Audio: 13 July 2020

I needn't have been nervous. Everything is exactly as I had imagined.
The smell,
the tranquillity,
the slippers in the house.
A different pair for every room.

The long garden,
the pigeons and the sound they make,
the dogs on the wall. 

The kitchen,
the well-stocked pantry,
the fruit in the fridge,
the stories,
the warm "Welcome to Belgium!!"

At half past five, dinner is ready. Schnitzel with tomatoes and potatoes. In
the evening, Noël and I drink a few beers together on the sofa in front of the television. 
He says he likes to watch Christmas films.

They met in a café. Last week they celebrated their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary.
The only thing is, they don't have any children. She still feels sad about that sometimes.

This is a short story.
Actually, it's about nothing in particular and everything at the same time. 

 

Listen to the full audio clip of Maite talking about her stay with Noël and Marijke in Bekegem below.