Staying

“Ah, Mom, can Eline stay with me?” Eline's girlfriend Sara asked her mother eight times that afternoon. Eventually, she agreed to get rid of the whining. And so it came to pass. Eline went home to pick up her pajamas and some toilet supplies. She was back soon because she lived in the house next door.

In the evening, they sat at the table with the whole family; Sara, her parents and the younger brother. Eline was in between the kids, right across from Sara's father. She saw him startled the meal in. With his mouth open, he ground the potatoes and pieces of meat between his molars, and afterwards he left a fat farmer, who he tried to hold for as long as possible. It often happened that the father looked at her too long. He took her all in. She abhorhorrendous it. She also shuddered by his voice that sounded low and hostily. He had the raw voice of someone who drank too much and smoked. If he wanted to say something, he did not speak, but the sound came out of his throat roaring. She had also seen how he scratched his crotch with his hand and kept looking at her defiantly. She felt very uncomfortable at such moments, and a shiver passed through her. She creeped from him and did not understand that Sara's mother was married to this man.

After dinner, Sara's mother had to leave. She was a member of some association and was on the board. Every first Monday of the month there was a meeting. She was supposed to be back by eleven.