1. Street Broken Up
We are in Herent. First at my parents house. We will all leave at the same time, have to go somewhere, together, but go in teams and drive different cars. My brother N is certainly here, he likes to drive. We cross the main road. And once we do we realize we are in a race. We see a car just in front of us, red, who is ahead, we can overtake the car easily because they are standing still. But they stand still in the middle of the road, and they got out and are discussing things, so they're not gonna move. I suppose the car is broke. We can pass, but actually they block a street to the left, which we would like to take, because it is our route, and a shortcut. So, we can't do that. Another one of us cars has already gone a different route behind us. But I think, then we can simply go the next to the left, or the one after, because the very next one will not be possible.
So we drive in the direction of the church. The road gets bad. As a matter of fact, they are working here. The whole street lies open. We have to go through anyway, the sand is full of shards, glass, this is difficult, but we go anyway.
One of the persons of the red car is Stvl, who did taichi with me for some time. We race against him. I didn't know.
So we are on foot now, through the sand. I am amazed by the number of people walking through the broken up street. Young children come our way, it is a class, guided by a teacher. Everything is so small scale here, rural. Yet the works are like in a city.
I have my bicycle with me, that is why I have to take care not to hit the glass.
2. Shop Raid
We are in the shop where I work. I more or less looks like in real life, but not really, there is more room. Lots of traffic of people. I'm behind the till, Anle is there, she is behind the till, or she calls out to me. On the floor behind the till lies a jellyfish. It is obviously dead, but it must have stranded there and died. I wonder if it is still wet. The floor is of wood.
Anle thinks this is really gross. I'm alright with it, but I don't want to touch it. It is flat. It is a bit weird to see it lying there. Light.
Then Siph and his gang of comrades enters the shop, his mother or grandmother is with him. This is quite unexpected. He's from London. I haven't seen him for a long time. We greet, they look around. They want lots of things, all of it actually. I have to get in control or either they'll buy everything in the shop and nothing will be left. They are like a band of plunderers. They come in and loot everything, except that they want to pay, they are very polite. They ask questions. This part of the shop is dark, or darker. In the centre of the shop floor is a table with lots of stuff on it. Everything piled on top. Things are quite disorganized.
Siph says he wants to buy this, he gives it to me, I can't remember what it is. But after a while it becomes a bag full of grapes, a kilo, but it is a very large plastic, transparent, bag. I take it, and then he comes behind the till, which is okay, because he used to do this kind of work, too. I learned it with him.
I have to weigh this. But I don't find place. I have to enter this in the till, but I have to free my hands for it, but can't because I don't find place to put this bag with grapes away. There is a scales, but I don't want to use it, because there is still something in it. I think it is rice, possibly bubur, which I possibly cooked the day before and is still left there. Siph takes the bag and puts it right there. I don't like that, but we have to make do. (Reading my notes). We can't settle the bill because we have to weigh the thing, but the scales are still in use. The bowl we want to put it in still has batter in it. (Not rice). So, in that case, the bag has to balance on top of the till until we can settle the bill.
3. Stco and Sister
We finally arrive at the cottage. There is a gathering here. I don't know anybody. I'm a little early. Later my brother N also comes, and even Stco, which is nice. I pass along the wall of the building and go directly to the back, which is where the people are. They are gathered there, waiting for when the event will start. I don't really feel comfortable with all those people. Wooden shed, but big, scout hut like. Rude people, or at least tough looking. I stay in the background. They all know each other, I am the outsider.
It must be evening, because there is dinner. Stco is already in the other room where the table is set. I go after him, which is good, because no one else is here yet, they are still at the back. There is a long wooden table. And behind the corner is another one. I suppose in front is the kitchen. Stco's sister Ve is here also. She sits a bit further, at the other table. Long time since I've seen her. It is good that both are here and have come, by invitation I suppose, because it turns out they have lived here when they were young.
I also remember the road towards this place which was a high place, long road, open space, green, light, blue sky.
I keep hesitating where I'm going to sit and what I'm going to do, but in the meanwhile, everyone else is coming in and sits down at the table, so I have to decide on the spot.
4. Military Zone
Transit zone, open air. Military. Big lane, then a big square, then buildings, on the right is the cafe. At the other end of the lane is also a hall.
Something with military airplanes. People are waiting. I'm not sure I belong here. I come from somewhere but I have to go back immediately. I know some people here, but everyone seems to be here for a different reason.
In the cafe on the right is a lot of place, Tivd is there and I follow, because I suppose that is why I'm here. There's a big group. Now the place looks like a training hall. She is in front, and starts. We are doing the quick fist. I can easily follow, although sometimes I get a blackout, but other people in the group have the same problem, mostly at the same moments, and the flow of the form breaks up. Everyone is doing this on his own speed. This is no good. At some point we are turned in such a way that I am in front, because I am on the right. So I take the initiative to lead the people. I still have to think hard on every movement. And these are experienced people. People with more years of training than me. Euro seminar. Maybe Chsn.
I go out after that and am on the square where people wait. I see someone I know. An Asian girl. She is there with her mother. I say hello. I am the only one who knows this girl, I have a really good chat with her.
After that I go back to the cafe, because it is dinner time. This time, my colleagues are in the room. Rows of tables. I really don't want them to see me. I don't feel like talking to any of them. So I avoid their presence and their gazes. I don't want to see any of them.
There is also a part in the dream where I am in the other part across the lane, which feels very different. Maybe even alien. Maybe the border with a parallel world.
5. Last Name Noted
Someone writes down my name, my last name. I see the paper and can tell that the name is spelled wrong. I expected this, but the way it is spelled is rather weird, because it looks like a plural of the original, as if the last part is doubled. I think, that is okay, in that way the name implies everyone of the family, that is, me and my brothers.