#erzsi

He rubbed his temples.

“And that is not good,” Erzsébet said.

“Well, it could indeed not turn out well. We’ve all been so relieved that the FPÖ, this right wing party that apparently made being a nationalist jerk socially acceptable again for many people … We’ve been so relieved that they lost. Even if it was just by an inch, but lost was lost! And now this!”

“Ugh,” Erzsébet said. The next piece of potato peel landed a few meters away on the kitchen floor.

Roderich looked at her, waiting for anything further, but she only kept furiously peeling her potatoes.

As he went to pick up the peels that didn’t make it into the trash bowl, she said: “Roderich, have you ever thought about a coup?”

He furrowed his eyebrows slightly. “What do you mean by Coup?” he meant as he dropped the peels into the bowl.

“Overthrowing the government,” Erzsébet answered. She was solely looking onto her potato and didn’t notice that the next peel she chipped away landed on his trousers.

“Erzsébet,” he said and she sighed deeply.

“I really mean it, this is not just some delusional idea because being head of state sounds oh so awesome –“

“It’s not about that, I just wish you would try and keep the kitchen a little cleaner,” he said and she looked up. He took the peel of his trousers and threw it into the bowl.

“Oh. Sorry,” she said and laughed. “I didn’t want to get your pants dirty, Roddy.” He sat down again and she patted his thigh.

“It’s fine,” he said. “So you’ve seriously thought about a Coup d’Etat?”

“Yes,” she said. “It’s just … I’m so angry with what our government does to us and other people. I know we aren’t the good guys but … I honestly think we can’t be worse than those pigs in power.” She snorted and put another peeled potato away. “In some stories, the lesser villains have to team up with the hero to defeat the Big Bad. And I know there are a lot of people a lot more decent than us who’re pissed off by our current politics.”

“That’s an interesting way to put it,” Roderich said. He took his glasses off and pulled a cleaning cloth out of his shirt pocket. “An almost amusing one, to imagine it like you’re in a novel.”

“I found it to be the best way to describe it,” Erzsébet said. “I know I am not a beacon of morality, but I am a decent human being that treats others like ones as well. For our prime and his party, that’s apparently a fucking alien concept.” Potato peels found their way onto the floor again and Roderich refrained from a sigh. He put his glasses on again.

“Do you ever had any specific plans on how you’d stage the Coup?” he asked her

“I did.”

“Well, in case that this re-election goes as feared, I might ask you for advice then.”

Erzsébet chuckled and Roderich smiled to himself as he looked at her.

“You know what is another great pastime if you’re not yet in the mood for overthrowing the government?” she said and leant towards him before she went back to potato peeling.

“What is?”

“Protests. Nothing is as good as going onto the streets and call people out for their bullshit.”

“I might, actually. I feel like I should. Lacklustre politics is what got us into this mess in first place.” He pulled the newspaper back onto the table before it fell off for real. “Can I help you?” he then asked.

Erzsebet shook her head. “Nah, I'm good. And almost done.”

“I’ve thought about baking a cake for later. Maybe I’ll just stuff my face with food and eat the frustration away.”