Stories · Curiosities · Questionable Ideas · Rather a Lot of Imagination · Farah Sam · Author & Creator ·
Sabine at the Door
A gentle knock on the front door brings the first touch of local friendship to Avenue de Havilland. Sabine, the ultimate vegan neighbor, arrives with a warm welcome and a steaming dish of comfort food, marking the beginning of a beautiful, supportive bond.
THE STAR FAMILY BLOG
Farah Sam
12/7/20212 min read
Diary Entry: Tuesday
Zen level: High (warmed by genuine neighborly kindness)
Chapters written: 1/2 page (written on the kitchen counter)
Current status: Grateful for warm soup and the sound of laughter in the hall
The world outside our gate is still quiet and unfamiliar, but this afternoon, the ice began to melt. I was in the middle of sorting through a box of winter blankets in the hallway when there was a gentle, rhythmic knock on our heavy front door. I smoothed down my sweater, pushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear, and opened it to find a woman standing on the porch, wrapped in a cozy woolen coat and wearing a pair of bright red glasses. Her curly blonde hair was dusted with a light morning mist, and she held a large, insulated ceramic dish in her hands.
"Hello, I’m Sabine from next door," she said, her voice warm and welcoming. "I saw the moving trucks last week, and I thought you might need some hot, proper food to help chase away the cold."
The dish was a beautiful, steaming vegan potato and leek bake, smelling of fresh thyme and comfort. I invited her into the hallway, and as we stood there amidst the half-unpacked boxes, we slipped into an easy, natural conversation. Sabine, it turns out, is also vegan!
Farhaan’s eyes lit up at the word "vegan." "I’m baking an almond cake later!" he told her proudly. "Maybe your kids can have a slice?" Sabine laughed warmly, telling us her daughter, Yasmeen, is fifteen—exactly the same age as our Yasmeen and in the very same school class!
Ariadne stood near my legs, holding onto my trousers. Because she cannot regulate her temperature and the hallway draft was cold, I knelt down, wrapped a warm wool scarf around her neck, and pulled her close to ground her. She began to cry from the sudden change in routine and the cold.
Yasmeen looked on, concerned. "Mum, should I get her bunny?"
"Yes, please, sweetie. And point her toward her snack table," I said. Yasmeen quickly fetched the plush bunny Jelly Bean, while guiding Ariadne toward the kitchen snack corner, where a soft piece of bread and a cup of milk were waiting. Ariadne reached out, grabbed the bread, and her crying ceased as she held it tight, calmed by the warmth.
Closing: In the evening, after the teenagers had happily devoured the potato bake and were quiet in their rooms, I sat in my quiet kitchen. I took a slow, deep breath, feeling the comfort of Sabine's neighborly welcome settle into my heart. I sat on my mat, stretched my legs out wide, and folded forward into a gentle seated stretch, releasing the day's physical effort. I closed my eyes, let my hands rest on my heart, and offered a silent thank-you for the beautiful beginning of a new friendship.