By Phil Riske
Managing Editor, Rose Law Group Reporter
Roy was a WWII veteran, who served in southern Germany and received two Purple Hearts for wounds he sustained. At age 65, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given a year to live. Wanting to do something for him, his close friends asked him for his “last wish.”
“Before I die, I want to eat another piece of Bavarian cream pie,” answered Roy. “There was this little cafe in Bavaria where we would go on leave, and the pie was the best I have ever eaten. I’ve always dreamed of going back there for another piece.”
His friends collected the money to send Roy to Bavaria and a couple of them drove him to the airport. On the way, their car was broadsided. Although he didn’t know it at the time, Roy had two broken ribs. In pain, he said goodbye to his friends and flagged a taxi to the airport.
His pain on the trip was intense. After he arrived in Berlin, he took a cab to his hotel. That night, the hotel caught fire, and Roy suffered burns on his legs and arms, but remained steadfast in getting to Bavaria.
As fate would have it, a van taking Roy to his hotel in Bavaria rolled over near the cafe where he dined during the war and threw him out on the street. Bloody and near death, Roy crawled on his hands and feet to the cafe, where an employee helped him up and said he’d call an ambulance.
“No, no,” Roy said. “Please seat me at a table. I’m okay”
A waitress attended to him. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“What can I get you?”
“I’d like a piece of your Bavarian cream pie, please.”
“I’m so sorry, we haven’t served Bavarian cream pie for years.”
“Apple’s fine then.”
