Semana 7 - Sonhos

The train has been staggering slightly through the rails for about an hour already. Judy, still happy for having been assigned the window seat, continues looking at the view, where, long time ago, the buildings and cars were replaced by adult pine trees and calmness. 

- Your ticket please - says the inspector for the hundredth time that day.

Judy almost drops all the papers she had in her hand with the fright.

- Oh, there you go - says handing it over.

- Thank you, your stop is the one right before the last - says the inspector with a smile.

Judy has been planning this trip for long time ago. She was feeling well but a bit anxious, the cliché-trip of meeting her boyfriend’s family has arrived. She heard only good things about them so this weekend had everything to be a pleasant time. 

As the forest landscape was slowly giving place to tiny houses surrounded by fruit trees and animals, she seemed to recognise in it the description Matt gave her about his parents' village right before she got into the train. 

Packed her bag and directed herself to the exit feeling still a bit sleepy.

In the platform, on the left side of the main crowd she could instantly recognise the silhouette of her boyfriend and his two dogs, they were walking towards her with a big smile (Matt smiling as well). 

- Welcome to Halven! - he says with a warm hug - there’s a small crowd dying to meet you.

And there they go, riding the bikes towards the village, with the dogs frenetically happy running alongside. 

The moments with his family were very nice, Judy fitted perfectly into their pre-established routine and found the time both amusing and warm. 

Or so she thought.

- I’ll make a soup this evening - proposes Judy - it’s a recipe from my grandmother and I can even use some of the vegetables you have grown in the garden if you agree.

While this was in preparation at the stove, everyone was together in the living room playing cards and chatting. Yet the innocent conversation was interrupted by a brain signal arriving from the nose - oh oh, it smells as if something is burning terribly bad. From one moment to the other, the smell evolved exponentially and everyone got up. Two closed doors separated them from the kitchen and as they were making their way running towards the origin of the problem, the smoke was getting worse and the coughing louder. The first in the line finally reached the kitchen door and opened it abruptly to the scenario of unintentional chaos. There was fire coming from the stove, which reached the curtains and was spreading flames everywhere. As if things could not get any worst, behind Judy someone tripped over the dog while running to grab the phone, on her right side a tiny explosion was heard. Everyone's eyes were dry and hurting, everyone's hearts were vigorously pumping. While for some, the solution was to try and reach for help, for others was to instantly try to solve it by their own. Judy was petrified, not able to move, breathe or think.   

While she feels someone gently pressing her shoulder. 

- Your ticket please - says the inspector with a smile.