While the guests were eating at the table, Annerieke walked past the table where Tanja and Nancy were sitting with their parents. She stood between the two girls and put her hands on their shoulders.

As she leaned forward slightly and looked at the girls in turn, she said, "I've been thinking.... Would you girls like to help me in the kitchen sometime with pie baking or cooking?"

"Really, is that allowed? I would absolutely love that!" Nancy exclaimed, while Tanja was nodding enthusiastically, "Yes, especially baking pie, that seems like so much fun!"

"Great, then I'll come and ask you for help sometime soon!" With a nod to Robert and Rachel, Annerieke disappeared into the kitchen.

.

In the evening, Huib had brought home some wood and tools. "So what are you going to do with those?" wondered Margreet in amazement.

"Those two nice girls gave me an idea. They didn't ask for anything, didn't beg, but they made it very clear that one of them really likes a floating squirrel, and the other a jumping rabbit. So I'm going to make those tonight. And then it occurred to me, that such little animals would also be nice for the shopwindow in our building in the village."

"And for the windowsill in the children's room?" asked Margreet.

"That's a good idea, a nice collection there too. Actually, I have more than enough work now. I'm glad the cabinets for the hobby room are already finished. It's so cozy, how you've decorated one with those baskets. And the rolls of fabric lying loose in the compartments. So inviting! How's your tapestry coming along?"

"Good, really very good. I'm having so much fun with it," Margreet said, taking Huib with her to the hobby room. "Look at it!"

"I never thought it could become something so special," Huib said in surprise. "It seems so simple, with patches and threads, and then such a result. That will look really nice on that wall, very special! And how wonderful that you can just leave it here, then you can continue whenever you feel like it."

"Yes, but I think I'll move to the dining table tonight, then I'll come and sit with you."

Huib smiled and kissed her, pulling her tenderly against him. "Do you know what you are?"

"Well?"

"Someone so special to me that I can't find words for a while..."

.

The next morning, Tanja and Nancy found two wooden animals by their breakfast plates, a floating squirrel and a jumping rabbit. There was a little piece of paper between the animals:

.

So handy

wooden animals

they never jump away from you!

.

To chapter 218. Verdict

Or to the Table of contents