No one could take the argument seriously, even though it likely was. Even Ludmilla, the cantankerous old German lady, let her high-quality Swiss dentures peek out as she silently laughed, observing the scene from behind her upstairs window.
Dajana and Ted had gotten into a quarrel by the poolside. Dajana was shrieking in Slovak, while the man alternated between cursing in Spanish and English. Despite neither speaking the other’s language, they seemed to understand each other perfectly through their flailing arms and irritated gestures.
Ludmilla only felt sorry for the little boy, Fabian. Mainly because he had to listen to those two fools and also because his parents had moved to an island without being able to communicate properly. However, she didn’t pity him for silently swallowing his tears. On the contrary, she hoped the spat would discourage Fabian from making noise for the rest of the day.
Emily, on the other hand, who probably had nothing to do with the entire ordeal, was screeching as if someone was pulling her hair, which, of course, only added fuel to the fire raging in Ted’s nerves. Ludmilla, for once, found this amusing, but only because she saw how Ted was growing redder with rage.
Carlos hesitated about whether to intervene in the fight. For the sake of his own peace, he considered stepping in as a lightning rod, but he wasn’t keen on the idea. His coffee had just finished brewing, and his doughnut, freshly made that morning by Maria José, was still warm. He feared everything would grow cold by the time the commotion in the residential complex subsided. He took a tentative step toward the pool but then opted to sit back in his garden chair, ensuring he had a clear view of everything.
Ludmilla was alarmed when she noticed Carlos heading toward the bickering pair. Heaven forbid he ruin such a good show! Let it last as long as it lasts—it was hilarious to watch the two fools gesturing and shouting. Eventually, Ted’s mixed-language responses allowed the retired woman to piece the story together.
Vanda, Emily’s six-year-old sister, and Fabian wanted to make water balloons. Since small balloons create a lot of litter, the moms wouldn’t allow it. Fabian eventually figured out they could use one-liter bags filled with water instead and throw those at each other. The throwing eventually turned into a wild chase, and in the heat of the game, one of the bags landed in Ted’s living room. Since the plastic didn’t tear, Dajana argued that the man didn’t need to blow the situation out of proportion. Ted, of course, argued about what could have happened, which Fabian’s mother clearly didn’t understand—she simply gestured to show the bag was intact, and the floor wasn’t even wet.
Ludmilla found it worth waiting for the conclusion. Eventually, Dajana snapped. She fell silent for a moment, then angrily shrugged her shoulders and threw the bag at Ted. Her movement revealed she had initially aimed for his face but luckily changed her mind, and Vanda’s water bomb landed on the man’s chest instead. Later, Dajana thanked her reflexes for stopping her hand. She didn’t even want to think about what would have happened if she’d hit Ted’s glasses, possibly breaking them.
Meanwhile, Vanda decided it was better to hide, and her mother pretended not to notice what was happening right across from her terrace. For once, Ted was right, but she didn’t feel like apologizing. After all, the man never apologizes when he unfairly picks on someone. Ted deserved Dajana’s water bomb. Too bad that stupid bag didn’t even burst.