We weren't even checked on the train, the woman said worriedly to her silent husband, that shouldn't happen

An elderly couple took a tram from Station Sloterdijk toward Diemen after traveling by train. The woman expressed significant anxiety to her husband, Douwe, regarding the lack of ticket inspections during their journey, specifically noting that they were not checked after transferring trains in Haarlem. She complained loudly to her silent husband that such security lapses were unacceptable and supposedly common knowledge among her acquaintances, such as Truus and Pieter. Throughout the ride, the woman continued to vocalize her frustrations about the train service and her husband's passive demeanor. Her husband remained largely unresponsive, eventually pointing to a digital display to indicate their upcoming stop at Hogeweg. The interaction drew the attention of other passengers, who tried to ignore the loud conversation. As the author prepared to disembark one stop early, the woman interpreted a nearby commuter's heavy sigh as a reaction to her husband's behavior, further fueling her nervous commentary before they reached their destination.