1952. It was Sunday afternoon at the Ann en Wim Smit Dance School. Excitement rose as the new pupils came in, one by one or in small groups. I was lucky to be there. Five days ago, I had turned 17, and I was given permission to follow the intermediate ballroom classes for free, if I agreed to help out with the beginner’s class. And here they were, the beginners.

One of them seemed a little out of place. He was older, I guessed at least 24 years old. A tall, very handsome, young man with dark curly hair. He looked around enquiringly, but didn’t seem to feel at ease. The music started softly; Ann chose partners for those who had not chosen their own partners. I was the help, and the strange young man stood rather helpless on his own.“Meta, why don’t you partner Frits,” said Ann. So I did. As is usual for beginners, we started out with the foxtrot. One, two, three, four. Frits’ legs would not move. As if they were glued to the floor. Like wood. Between Ann and me, we got him to move his legs, rather stiff. And so was his rhythm, rather stiff. Not exactly a natural dancer.

But he was a natural charmer. His smile, when he dared to smile at me, took my breath away. Just barely visible, the corners of his mouth would turn up and his eyes would twinkle.

But I felt this young man was too old for me. Because I was home from school earlier than my sister Sieglinde from work, I saw that she often came home with Frits. He did not live in our neighborhood. He would pick her up from work and ride home with him, each on their bicycles. How about that? I wondered if he was interested in my sister. 

When I asked Sieglinde about it, she denied it. “He does not come for me. He takes me home in the hope that he will see you.”

I did not get it. I still found him too old and was busy with my friends and my school. Last year and all. Exams looming. I also wondered why he would not approach me, if he was truly interested in me. 

Frits became a regular of my sister’s and my group of friends. And so it was that I learned that he was not old at all, but less than two years older than I was. 

We became engaged on September 6, 1953.