Our Father's House

She remembered Tom as a colleague at the time she volunteered at 'Our Father's House'. She was in her last two years of High School then. But she could not remember many specifics about him, because he always seemed to blend into the background. He was particularly shy when it came to talking to girls. The only way she had contact with him in those days was when a child was discussed between them, or when a technical matter around the use of wood had to be resolved.

Now that Tom was building such a good relationship with Pierre, she could see the gift he had with young people, and she was incredibly thankful for what he had already accomplished in such a short time with her somewhat lost son.

But this thing between them gave a whole new dimension to the equation, and she was melting now in the sunrays that came out from this man's personality.

The waitress showed up to serve them. This made Tom quite self-conscious about their holding hands. He quickly pulled both his arms in.

They ate their 'uitsmijters' in almost silence. The magic of their togetherness did not need any words. She could not finish this double open sandwich with ham, cheese and a fried egg on top. It was quite hardy and too much for her.

'Do you want what I have left Tom?' she asked.

'Sure', and he took it from her with a wry smile.

When the waitress came back to them Iris asked about the bus schedule. They learned that in about ten minutes the next one would stop there. Iris told Tom that she really would have to go home, because she could not leave Pierre too long alone after his return from his swim. Tom agreed, and they took the bus, with the bicycle strapped to the back.

They sat cozy next to each other, and Tom held one of her hands in his. They then walked all the way from the RAI to her home. That took about half an hour. Tom had his bicycle in one hand, and he intertwined his other arm with Iris'. Their fingers now formed a beautiful interwoven basket, as if they wanted to feel how their chromosomes would pair.

While they walked, Iris told Tom about her life in France. About the house she and her husband Charles purchased outside Quimper just before Pierre was born. After many years she finally had become pregnant with Pierre. They had such a good life together. A few years later her husband was diagnosed with a tumor in the brain, and his sickness really was a devastating event in all of their lives. Little Pierre was six when this happened. He remembered his father mostly in a severely ill state.

'I agonized over my husband', she continued, 'and there were not many fun things I could do with my child. The illness took three years, hospital in and out. Pierre went to school, and he did have a rather normal time there. But home-life was depressing. Finally Charles died, we buried him, and life could return somewhat to normal.'

Then she explained to Tom the reason why she returned to Amsterdam with her son. This was because her two sisters in law started to be very interfering in her life. They insisted on the house being sold, because it was too big for her and Pierre.

'They had a stake in this', she continued, 'because they were also named in my husband's will. I got so fed up with this, that I relented. I sold the house, and all that money went back into my husband's estate, which is managed by a bank there. It left me without any capital, which I am sure Charles would never have tolerated. I live on an allowance that I get out of the estate. Living in Amsterdam has given me a chance again to make my own decisions.'

'My biggest concern has been Pierre,' she sighed when she said this, 'because he really misses his father, and he seems often to be rudderless. He also has been difficult to handle for me. Anything I suggest is pushed away as stupid or boring. He never has a friendly word for me, and I feel he is depressed and lonely. He is still so small you know.'

Tom listened to her, but did not interfere in her monologue. They reached her house at a quarter before four. Tom put his bike in front, and they went in together. Iris called into the house:

'Pierre, are you there?'

There was no answer. Then Tom took Iris in his arms again in the privacy of her hallway. She threw her arms around his neck, and they kissed each other on the mouth for the first time.