himself. He bought ribs, sausages and sauerkraut. He placed poinsettias on his windowsill, he lit candles. He burned incense; he enjoyed its sweet smell. On his door he hung a wreath of the kind normally placed on graves, they were his favourite kind. He enjoyed listening to Christmas carols on the radio; he liked the lights and decorations in town. Christmas never highlighted his loneliness, he simply pampered himself with a little extra. Sometimes he bought a chocolate yule log, cut it into thin slices and placed the slices in an elegant fan shape on a plate. He also made glühwein for the customers in the gallery. Sales increased dramatically. In fact, the last two days before Christmas were usually their best days in the whole year. When people came at the last minute they parted with their money more easily. Ole Krantz had invested in some beautiful shiny wrapping paper and the small lithographs sold like hot cakes. Life's good, Alvar thought, I can't complain, I'm doing fine. I'm a very contented man.
The new year brought cold temperatures and an abundance of fireworks over the town. Even the dome of the light-bulb factory paled in comparison with the colourful visions in the night sky. He went to bed at half past midnight. A new year had begun. He did not think that it would bring any exciting changes as far as he was concerned, but on the other hand he was not looking for exciting changes. Though minor, unexpected events were not to be sniffed at.
You never could tell.
CHAPTER 8
'Hello, it's me again, sorry to disturb you. Shouldn't you be working?'
I nearly jump out of my chair. Alvar appears behind me. He leans forward and reads a few lines on my screen.
'I'm writing a letter to a good friend,' I reply tartly. 'Is that all right with you?'
He nods, a little contrite.
'Just wanted to drop by as soon as possible to say thank you,' he says politely.
I turn round and look him in the eye.
'Thank me? For what?'
'For the girl. The poor freezing girl you sent me.'
I feel a prickle of guilt and look away.
'I mean,' he says enthusiastically, 'I got the chance to do a good deed. Of course, there is no reason to make a song and dance about a mug of coffee, but afterwards I was pleased that I did what I did.'
'That's good, then,' I say and look at the screen again.
'I'm not one to start chatting to people like that,' he goes on, 'in fact, I'm quite surprised at myself. But my own circumstances became so clear to me. How lucky I really am. And as you know, if you're well off, you have a duty to do good. Don't you think so?'
'Alvar,' I make my voice firm. 'I need to finish this letter, it's important to me. It needs to be posted today and the last post is at three thirty this afternoon.'
He folds his hands and shifts from one foot to the other. 'You're starting to get a little cross, aren't you? I spot things like that straight away. But I just wanted to mention something: I've always considered it a matter of honour to be respectful. Or to have good old-fashioned manners, if you like. But the thing is that we have a relationship, you and I, and you can't expect me to just sit back and wait when it concerns my own fate; you know I'm someone who needs to be in control.'
'Yes,' I say drily, 'I've noticed that.'
'And that's why,' he carries on, 'I must admit that I was terribly upset when this girl came into the gallery.'
'Whatever for?'
He coughs nervously covering his mouth with his hand. 'Well, we've talked about relationships. For one awful moment I thought you were going to turn us into a couple.'
I give up trying to finish the letter. I fold my arms across my chest instead and study him.
'My dear Alvar,' I say in a kind voice, 'I'm well aware that you prefer men.'
I am totally unprepared for his reaction. He flushes deeply all the way from his throat and up his cheeks. He takes a step sideways to recover his balance. Then he buries his face in his hands.
'You thought I didn't know?' I ask softly.
He
The new year brought cold temperatures and an abundance of fireworks over the town. Even the dome of the light-bulb factory paled in comparison with the colourful visions in the night sky. He went to bed at half past midnight. A new year had begun. He did not think that it would bring any exciting changes as far as he was concerned, but on the other hand he was not looking for exciting changes. Though minor, unexpected events were not to be sniffed at.
You never could tell.
CHAPTER 8
'Hello, it's me again, sorry to disturb you. Shouldn't you be working?'
I nearly jump out of my chair. Alvar appears behind me. He leans forward and reads a few lines on my screen.
'I'm writing a letter to a good friend,' I reply tartly. 'Is that all right with you?'
He nods, a little contrite.
'Just wanted to drop by as soon as possible to say thank you,' he says politely.
I turn round and look him in the eye.
'Thank me? For what?'
'For the girl. The poor freezing girl you sent me.'
I feel a prickle of guilt and look away.
'I mean,' he says enthusiastically, 'I got the chance to do a good deed. Of course, there is no reason to make a song and dance about a mug of coffee, but afterwards I was pleased that I did what I did.'
'That's good, then,' I say and look at the screen again.
'I'm not one to start chatting to people like that,' he goes on, 'in fact, I'm quite surprised at myself. But my own circumstances became so clear to me. How lucky I really am. And as you know, if you're well off, you have a duty to do good. Don't you think so?'
'Alvar,' I make my voice firm. 'I need to finish this letter, it's important to me. It needs to be posted today and the last post is at three thirty this afternoon.'
He folds his hands and shifts from one foot to the other. 'You're starting to get a little cross, aren't you? I spot things like that straight away. But I just wanted to mention something: I've always considered it a matter of honour to be respectful. Or to have good old-fashioned manners, if you like. But the thing is that we have a relationship, you and I, and you can't expect me to just sit back and wait when it concerns my own fate; you know I'm someone who needs to be in control.'
'Yes,' I say drily, 'I've noticed that.'
'And that's why,' he carries on, 'I must admit that I was terribly upset when this girl came into the gallery.'
'Whatever for?'
He coughs nervously covering his mouth with his hand. 'Well, we've talked about relationships. For one awful moment I thought you were going to turn us into a couple.'
I give up trying to finish the letter. I fold my arms across my chest instead and study him.
'My dear Alvar,' I say in a kind voice, 'I'm well aware that you prefer men.'
I am totally unprepared for his reaction. He flushes deeply all the way from his throat and up his cheeks. He takes a step sideways to recover his balance. Then he buries his face in his hands.
'You thought I didn't know?' I ask softly.
He
Similar Books
