The grandmother is sitting on the train. She doesn't want to go to her aunt in Leipzig; she wants to stay with her family. Tomorrow she has an exam, and if she doesn't pass, her strict coach will make trouble for her. She hugs her stuffed panda tightly. She has been attending sports school since fifth grade. She is only at home with her family on weekends; otherwise, she lives alone with her aunt in Leipzig. The grandmother does gymnastics. She wasn't allowed to choose. She was assigned the sport she excelled at, not the one she enjoyed most. Daily life consists of drills, training, and competitions. There is hardly any time for hobbies or other leisure activities. The school often participates in political processions and parades, where the grandmother has to march for hours and perform tricks. Sometimes she even enjoys it. Her father brought the bear from West Berlin before the Wall was built. It gives her comfort and hope. Object: Stuffed panda. Values: Security, safety, acceptance of fate.
