Guggi & Mel

Oh, if only everything could be simple for once. Without any drama or fateful decisions.

Just as planned, we went to the city to see Doctor Guggenbichler-Alvarez. This is the pompous name of the specialist who claims to be able to remove Till's burn mark with a simple surgical procedure. Already the way there gave us a serious headache. Till was wearing an FFP2 mask, which covered the mark on his cheek for the most part. Nevertheless, we felt permanently observed. Google Maps led us into an industrial district on the outskirts, an area we had never been to before. Passing between warehouses and old train tracks, we entered a backyard where garbage bags lay on the crumbled asphalt. This was where the entrance to the doctor's office was.

A gaunt, stooped figure welcomed us. On his bony nose sat the thickest glasses I have ever seen. We immediately decided to only call him Guggi from now on. He came very very close to Till's face to take a look. Frowned, spit into a cloth handkerchief and started rubbing Till's cheek. It took all my effort not to burst out laughing.

The problem was the dark staining from the snail ointment, he said. He could remove the scar. But the smears around it would remain. Till told him that was fine with him. As long as the chicken was no longer visible. He asked about the anesthesia? Guggi chuckled dryly. A local anesthetic would probably have to suffice. If he was very sensitive to that kind of things? Which Till not entirely truthfully denied.

To be honest: Doctor Guggi and his practice make a more than obscure impression. We didn't even dare to ask about his training or any kind of official license. We were informed that payment would be made in cash and in advance. We asked for one more day to think it over and left the practice. But basically we were already determined to do it. The prospect of getting rid of the damn thing was just too tempting. And since old Ursel was still stubbornly ignoring us, there was, after all, no serious alternative.

But that's exactly what changed a few moments later. We hadn't gone far when a woman approached us. Frightened as we were, we almost ran away. She was wearing a long black coat and pink rubber boots. But the most striking thing about her was her bald skull, covered all over with tattooed patterns and symbols.

"Don't panic!" she shouted. She had observed that we had been at Guggi's. And we should just be careful not to make a fatal mistake. "That guy is not kosher. He works with them." And at our questioning glances, she added - not without first taking a quick look to make sure we were alone - "With the guys from the syndicate."

That got her our attention. There was only one reasonable solution to our problem, she said. She, too, had once worn the chicken. She pointed to a spot on her neck completely overgrown with tattoos. Said, her studio was right next door. Till could choose a nice motif and then the matter was settled. That was a little too fast for us. We told her we would have to think about it and asked how we could reach her. She shrugged her shoulders in disappointment. "As you wish. Just stop by the studio when you're ready. Mel's Tattoo Studio - just over on the parallel street. But make sure no one follows you. If you bring me the cockroaches in the store, I swear I'll tattoo a swastika on the tip of your nose!"

Do you understand our dilemma? Mel has further shaken our already fragile trust in Guggi. What if she's right and he really is working with the syndicate? Then it would be pure suicide to go under the knife with him. But I can also understand that Till doesn't want to have half his face tattooed. Especially since it is also totally unclear whether Mel can be trusted. Maybe it's the other way round and she's really part of the syndicate. The surgery at Guggi's would be a clean solution. If everything goes well... In any case, one thing is for sure: We have to get rid of the burn mark - that thing is stealing our last nerve.

What do you think? Who do you have the better gut feeling about? In whose hands should we put the future of Till's right face half? Guggi or Mel?