The November project 2020, part 12

   The week went by for what felt like an eternity. I went crazy from not knowing anything, and even more crazy from not knowing what I could do about it. The only people who knew anything were the police, and surely they wouldn’t give out information about a case this fresh just to anyone? Not even the commissioner, even if he had seemed flattered that I studied criminology… I had at least got his card. I could contact him if I wanted to, but I guessed that was more for questions about the job in general, or if I needed comments about something from an actual working officer. He could be gold worthy if I was doing research for a paper, for example. But surely, he couldn’t reveal anything about this case just because I was curious? I wasn’t a journalist or anything either. No excuse to fall back on.    I fiddled with the card for a bit. Maybe it was worth a try after all… A new Friday came by. I got a text from Vera, wondering if I wanted to come and help out at the refugee shelter. “We have lots of milk & cream expiring soon since we were closed this week. Thought I’d bring two irons to the shelter and cook for them, could be nice.” I was sure it could. And I had no lectures today. Perfect timing.    Amir came along as well, naturally. Even if he himself had managed to move out he still had lots of friends left there, and he took the opportunity to tell them about everything that had happened since last time. Despite only three days of experience, he still managed to talk for minutes about how to make waffles, what jam was the best topping, about the customers he had observed, about how wonderful the scent of the forest was and how lovely the sizzling of waffles being cooked sounded, “here, hear it yourselves!”. It was all a messy mix of English and Dari, but I could see the engagement sparkle in his eyes no matter if I understood the words or not. He might have seemed puzzle-headed the first days, but this was really something he cared about. He was proud. Proud of finally being in a place where life seemed to move forward without bombs and dark waters being all that awaited. I smiled to myself. Vera looked as if she had the same reaction, like a proud mother, but only for a second. For the most part, she seemed muted.    - Alba, she said, I need to talk to you. With Amir as well, but that’ll have to be another time.    - What’s happening?    - I got a letter yesterday.    - A letter?    - From the city office. Those men have talked to their boss now, it seems. We… we have to give up the hut. They want to demolish it.    - Hold on, wait a minute, demolish it!?    She nodded.    - But doesn’t that seem a bit… extreme? Excessive? Has the boss been there to see the damage for himself? And also, I mean, if we really had a mildew problem, we would have noticed, wouldn’t we? I mean that stuff gives you headaches and shit.    - That’s what I thought too, but this seems to be indisputable.    - Ugh man… fuck this shit. So they’re just gonna throw us out? Just like that?    - No… I have some good news as well. They have offered us compensation.    - How much?    She pulled out the letter from her pocket and handed it to me without a word. Eagerly my eyes looked for a number instead of letter – had we got a meaningless drop in the ocean, or was this…    Yes, it was.