News - February 28, 2011
Something to drink
My sister is not allowed to go to the cinema alone. Well, actually, she is not allowed to go home or into town from the cinema without someone accompanying her.
'Good, my girlfriend will come along too', my sister beams at me half an hour later. 'I have just text her that it's ok'. I straighten up, eyes suddenly popping out of my head. 'Not that one, I hope', I ask, reeling from the impact. A small teasing smile appears on her lips. 'Yes.' Oh dear! I have heard two things about this friend of hers: 1. She can chatter for hours on end; if you start talking to her, you won't be able to get away. 2. She is attracted to older boys; her former boyfriend was possibly even older than I.
Angry and shaken, I glare at my sister. I have to admit that my love life is nothing to speak of, but not for the world would I want to play into the hands of an extroverted fifth year pre-university student. 'What are we going to do about this?' I ask my sister in a serious tone, after which she remains silent. 'Well, I can always write a column about it', I mutter, at a loss.
With heavy steps, I walk towards the cinema in the evening. Oh, and what should I do if I come across someone I know? Worry written all over my face, I wait till the two of them emerge from the cinema. Those worries seem to be completely unfounded. Walking out with my sister from the building is a stunner. 'No, she is much older', I tell myself.
'You won't mind if I come along, would you?' my sister's friend asks in a sweet voice. 'No', I stammer, feeling my face going red. 'No, he wouldn't', my sister laughs, 'but my brother will write a column later on about how awful he feels.' The enchantress laughs. 'Oh, then I don't feel like it anymore', she says firmly. Self-assured, with confident strides and without even so much as a glance backwards, she disappears down the street. My sister looks at me. 'Come, let's go get that beer, Stijn.'