Missed a boat

“He's on his way!” Dunya shouts happily. We breathe a sigh of relief. Her father comes from England to recognize her as his daughter. It's always exciting whether he keeps his word or if something else comes up. Now it should be okay, nothing can go wrong. Then there will be a new app. “Dad doesn't know if he'll be on time for the appointment,” says Dunya. “He missed the boat, but he's going to do his best!” The tension is rising again. I can't get a bite down my throat. What if. We've waited so long for this moment. Last summer, he was suddenly in Amsterdam. “We're just going to the municipality!” he said. “That's not possible!” I said angrily. “You have to make an appointment for that, and it takes a long time!” We made an appointment and he promised to come back in November. Now we are eagerly waiting to see if he is on time.

New last name

Ten minutes late, we are at the counter. We get a number and are allowed to go up. Meanwhile, I have app contact with Dunya's friends who are waiting outside as a surprise. When it's finally our turn, my tension rises again. If her father does not understand all the questions right away, Dunya explains them or answers them herself. “You want your father's last name?” the lady in front of us asks. Dunya says loud and clear, “yes!” There is no sign of doubt about her. “I'm going to get the birth certificate,” says the civil registry officer a little later. She comes back with a colleague who takes a look. “That's not a good sign,” I still think, but a little later, we get the act where all three of us have to sign.