Chapter 12— A Christmas Surprise
December 23rd, 1999
3:10 PM
Gunnar's POV
Bella and I were coming home from school today. We were asked to help volunteer our time over Christmas break to paint sets for the musical. We stopped at the hospital to get Adam from visiting Kelly and hanging with the doctor observing what he does on a daily basis. Adam was allowed to observe only when he was attending to Kelly, occasionally I think that Adam would look in on the other babies as Doctor Kindrick was looking at them. Ms. Michele came home on the first day of finals, but Kelly wasn't allowed to come home just yet. Poor Hans he didn't understand what was going on.
We were not home very long before the doorbell rang. Both Ms. Michele and Coach were at the hospital, and we were watching Hans. Bella hasn't been anywhere near Kelly since she met her. I answered the doorbell and was taken aback by who was on the other side, my Father.
"GUNNAR, I TRUST YOU ARE WELL," Father said.
"Father Merry Christmas," I said with a smile to my face.
"HMM, I HAVE BROUGHT YOU SOMEONE. HOPEFULLY, YOU WILL FORGET BEING HERE AND COME HOME," Father said. I rolled my eyes at him, there was nothing that could get me to come home. My father stepped to the side to reveal a girl with long dark brown hair and brown eyes. Medium build about five foot six inches tall.
"Astrid?" I asked.
"Hello Gunnar, Merry Christmas," Astrid said as she smiled at me.
"OH MY GOD," I said before I attacked her into a hug. I could not believe it was my baby sister vho is thirteen now, turning fourteen next month.
"Vhen did vou get so tall and beautiful?" I asked. My sister vas sure a looker, I vould almost bet she vas beating the guys off vith a stick, as Portman vould say. Vhat vhat meant, I didn't know.
"That's vhat havpens vhen vou leave for two and a half vears and don't come home to see me," Astrid said to me as she smiled I saw silver braces on her teeth. I knew that she had been to see an orthodontist. Just like I had been at her age.
"Are you okay, Gunnar?" Adam said as he rushed to the door.
"Veah, I am fine. My sister came vo surprise me," I said.
"JESUS Gunnar, you nearly gave me a heart attack," Adam said.
"HMM GOOD THEN MAYBE MY SON WOULD COME HOME!" My father said.
"PABBI PLEASE STOP!" I yelled at him.
"NO GUNNAR ÀSLÀKUR PÈTUR STAHLSSON, I WILL NOT STOP ÞÉR VERÐLAUS STAÐ af skít (YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT)," My father said.
My jaw dropped open at that and then Adam said, "I am NOT A WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT, and neither is Gunnar."
Then it was Father's turn for his jaw to drop before he said, "GUNNAR ERTU að kenna HANS ÍSLANDI? (GUNNAR ARE YOU TEACHING HIM ISLANDIC?)"
"Ves I am, Vou vave a Problem vith vhat?" I asked.
"JÁ ÉG GERI ÞAÐ. ÉG ER AÐ STÓR vandamál með það! HANN ÞARF EKKI AÐ KENNA TUNGUMÁL FORKVÆÐI þinna. Heimskur amerískur svín ! (YES I DO. I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THAT! HE DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW THE LANGUAGE OF YOUR ANCESTORS. STUPID AMERICAN PIG! )" Father said.
"Father vhat is enough, STOP!" Astrid said.
"Yes he vill need to know to communicate with Mama. Especially if we get married. If ve ever could get married," I said quietly to myself.
"EXCUSE YOU GUNNAR WHAT WAS THAT?" Father said.
"THAT'S IT I AM TIRED OF HOW YOU TREAT GUNNAR, ME, MY FAMILY AND OUR WAY OF LIFE, GET OUT!" Adam yelled.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?" Father said.
"YOU HEARD ME GET OUT!" Adam yelled.
"Adam stop. Father can't vou go vo vhe hotel or something and we can meet up later," I said.
"There is no hotel," Astrid said.
"Vhat?" I asked.
"Vhe hotel lost our reservations," Astrid said.
"Oh great," Adam said.
"THEM AND DRAUPNIR ARE COMPLETE IDIOTS! WHICH HE HAS NOW BEEN FIRED!" Father said.
"Father, you fired Draupnir? Why?" I asked.
"BECAUSE HE COULD NOT SHUT UP TO YOUR MAMMA ABOUT HOW GREAT AND WONDERFUL AMERÌKU IS. HE IS AN IDIOT!" Father said.
"Father Draupnir has been vith vou a long time, vhat doesn't make sense," I asked.
"I DONT CARE," FATHER YELLED.
"Gunnar, I cold. Can ve at least come in?" Astrid asked.
"Of course," I said as I turned I ran into the brick wall also known as Adam.
"NO," Adam said.
"Adam please vhere my family," I asked.
"Fine, if your father behaves himself," Adam said as he rolled his eyes.
As My father and my sister were coming into the house vith vhere bags Bella and Hans came out into the living room.
"Vho's the baby, Gunnar?" Astrid asked.
"Oh Astrid, this is Bella, and the Baby is Hans," I said.
"Hi," Hans said.
"Bella you remember my father? And this is my baby sister Astrid," I said.
"Oh, nice to meet you Astrid, Gunnar has told me a lot about you," Bella said.
"Vhat the vord?" Astrid said.
"Likewise?" Adam said.
"Veah, Likevise," Astrid said.
"HMMP, AMERÌKANAR" Father said.
"Gunnar, we haven't been formally introduced," Adam said.
"I am sorry Adam. This is my younger sister, Astrid," I said.
"Nice to meet vou Adam," Astrid said.
"Likewise," Adam said.
A few hours later, in Oliver's old room.
"Well Minister, I hope that you will be comfortable down here. Oliver hasn't taken the bed," Ms. Michele said as she laughed a little.
"YEAH RIGHT!," Father said.
"Well, it's the best we can do, on such a short notice," Coach said.
"YEAH I AM SURE!," Father said.
"Pabbi Stop," I said.
"Well, the bathroom is across the hall and Gunnar's room is next door. The girls will be upstairs in Bella's room," Ms. Michele said.
"YEAH RIGHT!" Father said.
"Okay well Good night Minister and Gunnar," Ms. Michele said.
"Good night," Coach said.
"Good night Coach, Ms. Michele," I said. They then went upstairs to bed. I had kissed Adam Goodnight in his room earlier as we were trading clothing that got mixed up in the laundry. At least that was what our excuse was. How I wished I vas at the dorms at Eden Hall having sex with Adam right now. But the dorms had been closed since last Saturday. We were on Christmas break.
"PFF AMERÌKANAR," Father said.
"Pabbi stop. They are my host family, and they are good host parents. I don't understand why you must be so mean to them," I said.
"BECAUSE GUNNAR, THEY ARE AMERÌKANAR. I DON'T LIKE THEM THEY ARE FOOLISH IDIOTS. THEY LOOK OUT ALWAYS FOR THEMSELVES NEVER FOR THE GOOD OF THE WORLD AND NEVER FOR THE GOOD OF ÍSLAND. THEY ARE DOGS AND THEY DESERVE TO DIE," Father said.
"Oh, Pabbi how can you be so judgmental?" I asked.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN BE SO…. SO NAIVE," Father said.
"Vhatever, I am going vo bed good night," I said as I left his room.
December 26th, 1999
Adam's POV
Christmas was yesterday. Mom, Dad, Hans, Bella, Gunnar, Gunnar's Father, Astrid, Grandma Lebrie, Grandma Bombay, Grandma and Grandpa MacKay came to open gifts and eat lunch. I talked to Ollie on the phone from Annie's place. He was still angry at Gunnar for what I didn't know. After dinner, Bella took off with Charlie to have dinner with Phillip and Seraphina. I have to admit I was jealous and why would I not be? I was fearful that I would be the last person to be here of the Banks kids, Ollie had moved out earlier this month and it looked to me that Bella might move out before Kelly came home from the hospital, if she didn't move out before the break was over. We took the Grandparents including Grandma Lebrie up to the hospital to visit Kelly. Gunnar said that he was tired from all of the activities from the last few days. He and Astrid went shopping on Christmas eve for last minute Christmas presents. Gunnar's Father had to get all of the flight stuff figured out to go to Washington DC and back home to Reykjavík. Gunnar and Astrid did come up to the hospital as we were getting ready to head back home.
Kelly's nurses and her doctors said that she is getting bigger. Almost ready to graduate into the NICU 3. She was just 18 days old, almost sixteen inches long and a little over three pounds. She was starting to look like a real baby. It was so cute she had a pacifier in her mouth that had a small red ribbon tied to it. It was to help her get her sucking reflexes apparently. Mom decided that she was going to take the first week we were back from school for her maternity leave to get herself and Hans back onto a regular schedule. If everything went according to plan Kelly should be home on or around Valentine's day. Which would have been mom's 37th week of gestation or about the time that she would have been ready to be born. All of us got to hold Kelly yesterday. Mom and Dad were first doing something called Kangaroo care where they would hold Kelly next to their chests. When it was my turn to hold Kelly I swore she opened her eyes that were the clearest blue and smiled at me. Of course, the nurses said it was gas, but I didn't care.
Gunnar and I were in my room working on his English for the musical that he was going to be in.
"Vhis is Vhe main Vrain, Vince Bontaine. Beginning Vour day vith the only vay-Music, Music, Music. Get out of ved, it's vour first day of school. Vont be a slob, von't get a job. Go to class vou can pass. To start the vay off vine, I'll clay a vaorite of vine," Gunnar said.
"No," I said.
Gunnar groaned and then said, "Vhy couldn't Dr. Delaney give me a background character? I vill never get this."
I smiled at him before I said, "Yes you will. Have you even rehearsed this yet even in your room?"
"No," Gunnar said.
"That's why we need to work on this. We are going to work on it, together," I said.
"Vow am I supposed to say this again?" Gunnar asked.
"This is the main brain, Vince Fontaine. Beginning your day with the only way- Music, music, Music. Get out of bed, it's your first day of school. Don't be a slob, don't get a job. Go to class, you can pass. To start the day off fine, I'll play a favorite of mine," I said.
"This," Gunnar said.
"Good," I said.
Gunnar smiled at me and then said, "This is the main br- brain?"
"Yeap," I said.
"This is the main brain, Vince Fon-taine?" Gunnar asked.
"Yeap but it's supposed to be together Fontaine," I said.
"Fon-taine, Fontaine. Vince Fontaine," Gunnar said.
"Good," I said.
"This is the main brain, Vince Fontaine. Beg-Beginning?" Gunnar asked.
"Yeap," I said.
"This is the main brain, Vince Fontaine. Beginning your day?" Gunnar asked.
"Yes," I said.
There was a knock on the door.
"Vho is it?" Gunnar asked.
"Uh vour sister," Astrid said.
"Oh, come in Astrid," I said.
Astrid opened and closed the door. Then she ran for her brother, landing on his back.
"GET OFF ME!" Gunnar yelled.
"Vou are no fun, brother," Astrid said.
"I hate that vhen vou do that," Gunnar said.
"Vhat's this," Astrid said grabbing Gunnar's script.
"Vhat's mine, Give it back," Gunnar yelled.
"Grease? Vou in a play?" Astrid asked.
"A musical and yes he is," I said.
"That's great brother, a play today, Tomorrow Vroadway," Astrid said.
"Whoa, whoa whoa don't get your hopes up about Gunnar being on Broadway just yet. He has to master the English language first," I said.
"Astrid, please don't tell Pabbi about this he vould pull me from School if he found out about this and I vould never be able to see Adam again," Gunnar said.
"Gunnar are vou and Adam an item?" Astrid asked.
"Yes, two years and four months, tomorrow," I said.
"Yes, I knew it! Mama going to be so happy," Astrid said.
"Astrid!" Gunnar yelled.
"What do you mean that Mama is going to be so happy?" I asked.
"She is going to be happy that Gunnar is dating," Astrid said.
"Gunnar I thought that your mother already knew about us?" I asked.
"She does know that I am dating. My sister doesn't know what she is talking about," Gunnar said.
"Oh," I said.
"Vell I have my own secret, I have be vorking on my hockey behind Pabbi's back," Astrid said.
"VHAT?" Gunnar asked.
"Vou heard me," Astrid said.
"Is that why you are going to hockey practice with us tomorrow?" I asked.
"Veah. Bella said that if I make the team she could show me vhere I am going to live for the next four years," Astrid said.
"Vait, vho's been helping vou," Gunnar asked.
"Coach Stansson," Astrid said.
"Coach Stansson, that's a surprise," Gunnar said.
"You mean Wolf "The Dentist" Stansson," I asked.
"Vhat vould be the one," Astrid said.
"Gunnar, why is it a surprise that Coach Stansson is helping your sister?" I asked.
"Vecause, vhen I vas playing for him. The only ones allowed to play for him vere guys. I can't believe he is helping vou," Gunnar said.
"Yes and I am on the team that he coaches, The Reykjavík Falcons," Astrid said.
"I can't believe he would let you leave like that in the middle of the season," Gunnar said.
"I uh kind of poured it on thick vith him. Vhat he had to let me go. And it helped that I told him that it vas for my future," Astrid said.
"Vow," Gunnar said.
"No shit," I said.
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