December 5 … St. Nicholas Day. Maybe even then I wasn’t totally with it, but I can’t remember that the teacher prepared us that morning for the momentous things that would happen in the afternoon. I’m suddenly hearing a noise right above my desk. All the other children are looking up and finally I dare to do the same. My, was I ever a scared little boy! This kindergarten was at the edge of small forest in the middle of town. Someone had told me that ghosts in white clothes were hiding in that forest. I was so scared of that forest and its walking paths that I didn’t even dare to look in that direction. So this scaredy-cat looks up and sees a big, black hand come out of a small opening in the ceiling. I screamed and the teacher led me out of the classroom. I missed the St. Nicholas party that afternoon. But worse things would happen that day.

Surprise, surprise! A knock at the door of our home in the evening hour. My mother opened the door and there’s another St. Nicholas accompanied by black Peter. I hollered and was so taken aback that my parents were at their wits ends. No matter that there were pepernoten, small presents and chocolate drinks and oranges! I must have spoiled the evening for all of them! When I went to bed, I had a high fever. That same night the doctor was called in, because I was sort of unconscious. After the doctor examined me, he said: this little boy is very, very sick, and all this scary business hasn’t done much good. I’m quite sure he has meningitis and must rest for many weeks in a cold room, surrounded by quietness … no sudden noises.

So, there I was from day to day in that lonely and cold bedroom. Mother would come up once in a while but couldn’t sit with me too long because of the cold. I couldn’t sit up and play with my few toys … too cold. I remember very little what all happened during that sickness. One toy I had wasn’t even a toy. It was the mission’s collection box, which had a little Negro boy sitting on it who bowed graciously when you put a cent through the small slit. Later someone gave me a pig with a slit, so I could start saving pennies. But that little pig wasn’t nearly as interesting as the little, bowing Negro.