Sleepless Summer. Bram Dehouck

Dorien continued, ‘we’ve instigated a lawsuit against your grandfather.’ She thrust her chin in the air, as though the city council had just decided that he would face the guillotine tomorrow on the town square.

      ‘I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,’ Saskia stuttered. ‘I don’t want any trouble … they always took good care of me.’

      ‘Took good care of you? Took good care of you?’ Dorien leaned forward. ‘They did not take care of you!’

      Saskia did not understand what she meant. ‘I got …’

      ‘Saskia, what your grandfather did, we call slavery. Okay, they fed you and gave you a bed to sleep in, but that’s not enough. A person who works, gets paid, that’s how things go in society.’

      ‘Granddad said a woman isn’t wor—’

      ‘Nonsense. Nonsense. Nonsense.’ Dorien raised her hands. ‘What your grandfather told you is pure nonsense. Women are worth just as much as men. You are worth just as much as anyone else.’

      Saskia blushed. It did her good to hear that, and deep down she knew it had to be true. She knew it, but didn’t feel it.

      ‘We’ve filed two charges against your grandfather. One, he never paid you for the work you did on the farm, and two, he pocketed your unemployment benefits.’

      ‘Unemployment what?’

      ‘If you’re unable to work, the government gives you money. To survive. Your grandfather collected these benefits in your name, but you never saw any of that money yourself.’