Garbold, the wondrous one

When Garbold stands alone in the alley, the red-and-blue bird with the long tail flies onto his shoulder and the shy orphan sits down at his feet. He laughs and cries at his stories, looks at him in amazement, or stares in disgust at the cigarette butts in front of him.

Garbold is the most lovable person I know. His boundless imagination makes him a fascinating storyteller who shamelessly spills out even his wildest fantasies, beyond good and evil. Only a few of the passers-by dare to stop, listen and recognize their own personal stories. For Garbold, however, there is no evasion, no downplaying, no tiptoeing around things. His wide-open eyes simply see what passes before them, free from any whitewashing. That is precisely why he is the most charming person I know. He leaves every listener moved and shaken, with mixed feelings.

© Chandra Mäder