It's Friday, a sunny afternoon in early September. Sandra is preparing the last things to put in her suitcase and leave to catch the car that is waiting for her. Last click and she is ready. She leaves her house, goes to the car, puts her suitcase away and they set off.
They go through the tunnel in the mountains, heading north, and it seems like they are changing worlds. On one side, sun, on the other, cold and rain and so on until they reach their destination.
– It's so cold in your town, Eri! I should have brought a jacket to take with me – says Sandra as she gets out of the car. – How much could the temperature have dropped since we left?
– About 10 ºC for sure, because it's so cold – answers Olivia.
– Come on, whiners, it's just a little bit cold compared to all the heat we've had this summer – says Erika. – You'll see how much fun we're going to have.
– A little? Erika, you look awful – Olivia laughs. Sandra laughs too. Sometimes her friend’s ideas are the funniest.
They take their things out of the trunk and go into the house. A few weeks ago the three of them thought about escaping for a few days outside the city and the routine before the start of classes, so they decided to go and see Erika’s town.
While the three girls are dividing up the rooms, unpacking their suitcases and getting ready to go for a walk, there is a knock at the door.
– Oh, I know who it could be! – says Erika. – I’ll tell you now.
She runs down the stairs and opens it. Sandra and Olivia stand still, very quiet. They notice how their friend is talking to someone. Who? Erika closes the door and goes back up.
– What’s wrong? – she asks as soon as she sees them petrified in the middle of the room.
– Nothing – they answer at the same time.
– Who was Eri? – asks Sandra.
– Well, it’s… You see, I should have told you something before coming.
– What is it? – Olivia asks. – Eri, please don’t scare us, what is it about?
Erika looks at her two friends and tells them everything. The one who called is her neighbour, Mrs Puri, a rather annoying woman who always waits for them when she and her parents go to the village to talk and chat. Sometimes she even invites them to coffee and pastries after lunch or dinner.
– But be careful, because she takes everything from you: biscuits, chocolates, buns… She fills you up! And even if you don’t take something, it seems that it bothers her.
