LATER THAT EVENING (Part1/3)
Agnes rang the doorbell.
It felt strange. Ringing the doorbell to her own house.
Within seconds Mamma Ahlberg leaned out of the window and yelled "Agnes ! where have you been till now? dinner was ready an hour ago"
Agnes simply beamed back up at the window.
Pappas head appeared. He brushed Mamma aside and said "Agnes? Are you alright?"
Her eyes told it all. "Sure" she smiled.
A few frozen moments passed.
Oskar climbed up to the frame "Agnes are you coming in? I'm hungry!"
Pappa let her in. He looked somewhat confused.
Agnes brushed past him but then noted his concern and returned. She hugged him.
By this time Mamma had clipclopped down the stairs. ''Did you lose your keys?''
"Mmmm. No. I gave my set to a friend. She will be doing sleep-ins with me from now on. OK?"
Mamma and Pappa stood gobsmacked.
There was an uncomfortable silence as they sat down to eat. The only one who looked comfortable was Agnes.
Mamma was fussing. She said 'Ï know its meatballs and pasta, but I can do you an omlette and there's lots of salady stuff "
Angnes smiled. ''As long as there's lingonberry sauce with it I could eat anything. But really I don't want to change anything. I'm OK with whatever you serve."
Mamma looked guiltily and flushed.
Oskar piped up "Have you started to eat meat now Agnes?"
Agnes grinned at him. "You could say that"
Pappa almost choked on his meatball.
Agnes interrupted the uncomfortable silence. "I have a friend. She will be coming over more now….. and she will eat …. ANYTHING! "
Agnes leaned into Oskar and gave him a big wet sloppy kiss and playful bite.
He looked up in shock fighting Agnes off. '"Mamma. Does that mean I'm a lesbisk now?'
Mamma looked horrified.
Agnes cut in "only if you're lucky!" and laughed and tickled him.
Agnes and Oskar dissolved into laughter.
Mamma and Pappa looked on unsure what to say next, drawing comfort only in this rare outburst of spontaeous mirth.
Pappa nodded politely not wishing to skate on thin ice. "So it is good you have a new friend. I always knew you would find friends here. Amal is a friendly place, not like a big city, I'm so glad we moved here"
Mamma looked less than pleased. '"Your new friend? It wouldn't happen to be that Olsson girl would it?''
Agnes looked up, her eyes rolled and her forehead furrowed. '"Yes. So What? ELIN she has a name. She's my new study buddy"'
Pappa nodded approval, enquiring "So what were you studying tonight, errr with Elin that made you so late home?"
"Biology" Agnes replied tersely.
"Is that like the birds and the bees" Oskar poked in.
Agnes smiled 'Ÿes. But we are into advanced biology"
"But isn't she a year younger than you?" Mamma rejoined , smiling triumphantly.
Agnes set down her fork. '"Yes. But she is OK on theory. She needs a helping hand with her practicals' and smiled defiantly at her mother.
Oskar looked confused. "Can I join you for a sleepover? It sounds fun"
Agnes gripped him by the hand. "Sorry Oskar but it's mostly a girl thang.'' Agnes trakked the scorn of her mother's withering look. "But I'm sure if you have buddy boys to sleepover then that will be just great"
Pappa grinned benificently. In the embarrased silence he raised his glass. ''Then I propose a toast … to Agnes and her new friend Elin …. Here's to Festen Amal"
Agnes raised her glass of Diet Pepsi, matching their words, but for one detail …. 'Here's to Fucking Amal"