Chapter 12.3 - August 2023 – Wheat bread with honey.. and tiny little football players...

It was an early august morning, the month after Solvej and Patriks wedding. The days to eat wheat bread with honey... Rune had just started school again after the summer holiday and Solvejs mom and dad was still staying with them. Solvejs aunt and uncle and her brothers were also all still in town, but this was their last day before they would leave and go back to Ciani Tharis early next morning..

 

Grandma and grandpa had been really helpful to have around the house during this period watching after the toddlers and giving Solvej and Patrik more time for themselves..

 

As this was her familys last day in town, Solvej wanted all of them to hang out at the summer festival one more time before they had to leave.. the weather was overcast this morning with a slight chance of rain, but was set to clear up during the day, so it looked like a pretty good day to hang out at the park..

 

Immediately upon entering the park Silvia set her sights on the football goal. She had seen how excited her father could be about anything sports related, football in particular, and now she got a chance to try it for herself.. if daddy liked it so much, it had be fun..

 

Silvia was really happy now that she had gotten to the ball – just like any toddler would be – it was everything that existed, right here, right now. She stomped her little feet on the ground and did her best to kick the ball forward. Her sister Lilian had seen Silvia stumble towards the ball, and now she wanted to play with it too, but this didn't matter at all to Silvia.. She had the ball, and that was the most important thing. Her sister was just background noise, like everything else in the park.. There were only three things that were real right now. Herself, the ball, and the goal way over there in the distance.

 

She did what she could to kick the ball as hard as she could, and she scored everytime as the ball stopped still a couple of meters from the net.. but it was there where it should be, right in front of the goal, and that was everything that existed and mattered!

Until she was picked up by grandma. Then the ball was no more, and it was just her and grandma. It was such a wonderful world where every new thing that happened was more interesting than what happened just seconds ago. So vibrant, exciting, colourful and full of life.

 

Mona really enjoyed spending time playing with her grandchildren, they were so lovely those little tots. She had to give an equal amount of attention to both of them. When Lilian was picked up by grandma, there was no Silvia, and there was no ball. It was just grandma. Grandma was laughter and a smiling face. Suddenly there were trees, clouds, lots of blue and a big shining light. Then it was grandma again. Everything was laughter and a smiling face. Everyone was warm and happy, because that's what she was.

Maybe even grandma felt like a child there for a while, having so much fun with Silvia and Lilian, losing track of time and place, living in a world where everyone was smiling and happy and floating around in a wonderful balloon...

 

..but the one in the family that had truely kept the child in her was Solvejs aunt and Rolfs sister Viktoria. She had sat down to have a picnic with local crime and horror novel writer Agathi Flansbarne and her son Ruben, and they appeared to get along well.

 

Agathi has no interest in playing with kids toys, but is childlike in her own way, as she is very much driven by curiosity and sometimes – just like a child – will do almost whatever it takes to pursue whatever it could be that looks shiny and fascinating to her – such as stepping over a "police - do not cross" barrier tape or maybe even a dead body or two.. and Agathi certainly has a fascination for the childish, though – as she should, because she is married to Baturney, the biggest grownup child in all of Sprottenham...

 

Silvia kept practicing football non-stop, denying her sister access to the ball completely, so Lilian eventually gave up and wanted to seek out the company of someone else instead.. so she got up and wobbled her way across the grass to a group of adults having a picnic all the way over there in the distance on the far end of the park..

..by the time she had reached them though, Agathi had trailed off with Ruben and Viktoria, leaving only her uncle Sylvester René. And then suddenly it wasn't as interesting anymore.. she didn't know him all that well, and he was a little to scary to approach...

 

..but it was no worries, because mom was there to pick her up, and everything felt warm and good again.

 

Mom was a pair of warm, gentle but strong hands, and a happy smiling face. Just like grandma, but better. Mom had the sweetest voice in the world. Mom was safety, joy, cleanliness and food. Mom was the world.

 

..and for others, a football was the world. And this world was hers, and hers alone.

 

Rune would've liked to be left alone too, as he was trying to do his homework, but he was constantly interrupted and distracted by his grand aunt Viktoria..

She had so many stories from the music industry she wanted to share with him, and sure enough they could have been interesting... just not right now... he might have wanted to listen to them some other time, even if right now he didn't see himself pursuing a career in music... he would much rather be strong and athletic.. like his dad..

 

Nobody wanted to listen to Viktoria this day.. she hoped to get everyones attention by telling a ghost story, but not even Agathi wanted to listen.. She found it much more interesting to play tag with a random paper boy instead.. not necessarily childish, but definately childlike in her own way..

 

Rune had to hide from Viktoria behind a scrub to get the peace and quiet he needed to finish his homework.. it was probably also a good thing that his grandpa hadn't discovered the fireworks that someone had left sitting out there in the park like that.. ;)

The twin sisters had continued to hang out out by the football area, with Silvia hogging the ball all day and evening, not giving Lilian one single chance at trying a shot.. So Lilian gave up once more, and decided to head towards her grandaunt Viktoria who was now having another picnic by the eating contest table..

Silvia must have somehow noticed that her sister was leaving her, because she quickly followed suit.. I wouldn't expect to much of these toddlers, and that there would be a strong sisterly bond just yet, even if they're twins, but nonetheless, Silvia appeared to not want to be left behind..

 

..but then, in what could appear to be the first sign of planning and strategic thinking, Lilian, who must have noticed her sister was right behind her and going at full toddler speed towards the picnic basket, stopped and turned around to head in the other direction... as if she had wanted to lure her sister away from the football and succeeded... however, as it usually was, this was just another random toddler impulse.. either way, she could finally get to try kicking the ball too...

 

Rune had just finished his homework, and was just about to head over to the skating rink when he was found by his grandaunt again.. still wanting to share stories from her career with him..

 

Silvia wasn't shy to approach her uncle Sylvester René by the picnic basket, he was already sitting there with grandpa and grandma, which she had gotten to know really well during their stay at mom and dads house. She listened in intently on their conversation, even if she didn't really understand much of anything they talked about and occasionally tried to get attention or take part in the conversation by pointing at the basket and saying things like "juice!" or "banana!". It's amazing she appeared to still be full of energy after having spent such a long day in the park repeatedly kicking a ball...

The same couldn't be said about Solvej though, as she walked around to say goodbye to her grandaunt and her brothers one last time before they would head back to the hotel to pack their bags..

 

Mona suggested that next summer they should come visit them in Ciani Tharis instead. There were many good fishing spots in the area, and she was sure that Rune would really enjoy them.. and in some years time, the twins probably would too.. she would definately love to take her grandkids out to go fishing, and of course, perhaps teach them something about what fertilizer works best for different plants...

..and that might prove to be an excellent idea one day, but for now it was time to go back to the house and make sure the toddlers were fed before bedtime and go to sleep.. Grandpa and grandma would have a long day of travel ahead of them tomorrow..

 

Good night.. ;)

Previous | Next

Chapter 12.2 - July 2023 – Fireworks in the sky.

Checkin' in checkin' out
Take it to the sky
Making love while I'm watching all your fireworks
I like it when I light those stars in your eyes
Just like the fireworks in the sky
Fireworks in the sky

"Fireworks in the sky" – Roxette

- I – 'The Frumpenheimer', Southfield Road 15, 10438 Sprottenham -

Today is the morning of a very special day. The wedding bells have been ringing for Solvej all night.. like they had for several nights now.. and finally the day was here. The day when she would marry the man she had known for the past 15 years... 14 years of being a couple, and 13 years of living together, hoping that one day he would ask the question.. 13 years and three children.. As an afterthought she probably should have come to the realization that it would never happen and taken matters into her own hands much sooner.. but atleast now it was done. He said yes, and she was the luckiest woman on the planet.. or at the very least as lucky as she thought she could be right now..

 

She couldn't call him a perfect man by all accounts, he had his temper.. his grumpy moments, but he did his job.. he cared for the children, taught them what he knew, read bedtime stories for them without hesitation, and loved her.. loved her like no other man had ever done before...

 

There were moments where she had been in doubt, when she saw him flirting with other women.. but over the years she had settled with the thought that it just who he was, it was just his way of being.. he had a big appetite for women.. there was no doubt about it.. it was something she had benefitted from several times over and over.. and that's when she found herself lucky... to have tamed such a beast and to keep him faithful to her for all these years...

This was definately going to be an important day, and it had even – as it should – attracted a few visitors from far away.. They had travelled allt he way from where they lived, and where Solvej grew up, in Freetown Ciani Tharis in the southwestern part of the country..
    Rune was happy to have grandma and grandpa visiting over summer. He especially liked grandma, nobody knew as much about fishing as grandma! His friends at the boy scouts would be so impressed by everything he had learnt when he came back to school over summer! There was no doubt about it! Grandma also knew a lot about gardening and plants, but Rune wasn't to interested there..

It was always nice for grandma and grandpa too, to say hi to their grandkids, and young Silvia really enjoyed being picked up and tickled by her grandma Mona as well. ;)

 

A litte later in the day grandpa Rolf told his wife that he'd just hop on his bike because he had an errand downtown.. it shouldn't take long and he would soon be back.. and if any of the others asked where he was, he was just out getting some fresh air and a bit of exercize..

 

Mona wants to give her daughter a gift on this special day, so she gives her something special from her collection of garden seeds – a box containing all the wolve's bane seeds she has harvested from her garden this year, all 117 of them! ;)

 

Needless to say Solvej is very excited about this gift – she pretty much grew up in her mothers garden – and has nothing but fond memories of the scent of the plants blossoming in spring, getting dirt under her fingernails and without warning being splashed with cold water from the sprinkler... ah, good times! Solvej is definately a seed that didn't fall to far from the apple tree, and yes you may interpret that in any way you like... ;)

 

While mother and daughter strengthened their bond even further, young Lilian had finally succeeded in mastering the art of walking, and was now feeling exhausted from all the times she had to get up from falling on her little bottom..

Then a grandma that can take the little one to bed and make sure she gets some rest to keep her from being cranky during the wedding is a good thing to have..

 

Patrik, being a top level athlete, had to get some physical training in, even on his wedding day.. and grandpa Rolf was back from his trip downtown to make Silvia fly.. Solvej was a little worried she would grab on to the lamp cord there, but grandpa assured her he had everything under control...

 

- II – Harbour Square -

 

After some more playing around with the kids, and grandma a little grumpily, finding it necessary to clean up a little around her daughters house, it was time for everyone, except the bride, to put on their finest wear and head to downtown for the wedding.. Solvej didn't want to reveal her dress yet, just in case it would mean bad luck for Patrik to see it to early.. and grandma went straight for the drink making. This was going to be a festive event for sure!

 

Well, she had to change eventually.. and her uncle Hans-Tore couldn't have been happier or more proud of his niece! She was so beautiful in that dress, it was perfect! ;) Of course, it wasn't just Solvejs parents that had made the trip. Her two older brothers August and Sylvester René was there, along with her aunt Victoria, and of course.. her uncle Hans-Tore. ;) There wasn't room for all of them in Patrik and Solvejs home, so they had to rent each their hotel room at the Seafront Hotel.

Now everybody take your seats, I think the ceremony is about to begin soon...

 

It suddenly came to Patrik what was about to happen as he walked up to meet with Solvej under the wedding arch.. "Solvej... we're getting married!" he exclaimed with the enthusiasm of a captain whose football team just won the national championship.. but Solvej was much more than just a trophy to him...

    She was the yin to his yang to put it that way; the calm earthly power that kept him grounded and focused.. who knows where he would've been in life if it wasn't for her.. he would've been running, that's for sure, but not on the football field..

    Solvej, though internally both excited and terribly nervous, managed to keep a straight face.. "Yes, we are.. we just have to wait for my father to stop playing with Lilian.. Dad.. if you don't mind..."

    "Oh, sorry..." he excused himself while gently putting Lillian on the ground.. "Your mom and dad is going to do something very important.. they'll unite and become one in the name of the Holy Spirit.." Lilian didn't have much of a clue what he was talking about, but she understood enough to sit still and keep quiet, watching mom and dad all dressed up and ceremonial.. She didn't know what any of this was for, or why everyone acted the way they did, but it was probably meaningful for something..

 

Patrik had practiced the words to himself in front of the mirror several times over, at home when Solvej wasn't there, or in the wardrobe at the stadium after team practice, resulting in some friendly mocking among the guys.. He could be in full control, or so he felt, captaining his team during the most intense moments of any football match, but right here, under this wedding arch.. he had to focus and breathe to not lose focus of where he was, and what he was about to do.. and not forget or fumble the words...

    "Solvej.. do you take this ring.. this man.. "

    "Solvej.. do you take me to be your.. to be your husband in life.. to live together in holy matrimony, to love, to honor, to comfort and to keep in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as both of us are.. both of us shall live?"

    "I do."

 

    "Patrik... do you take me to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part?"

    "I do...."

 

"...and I hereby give you this ring as a token and pledge of our constant faith and abiding love."

 

    "I think we just did it, Solvej.. I think we're married.. we're husband and wife." Patrik felt like a child again, or so he thought... the actual child in front had since long lost interest in the ceremony and was instead intently focused on grandpa.. what was mommy and daddy doing up there to make grandpa and everyone else cry like this?

    "..is this where we kiss?" he whispered to her quickly so that nobody would hear..

"Yes, Patrik.. this is where we kiss..." she said softly, before locking her lips to his, and this was excactly like the moment she had dreamt of... or atleast as close as it could get.. it felt like she was floating, gently with the rhythm of the waves as they rolled past the lighthouse and into the harbour.. She wasn't sure which one of them was the ship, but it didn't matter.. the ship was definately home now...

 

Not everyone was acting in a respectful manner... Sandra wasn't invited to the wedding, but still showed up using the opportunity to shake her own booty there now that her husband was in prison...

 

..but well, that aside, this was definately a proud moment for Solvejs parents, to watch their daughter get married, and even Rune was cheerful now, after having been a little bored with everything earlier..

..because finally it was time for the most important thing today, of course – the wedding cake! Because everybody loves cake! Especially kids...

 

Rune was on the spot right away as his mom got the honour of opening it. "Can I have a piece now, mom?"

    "Yes, my boy... I'll give you the first piece. Just wait a few seconds more..."

    "Thanks, mom" he said running off with his piece.. He didn't quite get what the fuzz was all about, why mom and dad had to spend so much time preparing, dressing up, exchanging rings and all that.. what difference would this make? They had been living together ever since before he was born anyway, so why do all this now? It was nice to get cake though... and it was nice to grandma and grandpa again, so he wasn't complaining.. It was also always nice to have a party, but birthday parties were much more important than this.. and christmas.. because then he got presents! And that was the best thing in the world, to get presents! He didn't get any presents now, he just got cake. It was a pretty big cake, though.

..and then, just like her sister had done earlier this day, Silvia wanted to prove she wasn't any worse, and had learnt to walk as well. And her father Patrik was dancing of joy in the background, what a glorious day. Let the party begin! ;)

 

It usually isn't the bride that's responsible for the entertainment at her own wedding, but this is Solvej. This is just what she does, so of course she had to bring out her guitar and play some happy tunes. ;)

 

    There was joy, music and dancing... and pie eating contests. Left to right on this one is Leya, Anne-Gerd, Leyas husband Gaute and Gabriela.

    Leya and Gaute along with their daughter Bodil used to live in the same household as Solvej, Patrik and Rune, mimicking the family community feel that Solvej was used to when she grew up, but eventually Leya and her family had to move out as tensions in grew in the household, mostly because of Patriks inappropriate behaviour.. and that they would probably run out of space to, as Leya was also pregnant with their son Orinder at this time.

    Anne-Gerd is more or less permanently single and lives with the Slettemoen family.

    Gabriela is a good friend of Solvej, and a former colleague of Solvej from the time when she worked at the theatre before she chose to focus full time on her gardening. Gabriela still works at the theatre, and is a colleague of both Leya and Anne-Gerd. The four women are also singers in the all female choir, 'The Sirens'.

 

Mona had sat down to eat cake by the tables outside the Harbour Café with her oldest son August (to the left) and her brother Hans-Tore.

- III – Fireworks -

 

The sun was soon about to set.. it wasn't dark yet, but Rolf was getting a little impatient to use what he had went out and bought at the grocery store earlier.. so he decided to light up a few small rockets as a teaser for what he hoped with be the grand finale and the definete highlight of this evening.. well, second to the actual marriage, of course. He wasn't there to steal the show.. just add to it!

 

Mona had decided to make another round of drinks for everyone while he was doing so. Nobody was very impressed so far, as the first rocket misfired, creating a potentially hazardous situation.. he was lucky it flew off towards the harbour and not the other way towards the café... Café owner Eddie Opsahl was a little nervous there for a while.. he had already been threatened once with having his café go up in smoke, and didn't really want to think about that again...

The second, and subsequent rockets, actually worked just fine and did what they should.. and everyone could breathe a little easier watching the explosions in the sky..

 

There wasn't a lack of entertainment as both Leya and Selma took their turns playing guitar, while grandpa kept fiddling about with his explosives and pyrotechnics.

 

..as the sun set behind the hills and the moon rose over the sea.. you can tell from the way the shadows are cast that the sun is setting behind them.. no moon shines as bright as the moon does over Sprottenham, it's almost like a second sun.. or atleast that's what the locals would have you believe..

 

This is from Patriks personal photo album of the event. Little Silvia had to do some photobombing in the lower left corner. ;)

 

..and Rolf was pleased with his smoke bombs, and how he thought their blue and green colours blended in perfectly with the purple haze of the evening sky.. this must've been some kind of magic..

 

..and of course, it's not a good wedding if not atleast one person passes out before the night is over..

 

Kari Slettemoen, the director of the local female choir, is usually a very strict and orderly person, but it looks like tonight she may have had one drink to many...

..but Rolf had more fireworks in store, and if these ones didn't wake her up, then probably nothing would he thought...

...as he lit the fuse on what was a show in the sky only rivaled by the annual New Years Eve fireworks.. and as everyone stood their with their necks bent to gawk at the sky, he made a wish for his daughters marriage to shine just as bright and glorious as these fireworks in the sky....

By the time it was over, it was clear that this day and night had definately been a success and an event that would join all the other parties as one that the local citizens would talk about for years to come..
Nothing was left of the wedding cake, just like it should be, and Solvej was tired, but happy when the time came to pick up the toddlers and go back home..

 

The wedding night ended calmly with the newlyweds going out like two lights immediately as they went to bed as grandpa lulled the toddlers to sleep, but rest assured that there will be several opportunities later for fireworks also in the bed and several other place for this couple, so don't worry about that...

 

Good night... ;)

 

Previous | Next

 

Family and wedding photo:

 

Back row: Silvia (held), Victoria, Rolf, Mona, Lilian (held), Hans-Tore
Front row: August, Rune, Solvej, Patrik, Sylvester René

Timeline locator: