By Pieter Thomassen

Because mummy’s gallbladder is being removed on Good Friday, granny Reuser, from across the road, has taken charge of her daughter’s home. On Easter Saturday, Axel’s dad appears much earlier than ever at the kitchen table wearing sky blue pyjamas. He turns the handle of his ochre cigarette tube filling machine with precise regularity and happily fills his cigarette case. While his mother-in-law is laying the table with Easter napkins and butter in the form of a sheep, he whistles and repairs a back tyre and, moreover, peels enough potatoes to last for three days.
      On his desk in the attic Axel has mounted two hairdryers to blow into the wet legs of his newly-washed, favourite pair of trousers, so that he can make another tiptop appearance at dance hall Femina that evening. Meanwhile he takes a quick shower.
      On Easter Sunday Axel watches his granny when she kneels besides Zeus’s water bowl in front of the TV to receive the papal blessing. She also says a prayer to the Holy Virgin on account of the trifle in the attic. Later that evening during visiting hour in the hospital, Axel is under strict instructions not to mention a word to his mother about the fact that not only her two hairdryers, his new Wrangler jeans, but also granddad Reuser’s desk and antique swivel chair have been badly damaged in a fire.

© Pieter Thomassen
© Translation Holland Park Press

Axel 40 – Axel 39 – Axel 38 – Axel 37 – Axel 36 – Axel 35 – Axel 34 – Axel 33 – Axel 32 – Axel 31 – Axel 30 – Axel 29 – Axel 28 – Axel 27 – Axel 26 – Axel 25 – Axel 24 – Axel 23 – 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