WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE BELGIUM BRUSSELS PEER - THE PINK REBEL - by Luc Schrijvers - Part 2 - 1 March 2026.

THE PINK REBEL - by Luc Schrijvers - Part 2 - 1 March 2026.

 “Lucske, you are no longer allowed to go to daddy's barracks to play.”

"But why?"

“The colonel wants to protect you a little from all those big men.”

“But they are so nice to me!”

“That's exactly why, boy,” said Mom.

_______

What matters: what happened or your memories of it?

______

Mom always came to pick us up from school. Out with the whole gang and back home with the whole gang. She never forgot to come get us. My twin brother, Eddy, and I walked side by side. Our sister walked next to mom and the two other brothers played between us.

“Hello everyone!”, Maria shouted.

Maria always said hello to us. We often saw her on the corner of a street, near café 't Groene Woud.

“Say hello back, boys,” Mom said. “Hello Maria!” we waved.

“Lucske, come,” Maria called to me when I walked past alone. She had sad news: her daddy had died. Maria asked if I wanted to come and cross myself. I certainly wanted that.

We went in together. There was a musty smell in the air.

There were wreaths and flowers everywhere; As I walked closer, I saw the coffin containing Maria's deceased dad. Next to the coffin I saw a jar with a holy water brush in it.

“Give me a cross,” said Maria. She gave me the holy water brush.

I did the cross: up, down, left, right.

Maria was called away for a moment.

Time for a trick. I always had a mirror in my back pocket and I took it out now. I leaned over the coffin and held the mirror under Maria's dad's nose. I saw this once on TV.

Nothing appeared! He was really dead.

Maria came back. She patted my head and told me to go home.

“I will pray for you daddy!” “What a beautiful guy you are.”

She gave me a pat on the head and a piece of candy.

I left for home.

_______

“Hela, little daydreamer!” said the teacher.

I was in my head a lot. Thinking through play, seeing beautiful and mysterious things everywhere, that was so much fun.

“Luc, wouldn't you rather play with the rest of the children?” “But then I get so dirty, master!” I said.

I don't like to get dirty. “That's not bad, is it, Lucske? You can fantasize very well with fun, boy, but playing together with others is also fun! Come on.” “Okay, master.”

But I didn't like to get dirty. It gave me jitters.

Sand, dust, horrible.

____

“Why can't I see Hilde anymore, mom? Why don't they come on holiday anymore?”

Hilde and I were friends. We always saw each other on group holidays from Dad's work in the army. Hilde was in a wheelchair and couldn't speak, but we understood each other very well. She was the daughter of one of Dad's colleagues. I read to her, I helped take care of her. We laughed so much. Later I would become a doctor so I could help heal her.

“Leave it alone, Luc,” said mom.

“But I want to see Hilde!”

“Enough about it!”

“But mom -”

“Josian's parents and we have a fight – period!” I never saw her again.

Meanwhile, Hilde has been dead for a long time.

__________

“Forgive me Father, for I have sinned,” I said to the priest.

“What have you done, boy?”

“I stole hosts from the chapel and ate them all. Also the large host.”

“Promise you'll never do it again?”

“Yes,” I said – with fingers crossed. I once saw that on TV.

______________________________

Continued