Le journal de François

At one o’clock, it is lunch time. I go back home and I prepare a simple meal. I make tomato pasta and I put a little salad on the plate. I drink some water and I listen to the radio quietly. I eat slowly and I rest for five minutes. Then I take an apple and a small coffee. I feel more energetic for the afternoon.

At two o’clock, I go back to the office. In the afternoon, more people arrive. A family asks me where they can buy bread. I say: “The bakery is near the town hall.” After that, a woman asks for the bus schedule. I look at the sheet and I answer. On the phone, I talk slowly and clearly. When I can help, I feel useful and happy.

At four o’clock, I finish work. I turn off the computer, put away the papers, and clean the office a bit. I turn off the light and I lock the door with a key. Outside, the air is cool, but the sky is beautiful. I walk in the village streets and I smell the scent of wood. I am tired, but I am also happy with the day.

At five o’clock, I do the shopping at the village store. I buy some bread, some vegetables, some cheese, and some fruit. I meet Marc, a friend, near the counter. We talk about the weather and about work. He tells me something funny and I laugh. I also say hello to the woman in the shop. In the village, everyone knows each other, and I feel at home.

At seven o’clock, I prepare dinner. I put a pot on the stove and I make a vegetable soup. I cut carrots and potatoes, then I mix gently. The house smells good. I eat at the table with a piece of bread. I light the stove and I feel the heat. Outside, it is night and the wind blows, but inside, everything is calm.

At nine o’clock, I relax. I wash the dishes and I tidy the kitchen. Then I sit down on the sofa and I watch TV for a short moment. After that, I read an easy book and I drink a hot tea. I open my journal and I write: “Today, I worked well and I talked with kind people.” I feel happy and calm.

At eleven o’clock, I go to bed. I turn off the phone and I set the alarm clock for tomorrow. I close the window and I turn off the light. I listen to the silence of the village and, sometimes, the wind. I think about a simple and beautiful thing: the smile of a neighbor in the square. My heart is calm. I close my eyes and I fall asleep.