Schischyphusch oder Der Kellner meines Onkels

"Schischyphusch oder Der Kellner meines Onkels" is a short story by the German author Wolfgang Borchert. It is one of his first prose writings and was first published in Benjamin - Zeitschrift für junge Menschen in March 1947. Berhard Meyer-Marwitz included it in the list of posthumous works by Borchert in his complete works which was published by the Rowohlt Verlag in 1949. The short story is one of Wolfgang Borchert's untypically cheerful and humorous texts, and is one of his most renown works. It tells the story of the encounter of two decidedly different characters from the perspective of a young boy. Their single commonality is their lisp. The speech impediment initially leads to misunderstandings, later on, however, it becomes a means of communication and basis for the friendship of the fellow sufferers. The title refers to Sisyphus, a figure of Greek mythology, which inspires a waiter's nickname as well as it symbolises his fate. The second main character is based on Borchert's real uncle, Hans Salchow. A young boy visits a beer garden with his mother and uncle. During the war, his uncle lost one of his legs and part of his tongue due to a gunshot wound, giving him a lisp. Despite his war injuries, he is an impressive and confident man who hasn't lost his vitality - completely different from the nature of the small, humble and assiduous waiter who is serving their table. He also has a lisp due to an innate speech impediment. When the waiter repeats the uncle's order, both think that their opposite is mocking them. While the hurt waiter refuses to tolerate the abuse, the amused uncle loudly asks to speak to the innkeeper. By now, all the guests are observing the dispute which, growing more violent, mortifies the boy and his mother. Only when the waiter proves his lisp with a note in his passport, the tension resolves in the uncle's loud, pitying laughter, and he shows his veteran passport in return. The uncle orders a couple of rounds of Asbach and the two fellow sufferers laugh and drink for a few minutes, while the waiter keeps saying the word 'Schischyphusch'.