The world is full of mysteries. When I am older, I will uncover them. A fateful day is June 15, 1919, for Esau Matt: the family is moving from one Lower Lusatian heath village to another, to Bossdom. "Bread, pastries, and also a colonial goods store" is written above the shop that the parents acquired with nothing but borrowed money. From now on, Esau will be known as Baker Esau and will remain so, and the shop will tyrannically interfere with the family peace. "Since my book The Shop was published, there has been an investigation in my homeland: Who is who? And false conclusions are drawn, claiming that I have attributed things to this or that person that they did not do. They insist that they recognize the people in the novel, especially themselves. And letters from readers arrive, asking how much of what I write corresponds to the truth.".