By Pieter Thomassen

A soft pink haze, like a sea of orchids, covers Kunder Hill. To celebrate his birthday, Axel is allowed to invite two friends to a picnic party in the marl pit. After playing put the nail and pin the tail on the donkey, he’s the one to blow the eight candles on the strawberry tart. Chocolate milk with a straw is served with the cake.
      Near the old lime kiln at the foot of the mine dump they catch tadpoles, until Rens Rotteveel discovers a midwife toad under a weeping willow on the edge of the pool. The grey-green male, a string of eggs wrapped around his back legs, disappears into the dip net held by the bawling boy. Rens begins excitedly to gesticulate. ‘A straw up his bum, give a huge blow, and the result…’ He spreads his arms wide and looks at his audience with twinkling eyes, ‘BANG!’
      With his left hand he puts the straw into the toad, after which the animal releases a short whistling sound. Mad with anger, Robbie Hol throws a jar full of tadpoles at the head of the tormentor of animals, who has to drop his inflated victim. The toad balloon rolls through the grass, from which it is lovingly picked up by Robbie, who’s looking to find comfort together with Axel.
      Fifteen minutes later, these two are back at the pool, covered in green jelly and toad eggs. In their hastiness, a piece of barbed wire has fatally wounded the bloated beast.

© Pieter Thomassen
© Translation Holland Park Press

Axel 22 – Axel 21 – Axel 20 – Axel 19 – Axel 18 – Axel 17 – Axel 16 – Axel 15 – Axel 14 – Axel 13 – Axel 12 – Axel 11 – Axel 10 – Axel 9 – Axel 8 – Axel 7 – Axel 6 – Axel 5 – Axel 4 – Axel 3 – Axel 2 – Axel 1