The Christmas dinner was splendid. Ria and Antoine shuffling into the darkened room bearing an enormous turkey with three sparklers in its bottom, Evert helping his own lap to a big slice of tiramisu when dessert was served, and, if I may say so myself, my after-dinner speech wasn’t bad either. It was about friendship as the essential ingredient for a good life. It may have been a bit on the sentimental side (Antoine dabbed away a tear) but it came straight from the heart. We raised a glass to Eefje, “the silent heart of our club, tragically too silent now.” Then we drank to friendship, until
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