Ben`s father had left him, his mother and his older brother Tom before he had even been born. So it happened that Ben grew up with only his mother and brother as guidance. Nevertheless they were a happy little family, even though they merely scraped by, living in one of the poorer areas of Augsburg.
His mother was a very warm and gentle woman, who cared not only for her two little boys but also helped wherever she could, often without asking something in return. She would, unlike other mothers, never be caught beating her children, because she had experienced what damage this could inflict on them. Although she never talked about it, a scar on her face showed everyone that she had been badly mistreated some time in her life. When her children asked her about it, though, she replied that she had cut herself on a branch while climbing, and, not knowing any better, they believed her.
Tom, who was two years older than Ben was quite a courageous boy who loved getting into all sorts of mischief and adventure. He loved Ben dearly and was excited to be an older brother, and enthusiastically embraced the task of teaching Ben all the things a boy does and does not do. As soon as Ben was old enough Tom would teach him how to climb trees, how to fish and later even how to shoot and fight. They got along very well and barely ever really fought.
Ben loved and admired his brother and always tried hard to impress him, which he generally managed. However, he was not only as courageous and adventurous as his brother, but had also inherited his mother`s caring and helping personality. He loved learning how to handle the household duties from his mother just as much as he liked learning all the boy-stuff from his brother and also helped her caring for their neighbors. Additionally, he was very clever, learning quickly and coming up with ideas for new games or ways to ease the everyday work. Of course, this inventiveness was sometimes used to plan some mischief, too, and on some days his ideas just would not work out, but he never let that get him down. He was determined, although he also could be quite shy at times.
All in all, Ben lived a happy life, without his father, but with a loving mother and a proud brother. No one could have foreseen the tragedy that was soon to come and change the life of this young boy.