).
'It's charming (es ist bezaubernd),' Ruth told him (sagte Ruth zu ihm; to tell). She was a kind woman (sie war eine gütige Frau; kind — gütig, freundlich).
The building was a converted church hall on the outskirts of Bristol. It had a large garden, a tiled floor that was easy to mop, and a hand-painted sign that Ruth's husband Graham had made. Graham was not artistic. The sign showed something that might have been a dog, or possibly a horse, or perhaps a very hairy potato.
'It's charming,' Ruth told him. She was a kind woman.
On the first morning (am ersten Morgen), five dogs arrived (kamen fünf Hunde; to arrive — ankommen, eintreffen). Ruth had prepared name badges (Ruth hatte Namensschilder vorbereitet), individual water bowls (einzelne Wassernäpfe), and a printed schedule (und einen ausgedruckten Stundenplan; schedule — Zeitplan, Stundenplan). The schedule included 'Morning Circle' at nine (der Stundenplan sah um neun Uhr „Morgenkreis“ vor; to include — enthalten, umfassen), 'Free Play' at ten (um zehn Uhr „Freispiel“), and 'Quiet Reading Time' at eleven (und um elf Uhr „Stille Lesezeit“).
Graham looked at the schedule (Graham sah sich den Stundenplan an). 'Ruth, they're dogs (Ruth, das sind Hunde).'
'Structure is important for development, Graham (Struktur ist wichtig für die Entwicklung, Graham; to develop — entwickeln).'
On the first morning, five dogs arrived. Ruth had prepared name badges, individual water bowls, and a printed schedule. The schedule included 'Morning Circle' at nine, 'Free Play' at ten, and 'Quiet Reading Time' at eleven.
Graham looked at the schedule. 'Ruth, they're dogs.'
'Structure is important for development, Graham.'
The first client was Mrs Pemberton (die erste Kundin war Mrs Pemberton), who arrived carrying a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named Lord Wellington (die mit einem winzigen Yorkshire Terrier namens Lord Wellington /nach dem brit. Feldherrn benannt/ auf dem Arm erschien; to carry — tragen, bei sich haben).
'He doesn't socialise well with larger breeds (er sozialisiert sich nicht gut mit größeren Rassen; to socialise — sich sozialisieren, mit anderen zurechtkommen; breed — Rasse, Zuchtform),' Mrs Pemberton explained (erklärte Mrs Pemberton). 'He needs his own space (er braucht seinen eigenen Freiraum; space — /hier:/ Freiraum, Platz). He eats only organic chicken (er frisst nur Bio-Hühnchen; to eat — essen, fressen /bei Tieren/; organic — biologisch, Bio-), lightly steamed (leicht gedämpft; to steam — dämpfen, dünsten). He requires classical music during nap time (er benötigt während der Ruhezeit klassische Musik; to require — benötigen, erfordern, verlangen; nap — Nickerchen, Schläfchen). Specifically Mozart (konkret Mozart). He finds Beethoven stressful (Beethoven findet er stressig).'
The first client was Mrs Pemberton, who arrived carrying a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named Lord Wellington.
'He doesn't socialise well with larger breeds,' Mrs Pemberton explained. 'He needs his own space. He eats only organic chicken, lightly steamed. He requires classical music during nap time. Specifically Mozart. He finds Beethoven stressful.'
Ruth recognised the type immediately (Ruth erkannte den Typ sofort; to recognise — erkennen, wiedererkennen). She had met hundreds of Mrs Pembertons at parents' evenings (sie war bei Elternabenden Hunderten von Mrs Pembertons begegnet; to meet — treffen, begegnen). Different species (andere Spezies), same energy (dieselbe Energie).
'We'll take excellent care of him (wir werden uns hervorragend um ihn kümmern; to take care of — sich kümmern um, sorgen für),' Ruth said with her professional smile (sagte Ruth mit ihrem professionellen Lächeln).
Lord Wellington seized the hem of her trousers (Lord Wellington packte den Saum ihrer Hose; to seize — packen, ergreifen, sich schnappen).
Ruth recognised the type immediately. She had met hundreds of Mrs Pembertons at parents' evenings. Different species, same energy.
'We'll take excellent care of him,' Ruth said with her professional smile.
Lord Wellington seized the hem of her trousers.
By ten o'clock (um zehn Uhr), the daycare was in full chaos (war die Hundetagesstätte im vollen Chaos). A Labrador named Biscuit had eaten two of the name badges (ein Labrador namens Biscuit hatte zwei der Namensschilder gefressen; Biscuit — Keks). A Beagle called Humphrey had howled through the entire Morning Circle (ein Beagle namens Humphrey hatte den ganzen Morgenkreis hindurch geheult; to call — nennen, rufen). A French Bulldog named Margot had claimed the best cushion (eine Französische Bulldogge namens Margot hatte das beste Kissen für sich beansprucht) and was growling at anyone (und knurrte jeden an) who came near it (der ihm zu nahe kam).
Ruth stood in the middle of the room (Ruth stand mitten im Raum) and clapped her hands three times (und klatschte dreimal in die Hände). It was her classroom signal for silence (es war ihr Zeichen für Ruhe im Klassenzimmer; silence — Stille, Ruhe).
By ten o'clock, the daycare was in full chaos. A Labrador named Biscuit had eaten two of the name badges. A Beagle called Humphrey had howled through the entire Morning Circle. A French Bulldog named Margot had claimed the best cushion and was growling at anyone who came near it.
Ruth stood in the middle of the room and clapped her hands three times. It was her classroom signal for silence.
Every dog stopped (jeder Hund hielt inne; to stop — anhalten, aufhören, innehalten) and looked at her (und sah sie an).
Ruth blinked (Ruth blinzelte). The dogs blinked back (die Hunde blinzelten zurück).
'Sit (sitz),' Ruth said (sagte Ruth), in exactly the tone (in genau dem Ton) she had used for twenty-three years (den sie dreiundzwanzig Jahre lang benutzt hatte) to say 'put your pencils down (um „Legt die Stifte weg“ zu sagen; to put down — hinlegen, weglegen; pencil — Bleistift, Stift).'
Every dog sat (jeder Hund setzte sich; to sit — sitzen, sich setzen).
Graham watched from the kitchen doorway (Graham sah von der Küchentür aus zu; to watch — zusehen, beobachten, ansehen; doorway — Türöffnung, Eingang), holding a mop (einen Wischmopp haltend). 'How did you do that (wie hast du das gemacht)?'
'I have no idea (ich habe keine Ahnung; idea — /hier:/ Ahnung, Vorstellung),' Ruth admitted (gab Ruth zu).
Every dog stopped and looked at her.
Ruth blinked. The dogs blinked back.
'Sit,' Ruth said, in exactly the tone she had used for twenty-three years to say 'put your pencils down.'
Every dog sat.
Graham watched from the kitchen doorway, holding a mop. 'How did you do that?'
'I have no idea,' Ruth admitted.
At four o'clock (um vier Uhr), the owners returned (kamen die Besitzer zurück; owner — Besitzer; to own — besitzen). Mrs Pemberton inspected Lord Wellington for signs of trauma (Mrs Pemberton untersuchte Lord Wellington auf Anzeichen eines Traumas). A young man named Jake collected Biscuit (ein junger Mann namens Jake holte Biscuit ab; to collect — abholen, sammeln) and asked (und fragte) if he'd been 'emotionally fulfilled' (ob er „emotional erfüllt“ worden sei). A woman called Diane asked (eine Frau namens Diane fragte) whether Humphrey had 'expressed himself creatively' (ob Humphrey sich „kreativ ausgedrückt“ habe).
At four o'clock, the owners returned. Mrs Pemberton inspected Lord Wellington for signs of trauma. A young man named Jake collected Biscuit and asked if he'd been 'emotionally fulfilled'. A woman called Diane asked whether Humphrey had 'expressed himself creatively'.
Ruth answered every question with patience (Ruth beantwortete jede Frage mit Geduld) and professionalism (und Professionalität). She did not mention (sie erwähnte nicht) that Lord Wellington had spent three hours (dass Lord Wellington drei Stunden damit verbracht hatte) hiding behind the toilet (sich hinter der Toilette zu verstecken; to hide — sich verstecken, verbergen). She did not explain (sie erklärte nicht) that Biscuit's emotional fulfilment had consisted of eating a tennis ball (dass Biscuits emotionale Erfüllung darin bestanden hatte, einen Tennisball zu fressen; to consist of — bestehen aus; fulfilment — Erfüllung; to fulfil — erfüllen). She did not describe Humphrey's creative expression (sie beschrieb nicht Humphreys kreativen Ausdruck; expression — Ausdruck; to express — ausdrücken), which had involved digging a hole in the garden (der darin bestanden hatte, ein Loch in den Garten zu graben; to involve — beinhalten, umfassen, mit sich bringen) and burying Graham's shoe (und Grahams Schuh zu vergraben; to bury — vergraben, begraben).
Ruth answered every question with patience and professionalism. She did not mention that Lord Wellington had spent three hours hiding behind the toilet. She did not explain that Biscuit's emotional fulfilment had consisted of eating a tennis ball. She did not describe Humphrey's creative expression, which had involved digging a hole in the garden and burying Graham's shoe.
When the last dog had gone (als der letzte Hund gegangen war), Ruth sat down with a cup of tea (setzte sich Ruth mit einer Tasse Tee hin). Her feet hurt (ihre Füße schmerzten). Her back ached (ihr Rücken tat weh). She smelled faintly of Beagle (sie roch schwach nach Beagle).
'So (also),' Graham said (sagte Graham). 'How was it compared to teaching (wie war es im Vergleich zum Unterrichten)?'
Ruth thought about it carefully (Ruth dachte sorgfältig darüber nach; carefully — sorgfältig, vorsichtig).
'The dogs listen better (die Hunde hören besser zu),' she said (sagte sie). 'The parents are worse (die Eltern sind schlimmer). But nobody asked me (aber niemand hat von mir verlangt; to ask — bitten, auffordern, verlangen) to do any paperwork (irgendwelchen Papierkram zu erledigen).'
She took a long sip of tea (sie nahm einen langen Schluck Tee).
'I think (ich glaube; to think — denken, glauben, meinen) I'm going to love it (ich werde es lieben).'
When the last dog had gone, Ruth sat down with a cup of tea. Her feet hurt. Her back ached. She smelled faintly of Beagle.
'So,' Graham said. 'How was it compared to teaching?'
Ruth thought about it carefully.
'The dogs listen better,' she said. 'The parents are worse. But nobody asked me to do any paperwork.'
She took a long sip of tea.
'I think I'm going to love it.'