It was one of those lazy summer Sundays when Berliners liked to sleep in, play with the neighbourhood kids, or go for a bike ride in the woods or to a lake outside the city proper. The streets were quiet as few Berliners owned a car. Some families went to church, would always walk together.
Evelyne has been invited to join her friend Margriet and her family for the day. She and her parents are from a place near Amsterdam. Relatives are visiting with their children and there will be a garden party. Evelyne is a little embarrassed because she is carrying with her a little present. Her Mom thought it would be nice to contribute something home-made, a pretty pink-wrapped jar of cherry jelly. For Margriet's mother.
The S-Bahn trains run on a weekend schedule, and Evelyne expects to wait for a while as she enters the station. She sees the last car of one disappearing in the distance and prepares for a long wait. The platform is empty. ‘Wannsee’ says the sign above her eyes. She has never been there but knows that it is located just South of the city.
How very quiet it is this morning compared to weekdays. Even the birds must be napping.
Just then she spots three young men at the far end of the platform wildly gesticulating in a good-natured argument it seems. What might they be talking about? They grin and giggle, then walk about in a circle.
It is rude to listen in on other's conversations, Margriet knows, but she is curious and so she walks along the platform in a leisurely pace, looking down at her new sandals. As she comes closer, they pay no attention. The animated conversation is picking up once more, except she can't hear what they are saying. And now, as she passes them without looking, there is no sound. No sound, no words, no footsteps, no birds, but absolute silence.
For a moment she is totally bewildered, wondering what has happened to her. Can one just lose one’s hearing in a split second without warning? And if so, what then? What to do next?
Now she hears uproarious giggles behind her, and as their train thunders into the station, she realizes that it is the lads that lack hearing, are using sign language, and that they are having a very good day, are managing just fine.