another extract (as per requestttttt)

This time, we were staying in the quiet suburban town of Bulach with Mandy, the friend of Alice’s mother. Bulach is a small, typically Swiss town that we didn’t see much of, except for the morning walks to the station for a train into the city.

            We arrived late, and so didn’t stay in Zurich long on the first night. When we got through the door, we were greeted by Mandy, a small Peruvian, her husband and her children, Ozcar and Ofelia – both eighteen. After some small conversation, and dropping our bags in our room, Mandy announced that she was getting dinner. I hovered in the background as Alice walked into the kitchen.

—Mandy, ¿Quieres ayudar?

—No, gracias Alice, esta bien.

—¿Seguara? I asked

            Mandy looked up at me, surprised.

—¿Hablas español? She asked.

—Sí, un poco.

            Alice came in:

—Esta aprendiendo.

—Ah, Bueno, Mandy acknowledged.

            After this, we sat down to spaghetti and mushrooms. They asked about our trip and were telling us about Zurich, and wondering what we had planned for our stay in the city. After about an hours conversation, we were taken to our room and settled back, ready to rest.

            It was a cold night, and we huddled together in bed – falling slowly to sleep.

VI

            In the morning, I was anxious to show Alice my Zurich – but first, enjoyed coffee and a small bit of toast. Almost overnight, Alice’s eye had swelled and she was getting worried about it, so before we went into the city, Mandy and her husband Jonathan took us to the medical room at the airport (where Mandy worked).

            We sat waiting for Alice to be seen for about thirty minutes, during which time she was getting worried because of all the attention this was bringing to her. I tried to calm her down and assure her that she wasn’t bothering anybody. When she was seen, she wanted me to go in with her and the doctor gave her a gel that she was to put in her eye a few times a day until the swelling was relieved. Apparently it was caused by a blocked duct, or something, and Alice was told about a couple of massages she could do to relieve it.

            After all of that, we got on the train heading for the city. My hands had been aching from carrying around my big holdall the day before – I had no idea how much longer I’d have to endure with that bag on my shoulder on in my hand.In the morning, I was anxious to show Alice my Zurich – but first, enjoyed coffee and a small bit of toast. Almost overnight, Alice’s eye had swelled and she was getting worried about it, so before we went into the city, Mandy and her husband Jonathan took us to the medical room at the airport (where Mandy worked).

            We sat waiting for Alice to be seen for about thirty minutes, during which time she was getting worried because of all the attention this was bringing to her. I tried to calm her down and assure her that she wasn’t bothering anybody. When she was seen, she wanted me to go in with her and the doctor gave her a gel that she was to put in her eye a few times a day until the swelling was relieved. Apparently it was caused by a blocked duct, or something, and Alice was told about a couple of massages she could do to relieve it.

            After all of that, we got on the train heading for the city. My hands had been aching from carrying around my big holdall the day before – I had no idea how much longer I’d have to endure with that bag on my shoulder on in my hand.