Chapter 19 – Shoemaker

Jean Paul and Noa together set up a corner for Noa’s shoemaking shop in their room. There is still some space left and it will get too cold in the shed, after all, it is already autumn. Moreover, Jean Paul and Lana really need that space to work. They get two small tables from the shed for Noa to work. A high one for his pieces of leather and spools of thread. A low one to work on. Noa likes to work on the floor with everything within reach. He first spreads a large piece of leather on the carpet, because he doesn’t want it to get dirty. The tables and his things go on top of that. A beautiful set of tools emerges from a long piece of leather, neatly rolled up so that they do not touch each other.

Noa shows Jean Paul how he works, who watches with interest. Noa places his molds on a large piece of leather and draws the contours of a new pair of shoes. With an awl he pokes the holes in the right places and starts sewing. Jean Paul cannot take his eyes off the beautiful set of tools. Noa says that he saved it up during his wanderings. By doing odd jobs for people he could occasionally afford some tools. With the first purchases he was able to start repairing shoes. Slowly his collection of tools and leather grew and he was also able to make new shoes to size.

“Did you make those shoes too?” Jean Paul asks, pointing to Noa’s shoes.

“Yes,” he says proudly. “This is the hardest shoe yet. I think the teachers at the program would be proud of me.”

After a questioning look from Jean Paul, he explains: “These shoes consist of different forms of leather. They are sewn together at the seams, which are the dividing seams that give the shoe its final shape.”

“They are beautiful shoes,” says Jean Paul. He admires the tools in his hands. Suddenly he makes a decision and disappears to his shed.

A little later he returns with his toolbox. “For your fancy tools, if you will.”

“Oh, that’s great,” says Noa. Now that he has a permanent spot, he doesn’t want to roll his tools in that piece of leather every time. “We can use this together if you need any of this.”

Jean Paul nods. “It’ll be fine.” From now on they will use the tools together. The beginning of a good friendship.

For a long time there is only one man in the house and suddenly there are two.