Chapter 17—Saying Goodbye
December 31st, 1999
9:20 am Gunnar's POV
I was standing in front gate F1 waiting for my Father and Astrid's row vo be called vo board. Vhey just started vo board five minutes ago. Vhey vere flying vo JFK airport at 10:08, due vo get in at 1:50 be on a layover until vhere vlight vo London at 6:30 vhich vould arrive at 6:25 am, vhen vhey vould have vo book it vo vhe flight for Reykjavík, vhich left 45 minutes later. Vhat vas vight. I only hoped vhat vhey vould get home by 10:25 am vomorrow morning. If V2K didn't do anything. Coach said vhat vhere vas nothing vo ve afriad of. Vut I still vouldn't help vut ve nervous. I knew vhey vould meet V2K somewhere in the middle of vhe Atlantic. Bella vhought I vas nuts, I knew vhat Adam vas slightly vorried.
"I vish vou didn't have vo go," I said hugging Astrid.
"I vnow, but Pabbi says ve must," Astrid said.
"YES BECAUSE SCHOOL STARTS FOR YOUR SISTERS AND YOUR BROTHER ON JANUARY 4th. JUST LIKE YOUR BROTHER, YOU NEED TO ADJUST FOR THE TIME DIFFERENCE,," My Father yelled.
I shrugged my shoulders, vefore I said, "sorry."
"Vhy can't ve stay, Pabbi? I vave always vanted vo see vhe ball drop in New Vork," Astrid said.
"BECAUSE I SAID NO. I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET ANYMORE IDEAS THAT AMERÌKU IS GOOD FOR YOU. WHEN IT IS BAD FOR YOU. THE FASTER WE ARE OUT OF THIS WRETCHED COUNTRY THE BETTER," my father said.
"Unbelievable," Adam whispered in my ear.
"Veah, vell me vbout it," I said.
"Astrid and Gunnar come here," Coach said.
Adam, Astrid, and I followed Coach, "Here this is for you," Coach said as he handed us both what looked like a phone to us.
"Vhat is vhis?" Astrid said.
"It's a cell phone. A prepaid cell phone, so you two can communicate to each other. It only has 5.00 dollars each on the phones and a text message costs Fifty cents a message. You can use it to keep Gunnar notified. I checked it will work in London. But once the money is gone, it's gone," Coach said.
"Vhank you," Astrid said.
"Your welcome, you will want to keep it off and in your pocket, while in the air. Only power it up when you need to send Gunnar a message," Coach said.
"Vkay," Astrid said.
"Is vhe number to Astrid's phone in my phone?" I said.
"Yep. You can figure out how to power it up right?" Coach asked.
"If vou show me," Astrid said.
"Here, this is the button to power it up. It takes a few minutes to get it up and running, and then you send a message to Gunnar like this," Coach said as he showed Astrid.
At 9:44 we heard "Delta flight 1423 from Minneapolis to JFK Now boarding rows 9-12 and 14-17 at Gate F1," From the speaker above our heads.
"ASTRID THAT IS OUR ROW ON THIS FLIGHT, LETS GO!" My father yelled.
"You got what I am trying to say?" Coach said.
"I vhink so," Astrid said.
I saw Pabbi coming towards us before I said, "Vurn it off and stick it in vour pocket, Pabbi's coming."
"DID YOU NOT HEAR ME, GET IN LINE ASTRID BRYNDÍS DÓRÓTHEA STAHLSDÓTTIR," My father yelled.
"Ves Pabbi,' Astrid said and then she turned to me and gave me a hug, 'I love vou, Gunnar."
"I love you," I said.
"Adam, Coach Vomvay thank vou for everything," Astrid said.
"Your welcome Astrid, have a good flight," Coach said as he smiled.
"Yeah," Adam said.
"I vill and I vave vour email. I vill email vhen I get home," Astrid said.
"LETS GO! OR WE WILL MISS THE REST OF OUR FLIGHTS," Father yelled.
"Ves Pabbi," Astrid said and vhen she gave Adam and Coach a hug. I don't vhink vhat either vere expecting vhe hug.
"Pabbi vou have a good flight home," I said.
"ÞÚ OG AMERÍKAMENN GERÐIR MÉR SJÚKT ! ÉG VONA AÐ ÞEIR DEYJI HEIMSKA HUNDANA! (YOU AND AMERICAN'S MAKE ME SICK! I HOPE THAT THEY DIE THE STUPID DOGS!)" Father said and vhen he and Astrid got in line vo board vhe plane.
Once the gate vas closed both Adam and I breathed a sigh of relief. I saw my sister vhrough vhe vindow as vhe plane started vo push back from vhe gate and vurn to head for vhe runaway, ve all vaved at vhem and vhen vhey vere on vheir vay vo vheir spot in line. Once vhey vere up in vhe air Coach said, "Well they are on their way."
"Veah, I know. I hope vhey don't crash," I said.
"I am sure they will be fine. See everything is going normal as usual," Coach said as he vas pointing at Vhe velefision. CNN vas showing vhe firevorks displays in Sydney, Australia, and Aukland, Nev Zealand.
I vas relieved vhat ve didn't have practice voday or vomorrow, because of vhe new vear. But ve had a practice at 8:00 am on the second. I guess it vas going vo be a long one because of vhe loss
Gentry Academy. A veam ve should have easily von against, since vhey have a vorse record vhen ve did. Ve had Blake on Monday on vhere ice. Vhen ve got home Adam vas helping me learn my lines for the musical. Ms. Michele picked up a copy of Grease from vhe movie store so I could see vhat I vas supposed to do.
December 31st, 1999
2:50 pm (New York Time)
Astrids POV
Ve had been in New Vork vor about an hour now. Unfortunately, my Pabbi vas keeping an eye on me, all vhrough out vhe vlight and vhile ve vere eating. Ve vhere siting in New Vork Bar and Grill vhen I heard.
"ASTRID, I NEED TO FIND A RESTROOM," Pabbi said.
"I vill be vight here," I said.
Once Pabbi was gone, I quickly got out vhe phone vhat Coach Vomvay gave vo me and vexed Gunnar, Ve are in New Vork. No problems so far. A minute later Gunnar sent a text back saying good vo hear, let me know vhen vour leaving for London. Rehearsing vith Adam vight now.
I quickly turned off the phone and stuck it in my pocket. After ve finished vith our meal, I picked up a few vhings at the gift shop vo keep ve occupied vhile ve vaited vor our flight.
6:10 pm
I had just finished my crossvord puzzle book and vas four chapters into Harry Potter and the Scorer's stone . Both me and Ingrid loved the books, but I vanted to see vhat vas different vith the US versions, so I bought all vhree of vhe books available. Vhew ve heard:
"Now boarding Rows 1-4 and 17-19 For delta airlines 4373 flight to London," from the speaker phone.
"ASTRID PUT YOUR BOOK AWAY, THAT IS OUR ROWS AND FLIGHT," Pabbi said.
I put the book back into my store bag I got from the store and followed father onto the flight.
25 minutes later, I vexed Gunnar ve are leaving for London, Happy New Year. Gunnar sent a vex back saying ok, Happy New Year! I smiled at the text when I heard Pabbi say, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
I quickly held the phone to my stomach and vured voward him and said, "Nothing."
"HMM," Pabbi said. As soon as his eyes were away I quickly powered down the phone and stuck it in my pocket.
11:55pm (West Greenland time)
"Do you need anything?" The Flight Attendant asked.
"No, vhat time is it?" I asked.
"Uh 11:55 West Greenland time, but we are getting ready to cross into East Greenland time, which is two hours ahead," the Flight attendant said.
"Ladies and Gentlemen this is your Pilot speaking. We are about to cross over into East Greenland Time Zone, I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year," said the Pilot.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR," said some of the passengers.
Then a few more started to sing:
"Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne."
"Happy 2000 Pabbi," I said.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR, ASTRID," Pabbi said.
I sighed and then said, "Happy New Vear, Gunnar and Adam."
5:30 am London time.
The lights came on in the plane, followed by the pilot saying, "Good Morning Delta Flight 4373, We are approximately 1 hour away from London Heathrow airport. And we will arrive on time in London. Please be prepared to put your seats and tray tables in there upright and locked position."
Both I and Pabbi vent to the restroom an hour later ve vere getting out of the plane and valked down to the tram service that had just left. At 6:45 am ve vere on vhe vram, vhat vook us vo our verminal vo get us home. Once ve vere off vhe vram Pabbi said, "WE HAVE TO RUN ASTRID."
Ve got to the gate at 6:59 am.
"You just made it, take whatever seat is available," said the gate attendant in a British accent.
"THANK YOU,' Pabbi said. Then we walked to the plane and the gate door shut behind us. Pabbi found a seat in row twenty-five. 'ASTRID DO YOU SEE A SEAT?"
"Yeah I vhink in vhe back of vhe plane," I said and vhen I was off to find vhat seat.
"Excuse me, is vhat seat vaken," I asked to vhe passenger in seat 35-D.
"No ma'am, please take it," the passenger said vo me and vhen he got out of his seat, I could sit down.
"Vhank You," I said and vhen I flashed a vhumbs up sign to Pabbi and vhen sat down. As soon as I sat down I vexed Gunnar again. Made it vo London. No crashing, on plane vo Reykjavík. Happy New Vear! And vhen I vaited.
A vew minutes later a flight attendant came by and said. "Please turn off your phone we getting ready to take off."
"Please vne more minute vaiting for my brother to vexed back," I said.
"Fine one more minute," said the flight attendant.
Just then a text came from Gunnar, "Good I vas worried. I can go to sleep now. Vhich vill make Adam Happy. Good night."
1:05 Am (Minneapolis time)
Gunnar's POV
I vad vaited for Astrid, I didn't vant vo vake part in vhe bonfire this vear. I vas nervous for them. I sat in vhe house and vaited an hour earlier Adam said vhat he vas going vo bed. I vold him okay and stared at vhe phone. Finally, a message came across from Astrid. It read: "Made it vo London. No crashing, on plane vo Reykjavík. Happy New Vear!"
I fired one back vhat said, "Good I vas worried. I can go to sleep now. Vhich vill make Adam Happy. Good night."
I vhen crawled into bed.
"Astrid in London?" Adam asked.
"Yes, getting ready to leave for Reykjavík," I said.
"See and you were worried. I think you owe Dad an apology tomorrow," Adam said.
"I know. Good night dear sveet Adam," I said and vhen I kissed him. Ve vere alone at last.
10:25am (Reykjavík Time)
Astrid's POV
Ve landed in Reykjavík at 10:25 am, it vas 10:40 before Pabbi and I vhere vogether again, I vent into vhe the salerni or restroom and quickly sent a vext vo Gunnar you can quite vorring brother ve are home in Island. I could not figure out how vo make our symbol above vhe I. Vut hopefully Gunnar got the message. I sat on the bench and vaited. Finally after two minutes Gunnar vexed back, Good. I knew it vas early in Ameríku, so I vans't sure if I vould get a message back.
By 11:30 am Ve vere vhrough border control and ve had our bags, going to meet Tóbías our butler and driver, by currency exchange.
"Minister Friedrichsson and óttir," Tóbías said.
"Tóbías," I said, and I quickly hugged the portly man.
"Oh, it's good to see you," Tóbías said.
"I trust everything is well at home?" Pabbi said.
"Yes, everyone is anxiously awaiting your return are you ready?" Tóbías said.
"No, Not yet Tóbías, we have to exchange our currency. LET'S GO ASTRID," Pabbi said.
"If vou don't mind I vant to keep vhat I got left," I said.
"All to settle your mothers collection, I suppose," Father said.
"Ves," I said.
"Fine stay here vith Tóbías, then," Father said and vhen ve vent into the exchange line.
"So, tell me, how is Gunnar?" Tóbías asked.
"Good, don't tell mamma or Pabbi this but he's got a boyfriend," I said.
"Go Gunnar, American?" Tóbías said.
"Ves. I am so happy. And he has a scholarship for the University of Minnesota for next fall for hockey. And I got offered a scholarship to go to Eden Hall for the 2001-2002 school year," I said.
"That's great congratulations, we have to celebrate," Tóbías said.
"No, ve can't. Please can ve vait until Pabbi is out of town, again in vwo veeks, vhen I vill vell Mamma and ve can celebrate," I asked.
"Deal," Tóbías said and we shook on it.
Tóbías is the butler, chauffeur and cook for our family. He vas vhe first person Gunnar vold vhat he vas gay. Followed by Ms. Kristín, The governess and Ms. Margrét, The maid and cook when Tóbías wasn't available because he had other duty's that needed his attention. Mamma and Pabbi didn't know and ve vere all svoren vo secrecy by Gunnar. Even my sisters or my younger brother didn't know. I only vound out by eavesdropping.
1:07 pm (Reykjavík time)
Pabbi met us again 15 minutes after he left vo get his currency exchanged. Vhe vhree of us walked out to the car. After ve vere in vhe care, Tóbías loaded our luggage in the skottinu
(trunk) of our 2000 Jaguar limo vhat Pabbi bought a vew months ago. Ve arrived in vhe heimreið or driveway 45 minutes later. Ms. Margrét had our lunch veady it vas good to have Lamb again. After lunch I made my way vo my room and fired the last vexed off to Gunnar: Ve are home! It took 8 minutes for him to vexed back saying great! Vhen my door busted open and my nosey brother and sister, Ingrid and Keldan came in my room.
"Astrid hvar er Gunnar? (Astrid where is Gunnar?)" Keldan asked.
"Í Ameríku þar sem hann á heima. En hann verður heima í maí. (In America where he belongs. But he will be home in May.)" I said.
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