Sidewalk Scenes July 2025

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*** Street Food Festivals Are Everywhere *** Another Idea How to ‘Reduce Waste’ *** New ‘Salty & Cara’ Story: The Apple Paradigm 1 ***

Here’s the Outlook:

  1. It’s the season for street food festivals. For example, there’s the Berlin Pistachio Street Food Festival on the fourth weekend of August. Many wonderful markets are also coming up. I will be attending the Slow Food Eco Market on August 9 and will report on it in my Local Foods category in late August or early September.
  2. As I walked through the lovely Rheingau quarter in Wilmersdorf, I spotted a small sign mounted on the door leading to a garden. Similar to many other gardens in the city, this one is rented out to private gardeners as part of the town’s green spaces (a wonderful idea that is very popular all over Berlin and Germany). The sign read: “If you have too much produce from your garden, just bring it by, and we will use it in our community programs.” It was from the community center around the corner. Marvelous! So, if you have too many apples on your tree or too many carrots on your plot, pick them when they’re ripe (or ask someone to help you) and donate the food. I’m putting an emphasis on this because, in fact, a lot of food rots every year because people don’t know what to do with it. But there are quite a few other people who could use that extra food. Great initiative! Thank you to everyone at the Lindenkirche near Rüdesheimer Platz for getting the apples rolling!
  3. Below, you will find the beginning of a new story about the adventures of Salty and Cara. It is called “The Apple Paradigm.” Their story is a juicy fable set in a world inhabited only by fruits and vegetables—and a few insects, of course. It’s a tale of love and crime, raw but served hot. Not sure what’s cooking? Check out [Overview and Table of Contents].

By Mag M. Schaper

Salty & Cara – The Apple Paradigm (Part 1)

Fifth story, first episode: It seemed as if all the figures had been put on the board. However, an unexpected newcomer has entered the field to shake things up.

Cascades

Salty was still sitting in his office. Courgette, the faithful secretary who had worked for his father as well, had already left. Her daughter had had another offspring, so there would be a small celebration at their family home. Of course, her boss had let her leave early, as their families had been friends for years.

Lost in his thoughts, the young insurance investigator didn’t hear the door open. He probably assumed his employee had locked it as she usually did. So, he didn’t listen for the sound of small steps across the soft moss floor. Since he wasn’t expecting a visitor at this time of day, he sat with his back turned, sorting through files in a cabinet at the rear of the room.

The slightest rustle, like a spring wind playing with young leaves in a tree, made him turn around. Someone had taken a seat in front of his desk and was smiling at him.

“You must be the famous Detective Cumberman,” a voice, almost liquid with sweetness, came from the beautiful, voluptuous shape.

He managed not to stare. “I’m sorry, Milady, but the office is closed. May I ask you to contact my secretary tomorrow to schedule an appointment? Besides, I am not Detective Cumberman. My father was.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to reopen old cuts. I came here at this hour specifically to talk to you alone. I can’t be seen in this place. It would be very dangerous.”

As she moved, the pristine fabric of her coat emitted a wave of colored light. Her curved silhouette moved with the sophisticated ease of a petal twirling around. It almost made him dizzy.

“Still, I’m afraid I can’t take on any more clients. Even regardless of the time of day.”

Her face, which could have been crafted by masters of art, was painfully twisted, and her voice became raspy. “Please, Master Cumberman, you must help me. I don’t know who else to entrust with this delicate matter. And time is my sworn enemy.”

Salty sighed and took a seat. He was too soft for this business. His father had always warned him that compassion could be dangerous, especially under mysterious circumstances.

“What is it you came here to ask me, Milady? I might be able to recommend another colleague who can assist you.”

“Thank you so much, Master Cumberman,” said the voice, dripping with syrup again. “But I can only give you all the details of this matter under strict conditions of confidentiality. As I said, danger is very close.”

“I still can’t promise that I’ll take the case personally, but I’ll see what I can do. Please give me more details.”

“If you press me, I’m helpless and will surrender.” The gorgeous pear replied. As she turned, her coat opened slightly, revealing details that he had previously only imagined. Still, he tried to pay attention. He was now a little alarmed by the intensity of her approach.

“As you might have already detected, my family comes from what you would probably refer to as ‘one of the tallest trees in town.’ My ancestors were among the original founders of New Valley. So, of course, we are always in the bright light of attention. We try to live up to our noble obligation of guiding this city with all our resources.”

Although he felt he should, Salty did not comment on that. Instead, he remained focused and tried to assess the situation.

“My brother, unfortunately, does not live up to that tradition. He has become involved with some very dangerous fruit. Now he’s gone missing.”

“I am not a criminal detective, as I assume you are aware…”

“Yes, I am fully aware of that. You’re an insurance investigator, and you come highly recommended. This awful mystery does involve a strange insurance policy. I found it in my brother’s quarters. It was drawn up in Big Valley. By a company I have never heard of.”

“Does your family have any connections to Big Valley? Could your brother have closed it to secure a business deal for himself?”

“You don’t understand. He doesn’t need to make ‘business deals’ or anything of the sort to secure his future. My family takes care of any needs we may have. Also, the beneficiary of the policy is not my brother, but some starfruit I have never heard of either.”

Her voice took on a raspy quality again, and her perfect features distorted into a mask of fear and sorrow.

“How long has he been missing?”

“Seven days.”

He stood up and looked out the window. Taking on another case did not seem wise, especially given the current state of local affairs. The safety of the entire valley was at stake.

Still, something deep inside him told him that he had to look further into the matter he had just been presented with.

“All right. Please deliver the policy and any other relevant information you have gathered to me tomorrow morning. I will send a trusted courier to retrieve them. The courier will arrive just after dawn at the back door of your mansion. Have the parcel ready then.”

“I am forever in your debt, Master Cumberman,” the shiny silhouette whispered as she swept outside in one single elegant move.

Outside, as she reached the sidewalk, the figure got onto a boat that had been waiting for her in the canals. The original canals that connected the Old Town of New Valley, where Cumberman & Cumberman Investigations had their office.

Salty heard the front door open and close. Then it opened again.

“I’m afraid I can’t do any more today.”

Joe appeared in the doorframe of his space and grinned: “Working overtime, are you?”

He knew he could trust the retired agent unconditionally. He was a close friend and former colleague of Hanano’s who had saved his life more than once.

“The lady just plunged in and wouldn’t let the matter go. She claims one of her family members went missing under suspicious circumstances. A classic case. But I am not sure what to make of it yet.”

“Well, I can tell you what to make of it. It’s dangerous. That Dame is pure poison.”

“I did already figure that out.”

“As you might have already detected, my family comes from what you would probably refer to as ‘one of the tallest trees in town.’ My ancestors were among the original founders of New Valley. So, of course, we are always in the bright light of attention. We try to live up to our noble obligation of guiding this city with all our resources.”

Side Notes:

  • You want to know what happens next? Well, you’ll find out in the last post of next month.

Needless to say, the stories about Salty and Cara are pure figments of my imagination. No resemblance to any person or place – present or past – is intended. But I am sure you have already figured that out 😉

The “Salty & Cara” adventures were invented and written by Mag M. Schaper (copyright 2022 – 2025). All images and content are copyrighted. All rights reserved. For more information, see the Legal Notice.