I wonder how Victor is this morning…
Met him briefly in far away, magical Harlingen, Friesland, a few months ago.
It was early morning – just before the bike shop opened. I had to return the rented bike before whizzing back in the waiting taxi to the station. To catch the train back to the south.
I stood in front of the bike shop… wondering if they would open in time. And this guy was leaning out his front door… a few meters from the bike shop… having an early morning smoke.
I nodded. He said “morge”, and took another puff, peering into the distance over the waterway.
We started chatting… talked about our countries… how people are behaving these days… the trouble with governments…
Victor explained that he has fallen on some hard times now… some health issues… no income currently. But in three years he will qualify for pension.
He invited me in for coffee. I had to decline – said I was just waiting to hand back this bike… pointed to the waiting taxi down the road.
Victor said “een oomblik”, and went inside. He came back with some “noodgeval” keys, opened the bike shop, and I pushed the bike inside. I thanked him, promised to have coffee “next time”, and made a beeline to the taxi.
Hopefully there will be a next time in Harlingen… I will try to find Victor… next to the bike shop… to have a coffee…
