When the girls were inside their apartment, Carla put the money that Herman handed on her on the side table near the TV.
"The money is here, Luisa. 500 Belgian Franc!" Carla said to Luisa.
"Return it to him. I don't want his money!" Luisa answered Carla.
"Luisa, maybe what you are thinking is not what in Herman's mind." Thelma said.
"He said no string attached but I don't like the idea."
"Luisa, think good. Herman said he will marry you. If you ask me, why not give him a chance?" Carla said to Luisa. "Me, I am thinking to call Wilhelm."
"The German?" Luisa reacted to Carla about that she will call Wilhelm.
"Yes, I am thinking, seems he is a good man, he was an engineer, and he could rescue me from my situation."
"But he was a German! And maybe he is married. You saw the girl with him, I heard she called him, Vater, sound like father. " Luisa said.
"Whatever race a person had, good or bad depends to an individual not to people or race!" Carla said. "I will call Wilhelm! You both heard what our work will be here, a club entertainer. I do not like to do anymore what we did in Cyprus. In Cyprus nobody forced us to do what we did, the same here, nobody will force us if we don't like but there's a suggestion."
"And if he is married?"
"I will know it if I call him!"
"How about me? Carla, you have Wilhelm as prospect, and Luisa, she has Herman!" Thelma was worried that if indeed Wilhelm and Carla be together, so Luisa and Herman, then she will be left alone.
"I am not interested with Herman!" Luisa said.
"Wilhelm is still a dream!" Carla said. She realized that she dreamed about Wilhelm as her Prince on the white horse not knowing if Wilhelm was interested to her or not.
Thelma said no more words, but she knew, the possibility about Carla with Wilhelm, Luisa with Herman could happen.
The next day, the three Filipinas spent their time in their apartment. The refrigerator was filled with foods that they do not have to do groceries. They wanted to call Lorna on the telephone, but they learned that calling outside Belgium they have first to dial a code and they do not have it. The three girls talked about Grace, Luz, and Lorna and about also themselves.
The next day, Herman arrived early. The three girls were still having their breakfast when he rang the doorbell. The girls invited him to have breakfast and he joined them at the table.
"Luisa, are you ready about dating me?" Herman asked Luisa.
"I did not promise you a date!" Luisa answered Herman sharply.
"You forgot what I said that we have to know each other? A date is a way for us to know each other well. That is why I am early because I want to let you see The Netherlands. Are you not interested to see Amsterdam?" Herman asked Luisa. Luisa still did not answered Herman. Of course, she was interested to see Amsterdam. They have a Seaman neighbor back in the Philippines who bragged about the Red District in Amsterdam and about that drugs were just opened, like Marihuana that one easily can bought from coffee shops. Other drugs could also be bought easily if one knew where to buy it with restriction only for personal use.
"Luisa, I think I am talking to you." Herman said when he received no reaction from Luisa.
"You will have your date if you take back your money!" Luisa answered Herman at last.
"Oh yes." Carla upon hearing what Luisa said stood up and take the money she put on the table at the side of the TV. When she returned, she handed the money to Herman. "Luisa said, I must return this to you!"
Herman looked at Luisa and then accepted the money from Carla. "Okay, it's a gift for you Luisa. I felt not fine you did not accept it, but I am happy I have a date with you."
While Luisa was preparing herself for her date with Herman, Carla requested something from Herman. She asked him how she can use the telephone for calling outside Belgium.
"I don't know the code for calling outside Belgium, but you can buy a phonecard with different value." Herman answered Carla.
"Phonecard?"
"Yes, if you wait, I will buy for you some card and I will learn you all how to use it when I come back. I have a date you know." Herman said to Carla with a laugh on his face.
"Okay" Carla smiled. She thought that Herman was excited with his date with Luisa. She, and maybe Thelma liked also to see The Netherlands, but there will be another time. The day now will be for Herman and Luisa.
Leaving the border of Belgium and entering The Netherlands, after few kilometers Luisa noticed that The Netherlands was flat.
"The Netherlands have wide flat lands!" Luisa said.
"Oh, yes. Actually the Netherlands have no mountains!" Herman answered Luisa.
"No mountains? Even one mountain?" Luisa was surprised to what Herman told her that The Netherlands has no mountains. Philippines has many mountains.
"In some parts of The Netherlands you can see a small hill, that's all, yes, The Netherlands have no mountain!" Herman told Luisa that indeed The Netherlands have no mountains.
"Wow, I thought every country have its mountains, now, I learned that The Netherlands have none!" Luisa was amazed.
"What do you know about The Netherlands?" Herman asked Luisa.
"Nothing, only Tulips and cheese!" Luisa had heard from their Seaman neighbor about cheese and spontaneously just said it.
"Oh, yes, we have oceans of Tulips here in The Netherlands and tons of cheese!"
"You lived in Amsterdam?"
"No, Amsterdam is nice you know but I love and live in Rotterdam. You can see many things in Amsterdam. Our Rijksmuseum, the House of Anne Frank, Madame Tussauds, The Red District and many more."
"The Red District? What is that? A place?"
"A part of Amsterdam! The Red District is a known tourist attraction of Amsterdam!"
"Why is it called Red District?"
"Because of the red windows!"
"Red windows?"
"Yes, but don't ask no more about it. We will go there and if you see it, you will understand what a red window is."
"Why we go to Amsterdam? Why not Rotterdam?"
"Rotterdam is for later. Besides, you can explore Rotterdam if you already reside there." Herman said with a smile and at the same time threw a look to Luisa to see her reaction.
"I really don't know if you are courting me, or you are just joking." Luisa said.
"I am not joking! I like you, Luisa! As I said I will marry you!" Herman again said to Luisa about marrying her. Luisa did not react, she just looked outside the window of the car and secretly smiled.
The day in Amsterdam was a nice day for both Herman and Luisa. There is no quarrel between them. Herman let Luisa seen the Royal Palace on the Dam Square, they got in and toured the Wax Museum of Madame Tussauds, they had taken the canal cruise boat and strolled at the streets of the Red District. Herman bought a bouquet of Tulips for Luisa, and bought home for Carla and Thelma, cheese, and syrup waffles. Also, he bought three telephone cards worth twenty guilders each card. Also along the way, they passed a Chinese Restaurant and bought Chinese foods for dinner.
Early in the evening when they came back to Antwerp. Carla and Thelma were glad to the gifts Herman brought and very curious about the 'Date'.
"It's okay!" Carla and Thelma received a short answer from Luisa. Herman just smiled.
"I am glad you are now friends!" Carla said.
Herman and the three girls enjoyed their Chinese foods.
After the meal, the girls and Herman were on the living room, the three girls with their cola drinks and Herman with his black coffee. Herman learned the girls how to use the telephone cards and they decided to call Lorna in Switzerland.
"My God, hello!" Lorna was glad at the other end of the line when she heard the voice of Carla.
"Lorna, we hope we did not disturb you and Gunther!" Carla said to Lorna.
"Of course not. I am happy you called!"
"Lorna, congratulation for becoming the wife of Gunther!" Carla congratulated Lorna, and so the two Thelma and Luisa also congratulated her. Luisa learned that Lorna already sends the money to Luisa's mother and the letters of the girl mailed.
While the girls enjoying talking to Lorna on the phone, Herman bid goodbye, he will return to Rotterdam. Herman promised to return the next day.
One telephone card was finished and so the contact with Lorna, but they were happy. They were far apart but by talking via the telephone seemed they were together.
Then Carla said to Thelma and Luisa.
"I will call, Wilhelm!"
"You are really very interested with the German!" Luisa said.
"Are you not afraid? Herman said that good German, is only a German seven meters below the ground?" Thelma asked Carla.
"No! Herman may have his opinion; I will have mine. I had observed Wilhelm as a very decent and a good man, my first impression!" Carla was determined about Wilhelm. And if Wilhelm was not married and really interested on her, Carla already promised herself to be Wilhelm's wife. ****to be continued****Remedios Dorio