Chapter 24: 1949
December 24, 2040: 4:45 a.m.: Minsk: Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic: Partial republic of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic:
The alarm rang. 4:45 in the morning. Ivan Kuznetsova woke up. He looked at his wife Zinaida. She was sleeping, while snorring slightly. Ivan went to the closet and took out headphones, a radio, and a notebook with a pen. Then he went to the bathroom and opened a empty bottle of aftershave. A rolled up piece of paper marked with the number 465. He sneaked out of the apartment in the high-rise building in Minsk and went to the roof. The roof was high off the ground. Ivan saw all the roofs of Minsk. He turned on a small lamp next to the door from the stairwell, closed the door, and clipped the telescopic antenna of his radio at a clothes line made from metallic wire. Ivan sat down, put the headphones on, and turned on the radio. It was tuned in in the local radio broadcast of Minsk. A woman was speaking.
«Яшчэ маем рэпартажы для нашых слухачоў у машыне, каля Юрцава на трасе Е30 у бок Смаленска аварыя, два кілямэтры затору. Для чыгуначнага транспарту ў сувязі з правядзеннем будаўнічых работ на лініі Мінск — Масква экспрэсы не ходзяць да сямі гадзін раніцы.»
(We still have reports for our listeners in the car, near Yurtsavo on the E30 highway towards Smolensk, accident, two kilometers of traffic jam. For railway transport, due to construction works on the Minsk-Moscow line, express trains do not run until seven o'clock in the morning.)
Ivan looked at the radio. He pushed a button. The radio switched from FM radio to AM Shortwave. The voice of the woman dissapeared, and just some noise was coming from the headphones. Ivan pressed again a button, labeled with SSB, and the radio went from AM mode to Upper Side Band mode. Now he entered the frequency. 4800 kHz. He heard very clearly a two second tone, with four seconds pause. Again a two second tone, and four seconds pause. Ivan looked at his watch, wich showed him 4:57 a.m.. He took the notebook and the paper, and waited. Two Minutes later, the tones stopped, and a test tone rang into his ears. He prepared himself. The tone stopped, and a very young female, english speaking voice with a north american accent started speaking.
«Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven»
Ivan noted 27 on the paper. After five minutes, the message started. Ivan noted every number he heard.
«Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Eight Two Four, Oblique, Two Seven
Attention!
Seven Five-er Zero Three Nine-er, Seven Five-er Zero Three Nine-er
Five-er Eight One Two Six, Five-er Eight One Two Six
Zero Three Nine-er Eight Four, Zero Three Nine-er Eight Four
Six Five-er One Nine-er Zero, Six Five-er One Nine-er Zero
Eight Two Six Four Seven, Eight Two Six Four Seven
One Seven Zero Five-er Eight, One Seven Zero Five-er Eight
Four Five-er Eight Six Three, Four Five-er Eight Six Three
Two Zero Four Six Five-er, Two Zero Four Six Five-er
Nine-er Nine-er Four Seven Two, Nine-er Nine-er Four Seven Two
Three One Two Eight Nine-er, Three One Two Eight Nine-er
Zero Seven Three Three One, Zero Seven Three Three One
Eight Six Zero Five-er Nine-er, Eight Six Zero Five-er Nine-er
Five-er Four Two Nine-er Eight, Five-er Four Two Nine-er Eight
Three Seven One Four Zero, Three Seven One Four Zero
Six Two Five-er Eight Three, Six Two Five-er Eight Three
Zero Nine-er Four One Seven, Zero Nine-er Four One Seven
Eight Three Six Five-er Two, Eight Three Six Five-er Two
Seven One Four Nine-er Zero, Seven One Four Nine-er Zero
Two Six Five-er Three Eight, Two Six Five-er Three Eight
Nine-er Zero Four Two Seven, Nine-er Zero Four Two Seven
Five-er Eight One Three Six, Five-er Eight One Three Six
Four Nine-er Two Seven Zero, Four Nine-er Two Seven Zero
Three Six One Five-er Eight, Three Six One Five-er Eight
Seven Two Four Zero Nine, Seven Two Four Zero Nine
One Five-er Eight Three Four, One Five-er Eight Three Four
Six Zero Three Nine-er Two, Six Zero Three Nine-er Two
Eight Four Seven One Five-er, Eight Four Seven One Five-er
Out!»
The two second tone appeared again. Ivan looked at the numbers, and rolled out the paper from the aftershave bottle. It was a code. Ivan started calculating the numbers away. 7 became 14, 5 became 3, zero became 5, and nine became 1. And those numbers became letters. After almost an hour, he read a text.
«Агент 56468, у нас няма навін. Мы жадаем вам і вашай сям'і цудоўных Калядаў. І шмат прывітанняў ад вашай сястры Таццяны. Яна ў парадку. Наступнае паведамленне 31 снежня. Наступны код 821»
(Agent 56468, we have no news. We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas. And many greetings from your sister Tatiana. She is fine. Next message on December 31st. Next code 821)
Ivan smiled. He took his stuff, and went back in the apartment. He burned the paper and the code in an ashtray, and put his radio back to the closet. Ivan laid in his bed next to his wife, and went sleeping again.
7 o'clock: December 24, 2040: Royal Woods, Michigan:
Lori shoveled the driveway in front of her house clear of snow. It snowed heavily during the night, and there war still a lot of snow falling. The part where Lori was done, Lily scattered salt on to keep the driveway free from ice. Both had thick jackets on and thick wool caps.
"My goodness, how hard it snowed. Reminds me of the winter of 2029 when that volcano exploded near Papua New Guinea." Lori said.
"The average temperature is still five degrees lower than twenty years ago. This explosion will keep the world cool for another ten years." Lily said.
"Right. Do you have enough salt?"
"Yes. I should have enough to do this two times."
"One time is enough. I don't want that Bobby slides the car all over the driveway again."
"Why did he leave with these conditions here?"
"Because he wanted to cook, and we had almost no curry. So of course he went to the last store that is open, at the other end of the town." Lori said and shoveled the now away.
"Why didn't he buy it earlier?" Lily asked, and scattered salt.
"He thought, that we have everything he needed, and then it wasn't there. Lorraine has the exact same moments, needs electrical wires, thinks we have it there, but it isn't. She is like Bobby in that aspect. But he doesn't get mad."
"I understand."
"By the way, did you hear anything from Lola?"
"No. And also not from Lana. That doesn't surprise me though since we all meet again this evening."
"You're right. You spend a lot of time with them."
"Positive." Lily said, and scattered again salt.
Lorraine left the house with a jacket that was much too thick and a shawl that covered half her face. She went to Lori and Lily.
"Why are you clearing the driveway?"
"So your father doesn't crash the car. And that I don't crash the car when we leave this evening."
"Got it."
Lorraine looked around, and looked at the pile of snow Lori made next to the driveway.
"Why does it have to be so cold?"
"Because it's winter."
"I wish it would be warmer. With no snow."
"We had that until eleven years ago. I missed cold winters. It's a dream that we have this and that even gives us time with the climate change." Lori said.
"What some countries don't care about. They love burning coal. Which I can understand." Lily said.
"You don't mean diesel Polish coal-fired power plant? The dirt thrower of Poland?"
"Yes. Which is a success. But you can also use clean nuclear power. However, everyone then complains about the seventeen Swiss nuclear reactors that supply half of Europe with electricity."
"The Swiss are traitors! They are consuming Russian uranium like there is no tomorrow."
"Politics... Again…" Lorraine said annoyed.
"I get it, sorry." Lori said, and shoveled the last snow from the driveway.
Lily scattered salt again.
"Finally we're done." Lori said, and put the shovel next to the garage.
"I take the salt in." Lily said, anmd walked with the salt into the house.
Lorraine looked at Lori.
"Can we please move to Texas?" Lorraine said.
"Yeah. But first read the list of animals that can kill you in Texas." Lori said.
"Can't it be warmer at least?"
"You came out of the house. Inside its warm. So why do you complain?"
Lori walked to the door.
"I wanted to see what you were doing."
Lori and Lorraine went into the house. Lori closed the door, and they both took their jackets off.
"Ah. Wonderful." Lorraine said.
They heard wood getting thrown. Lori went into the living room and saw Lily throwing wood into the wall oven.
"You feel cold too?" Lori asked.
"I try to keep the temperature. And Lorraine feels better with warm temperatures."
Lorraine started smiling.
"Thank you."
Lola sat in her office with concrete walls and without windows. Only a small bulp lit the room up, while the small coffee machine was buzzing on her desk. A Small heater tried his best to heat the room, yet he struggled with the cold air blowing from the vents. Lola was wearing her thick jacket, and looked at a document. It was a list of goods the station used during the year. Lola took the coffee and took a sip. She put the cardboard cup aside, and exhaled. She didn't energy for anything anymore. She didnt come to work the last two days, and even now she just wanted to lay in bed. The old, black cord phone rang on her table. She took it and answered the call.
"Loud." Lola said tiredly.
"Hi Lola. Alisha here. Otis wants the Giant wrench from the Transmitter room."
"Why does he want that?"
"He said, he wants to fix some screws at the shelter doors."
"Isn't there a giant wrench?"
"I said the same. The wrench there is for locking the doors there. Not for the screws that hold those six ton monsters."
"Fine I bring it."
Lola ended the call. She drank the coffee and threw the cup in the trash. She left her office and walked through a narrow hallway, until she reached two doors. She went through the left door and entered a big room, with a lot of cabinets made from green colored metal. It was loud and warm. The transmitters were doing their thing, like they did 24 hours a day. On the cabinets was written on a metal plate, «AEG-TELEFUNKEN MADE IN WEST GERMANY 1978». Lola walked to some tools and took the big wrench. She left the room and went the through the hallways to the room with the controls. Alisha was sitting with a black jacket in front of the controls and watched the power meter jumping up and down.
"How can you just watch this little meter the whole day?" Lola asked, and put the wrench on the floor next to Alisha.
"It's Fun. And we transmit so many things I just can't get bored." Alisha said.
"Good that you love your job so much."
"Yes. Also I noticed something today when I started working."
"What was it?"
"The Channel Marker had a failure. I sat down, Mark from the night shift told me that he sent many messages, and then the pitch of the marker fell down, and it stopped for around half a minute."
"Did it restart by itself?"
"Yes of course. I deactivated the marker and cleaned the little motor."
"Wait a moment."
Lola kneeled down and opened a small door under the control table. Many circuit boards with triode tubes, capacitors and resistors where on them. Lola lit the light at her phone and shone on a small electric motor that was turming fast a little Dynamo.
"Turn it off." Lola said.
She heard that a button got pressed. The sound of the marker disappeared from the speakers, and the motor stopped turning. Lola looked at it. It was clean.
"Perfect. You can turn it on again."
Alisha pressed the button again. The motor started spinning, and the moment it reached its speed, the tone came out of the speakers. Lola closed the small door and got up.
"Many people who listen to us will have questions again." Lola said.
"There are some conspiracy theories about our transmission. One is that we try to communicate with aliens."
"Yeah... What people say on the web is bullshit. Only Priyom has frightening good data about our station."
"Someone is always listening."
The phone on the control table rang. Lola took it and answred the call.
"Loud."
A male voice answered.
"Miss Loud, the Captain landed."
"Okay. Thank you."
Lola ended the call.
"Im done for today. When is the last message for today?"
"Eleven Fourtyfive p.m." Alisha said.
"Okay. I will be back tomorrow noon."
"Got it."
Lola left the control room, and left Alisha staring at the power meter. As Lola left the concrete buildings, she got snow blown in her face. She put her wool hat on and walked through the snow storm. She heard the typical noises of an helicopter. Lola walked past the giant Broadcast tower, to a small place. A helicopter was there. And someone walked towards Lola. Carol Pringrey. She was wearing a thick jacked from the US Navy, and had a grey wool hat over her hair and ears. She held a small bag in her hand.
"Why the hell is Lana not available?" Carol asked and held her hand over her eyebrows, protecting her eyes from the snow.
"Kurt."
"Kurt? He was killed in the fourth world war. Isn't she over him?"
"That was just five years ago."
"Right. Feels much longer of you asking me. So much happened since then."
"Even Dave left me." Lola said with a salty expression.
"Ah... Sorry to hear that. Especially at this time."
"It's okay... I believe... No it's not... I don't want to talk about it okay?"
"Okay. Where's your car? It's cold here."
"Follow me."
Lola, followed by Carol walked to the buildings. Carol noticed the foundation of the Tower behind giant fences. She looked up and saw the bright, blinking red light of the tip of the tower.
"For what is that tower?" Carol asked.
"That's for some simple communication." Lola said.
"Hmmm... Reminds me at the Eiffel Tower from the shape. Before a bomb hit that thing and leveled it."
"Yeah. It really looks like that thing from Paris."
Lola kept walking. They walked past the concrete buildings, and went to the place where the cars where supposed to be. Lola wiped the snow off of the windshield, and opened her car. Lola and Carol sat in the car. Lola turned on the heater.
"Ah...Wonderful." Carol said and held her hand at the AC vent.
"That's the same feeling I have when I turn on the small heater in my cold office here."
"Is it that cold in there?"
"Yes. Very."
"By the way, could you explain me a bit more what this base is for?"
"Do you know what a number station is?"
"That's one?" Carol said and pointed behind her.
"Yes. People worldwide call us E31, or, because I was 17 when my voice was recorded, wich we still use here, they call us American Teen."
"Ah. People listen to stuff they shouldn't."
"Really, I don't care who listens. All they get are numbers, and they can't break the code because it's mathematically seen impossible."
"Something Like that. We do the same in the navy. But with morse code."
"I would rather hear my voice than that."
"I get why. So, Lana has a room for me."
"We go to Lana in that case. Maybe she gets happier when someone is with her." Lola said, and started the engine.
"I hope so."
Lola drove off. They drove over the small path to the gate almost a kilometer away from the concrete buildings. At the gate, the Gurads looked in the Car. They looked at Carol and made a move with their hands that they should open their windows. Carol did so.
"Your ID please."
Carol took a laminated document out of her bag. She gave it to the guard who looked at it. He smiled slightly.
"Oh. Navy. Welcome on the continent."
He gave the document back to Carol and stepped away. The gate opened and Lola drove through it. Carol closed the window.
"Very interesting place here." Carol said and looked out of the window.
"We only see two meters in the distance before the snow blocks it." Lola said.
"Still a nice forest."
"You should be here in summer."
"To get attacked by ticks?"
"I said nothing about leaving the car."
"Well."
Lola reached a proper street, and drove in direction of Royal Woods. The street was almost not visisble, and Lola drove with a maximum speed of ten kilometers an hour. After half an hour, and with help of some people who told them where they were, they reached Lanas house. Lola turned off the engine.
"So. Here we are. Let's see how Lana is. And what she invented again."
"Invented?" Carol asked.
"Everytime Lana is in that conditions she invents something useless. Usually something powered with Diesel. Last time it was a diesel powered vacuum cleaner."
"Okay…"
They both left the car and walked to the door. Lola took out a key.
"I have a key for these kind of situations."
Lola opened the door, and entered with carol. She closed the door. The house was dark. No light was burning.
"Lana! Are you here?"
Lana walked out of a door, with blanket around her, and with messy hair.
"Hi Lola… Hi Carol…" Lana said quietly.
"Hi. You alright?"
"No… You? Dave?"
"As for the Dave thing, I'm on Polish vodka and wouldn't be able to eat as much as I want to puke."
Carol looked shocked at Lola, knowing that she drove carol to this place.
"Get it…" Lana said.
Lana turned to carol.
"Your room is there." Lana said and pointed to a door.
Carol nodded.
"Did you invent anything?" Carol asked.
Lana turned around and disappeared in her living room. She came back, with a black brock that had a screen on the front with a number pad, an exhaust at the back and a string with a small 3D printed holder.
"Yes." Lana said tiredly and gave the brick to Lola.
"Oh man... A diesel powered phone?"
Lana nodded. Carol took the phone, and pulled the string. The diesel engine started with loud noise and the phone started up.
"My god it actually works."
"Don't hold that thing on your ear unless you want to be deaf." Lola said.
Carol turned the diesel phone off. She went to Lana.
"If you need anything, just come to me. I know this fucked up situation your are in right now."
Lana nodded. Carol turned to Lola and whispered.
"The same counts for you. I know you try to hide it."
Carol went into her bedroom. Lola looked at Lana.
"Are you able to come with me today?" Lola asked.
Lana nodded.
"Yes... Can please all go well? Not like the last time we were all together?"
"I will make it work. Believe me, I want a calm Christmas too." Lola said.
"Good. That's good."
"I guess…"
They went silent. Both awkwardly stared at each other.
"What did Carol mean with what she said to you? Dave?" Lana asked.
"It's not… Dave left… Forever." Lola said.
"Okay."
"Like I said... I couldn't eat as much as I could puke."
"I understand... But you don't know what it's like to be on the bottom of all…"
"No... I don't know how that is... Only you know that."
"Only Lily makes me feel understood." Lana said.
"Yes… Did you talk to Lily?"
"No... But I want tonight."
"That's good. That's good…"
Rita was cleaning the floor in the House. Lynn senior was cooking a meatloaf with eggs inside. The door opened and Leni with her two Boys, Howard Junior and Hank entered the house, followed by Howard. Leni was wearing a ocean green shirt with long sleeves and Blue jeans, while Howard was wearing a black business shirt. The Boys had their ussual clothes.
"Hi Mom. Good to see you." Leni said happily and hugged Rita.
"Good to see you too. Why so early?" Rita asked.
"Ah, I love being here. It's so great."
"It's nice to hear that."
"What is dad doing in the kitchen?"
"He cooks a meatloaf. Remember the meatloaf he made when you were a little girl?"
Leni tried to remember what her mother said.
"Yes...It looked like a bread loaf right?" Leni said, thinking hard.
"Yes Leni. Like a bread loaf. That's why we call it meatloaf."
"Oh yes I remember! It was so tasty!" Leni said happily.
"I know. You loved it."
"I want to help Dad."
"Okay. Do it Leni."
Leni walked to the kitchen.
"And how are you Howard?" Rita asked.
"Pretty well. Leni was really excited to come here."
"Yes, I just noticed."
Upstairs, Lynn was in the bathroom and looked in the mirror. She looked tired, yet happy.
"I am free…"
Lynn took a pillbox and kissed it.
"Finally... Free…"
Lynn put the box aside and washed her face.
"No longer do I need to hear you."
Lynn was rarely that happy. But if she was, then it was about the voice in her head, wich got silenced by medicaments. Lynn walked out of the bathroom into her room. She changed her clothes. Now she was wearing a red wool sweater and blue jeans. Lynn stretched her body. Rarely she felt that good. Lynn looked out of the window. Snow was everywhere. Lynn smiled.
"It looks like years ago."
Lynn walked downstairs, past her mom. She put her shoes on and her brown jacket.
"Where are you going?" Rita asked.
"Outside. It's so beautiful there."
"Okay. Be back in three hours."
"Sure."
Lynn left the house and closed the door behind her. She walked on the snow covered sidewalk, while looking around. All was white. She went through the streets. Lynn wished that there were any cats around. But it was obvious that the cats rather stayed inside when the weather was that cold. Lynn walked through half of the town. Eventually she stopped on a bridge that crossed over the tram line. The tracks were in a giant pit, and two meters under lynn where the high voltage lines. Lynn looked through the chainlink-fence that was on the bridge. She remembered how she wanted to electrocute herself. She felt happy. Lynn felt happy because she wasnt successful. She pulled back her sleve and looked at the Lichtenberg scar that was stretching all over her arm. Lynn looked back at the powerlines. One of the signals switched to green. A tram, the same type she once climbed on drove under her and dissapeared in a curve. The signal switched back to red, and Lynn smiled.
"It's good to be here."
Lynn walked on and left the bridge. The snow fall got harder. Eventually she saw a car that stopped next to her. The window was lowered and Luna and Sam looked at Lynn.
"Who do we have here?" Luna said.
"Is this someone we should know?" Sam said.
Lynn smiled.
"What are you doing here?" Lynn asked.
"On the way to your home." Luna said.
"Where we expected you would be." Sam said.
"I went for a walk. I feels so good today... Its just great." Lynn said.
"That's great to hear. Wanna get in and drive home?" Luna asked.
"If we make some turns around the city, I'm in for that."
"Then get in. Mia is on the backseat by the way."
Lynn opened the door of the car and sat on the passenger seat. Mia sat in the middle in her kids seat and looked happily at Lynn.
"Hi aunt Lynn." Mia said.
"Hi Mia. How are you?"
"Good."
Luna drove off.
"Nice weather for Christmas." Luna said.
"Yes. Lots of snow." Lynn said.
"We had to take the snow off our driveway. My god is that exhausting." Sam said.
"But we made a snowman with Mia. That was a lot of fun." Luna said.
"Ah nice." Lynn said with a smile.
"His name is frosty." Mia said.
"A great name for a snowman."
"It was really fun." Luna said and turned into a side street.
"Watch out. They didn't free the street of snow here." Sam said.
"Yeah I see. This street could have needed that."
"I wonder why... wait there they are."
Luna drove past the snow removal service truck and was now driving on a street that had been cleared of snow.
"Much better." Luna said.
"I have many questions for the city, especially why they don't clean up certain roads." Sam said.
"Me too. And it's even worse if the road is in bad condition."
"You talk about the street near our home right?"
"Exactly."
"How bad is the road there?" Lynn asked.
"Pretty bad. The car shakes when I drive there." Luna said.
Luna turned into another street.
"Soon comes Franklin Avenue." Sam said.
"Yes... Now." Luna said and turned into the Franklin Avenue.
"No turns around the town?" Lynn asked.
"Not today." Luna said and parked on the driveway of the House of the Louds.
Luna got out and took Mia out of the Car. Luna locked the car and went with Sam, Lynn and Mia to the front door. Luna opened it and they entered.
"Hello! We're here!" Luna said.
Rita's voice came from upstairs.
"Hi! Good to hear you. Feel comfortable, I'll be with you in a few moments."
Luna and sam took their Jackets, while Lynn helped Mia taking her jacket off. The moment Mia was free of her jacket, she ran off into the Kitchen.
"And she's gone." Luna said.
"That was almost." Lynn said, still holding Mia's jacket.
"She gets faster every time." Sam said.
"Indeed." Luna said.
Lynn junior went upstairs, into her room.
Bobby was cooking in the Kitchen. Lorraine and Miranda watched him. In the hope that he made the curry in a way they would like it.
"Not too much curry dad." Lorraine said.
"And not too much pepper." Miranda said.
"Girls, I can just cook the chicken without any spices. Or do you even want it raw?" Bobby asked.
"Make it good please." Lorraine said.
Bobby took the pack of raw chicken and gave it to Lorraine.
"Here. You can cook however you like." Bobby said.
Lorraine gave the pack of chicken back to her father slightly started.
"No no... You are great at this... Make it how you want…"
"I thought so." Bobby said, opened the pack of chicken, and threw it into the curry sauce.
"Is that curry from India?" Miranda asked.
"No. I don't pay that stuff. ten thousand dollars for hundred grams? No way. This is mexican curry."
"You told me once that you used to eat a lot of stuff from other countries." Lorraine said.
"Back then the world wasn't broken like today."
"You say that often."
"You know what was cool back then? The real internet. Not this closed space we have today with a few connections to Asia and the eastern block. No, the real internet. And satellite TV, oh was that nice."
"Uh… Not that again." Miranda said and left the kitchen.
"Why isn't this stuff anymore?" Lorraine asked.
"World was three started and everything in space got destroyed."
"How?"
Bobby mixed the chicken around in the curry sauce.
"Something with nuclear missiles and things in the atmosphere. hard to explain. The general Robert Harriman came to power and no one really cared about TV anymore."
"Okay."
Bobby looked at the curry.
"Now it needs to cook for some time until its so smoothly cooked that it will fall apart on your tongue."
"That sounds great." Lorraine said.
Lily entered the kitchen.
"Hello." Lily said, and took a glass.
She went to the faucet, poured tap water into her glass, and drank it.
"How are you?" Lorraine asked.
"I am as always." Lily said.
"Not excited?"
"I think it's for Lily like a day she always has." Bobby said.
Lily looked at Bobby, and nodded.
"Exactly, like your father said. It's nothing that is different. We just meet the family." Lily said.
"Can you be happier?" Lorraine asked.
"If I have a reason, I will."
Lorraine rolled her eyes. Lily finsihed her glass of water and put it into the dishwasher.
"Do you even have presents for the other ones?"
"I do."
Lorraine got annoyed, and spoke with a with a badly disguised voice.
"A day as always but I still have presents."
"It is appropriate for the reason we meet." Lily said.
"Yeah, Christmas. Not a day like any other."
Lily's eyes wandered around and looked at many things.
"From that point of view, it's not a normal day." Lily said and left the kitchen.
Bobby looked at lorraine with a slight smile and widened eyes.
"What?" Lorraine asked.
"You just showed her that she was wrong, and now she is mad." Bobby said.
Lorraine pointed out of the kitchen.
"That's her being mad?"
"Yes. Happens sometimes."
"Now I feel bad." Lorraine said.
"She will recover from that." Bobby said.
"Really? I never saw her being mad."
"Now you did. She is the old Lily in five minutes."
"I still feel bad dad."
"No need Lorraine." Bobby said and took the pot withe the curry off of the stove.
"Yes but I don't want to hurt her."
"Lorraine, just forget it."
"I... I can't…"
Bobby shook his head and put the curry in a plastic box for transporting it, and keeping it warm. He did the same with the rice, but he put it into another plastic box.
"When are we going to Grandma and Grandpa?" Lorraine asked.
"In two hours." Bobby said.
"I see what aunt Lily is doing."
Lorraine went to the door of the kitchen.
"You're not feeling bad for her anymore?" Bobby asked.
"I do, but apparently she can handle it."
Lorraine left the kitchen, walked through the Living room, and walked through the lower hallway to Lily's room. Lorraine knocked on the door.
"Yes?"
Lorraine opened the door and entered. Lily was kinda layimng on her bed, and on her bedside table was a radio that playing music in a poor quality. It was relatively modern music.
"What are you listening to?" Lorraine asked.
"I don't know what the song is called. It's Swiss Radio International." Lily said.
"Okay. Why though?"
"Maybe they tell something interesting."
"And exactly what?"
"The broadcast started an hour ago. They talked about a vote."
"And who do they vote?"
"Nobody. It's an initiative to protect a language. Rumantsch. A language similar to Italian. They talked about the initiative being accepted."
"And in what language did they say that?"
"English. That's their English service."
The music stopped. And a music box melody started playing.
"What is that?"
"Interval. They take a short break, two minutes and then they resume."
The melody reapeted itself. Then the voice of a woman spoke.
«You're tuned to Swiss Radio International in Bern. Stay tuned for programs for north America, in English, German and French, on 13.75 Megahertz.»
The music box melody resumed and started repeating itself again and again.
"When does it stop?" Lorraine asked.
"Soon."
The melody stopped. A different woman spoke.
«Good Evening. This is Swiss Radio International with its english broadcast Service for north america, on the 22 meter band. After time signal on 23:00 local swiss Time, 22:00 Coordinated universal time, you hear our evening news.»
Five peep tones with a one second interval were audible, and then a much higher peep tone was audible.
"Now they repeat everything I already heard. Nothing new." Lily said and turned the radio off.
"Okay. And now?" Lorraine asked.
"We can drive model railways, we can help your parents. Or you can recommend something."
"I have 45 millimeter gauge layout in my room."
"So we drive railway models again?"
"Yes. By the way, I made the layout in a way that it drives at the wall. With two stations with two tracks."
Lily got up and pulled a long box from under her bed.
"Tramlink ready."
Lorraine smiled. She went upstairs. Lily followed her with the box and the radio. She entered Lorraine's room, and put the box on her bed.
"The radio again?" Lorraine asked.
Lily turned the radio on withoud responding to lorraine. She switched it to FM broadcast and music played from it. She turned the volume down to a level where it was just background music.
"Is it good like this?"
"Yes." Lorraine said and took Lily's box.
She took out a yellow tram modell with a red stripe and the writing BLT on it, that was as big as her arm. Lorraine put it on the track at a station, and carefully put it on the rails. Lily took her phone out and opened a app.
"Did you power up the central station?" Lily asked.
"I did."
Lily pressed virtual buttons on the screen and the lights on and in the tram started glowing. She slowly pulled a slider up and the tramp started moving forward. It drove behind Lorraine's wardrobe, went in a left curve, drove behind her desk on a small meadow next to a plastic tree, and stopped in a small station with two platforms and two track switches. Lorraine smiled.
"That worked perfectly."
Lorraine took a box and pulled out a orange colored railcar, consisting from three wagons. She put the so called RBS NexT on the platfrom next to Lily's Tramlink.
"Your turn now." Lily said.
Lorraine took a smartphone and drove the Railcar over the tracks. They drove the trains for almlost two hours. It was around six p.m.. Lori entered the room, wearing a black dress with long sleeves and a long narrow skirt.
"We leave in ten minutes. Get ready." Lori said.
"Already? And why didn't you say that I should wear a dress?" Lorraine asked with a tense voice.
"You don't have to wear a dress."
"If you wear one I want to."
"We will look next time. Now get ready with Lily."
Lori left the room. Lorraine had a red face.
"You don't need to be upset." Lily said.
"I am."
"Wearing a dress or not changing anything. And in movies this is the point where the people say, you look good even without a dress."
Lorraine smiled briefly.
"Fine. I'm getting ready."
Lorraine turned the model railway central off, and went to the door. Lily followed her and turned off the lights. They went downstairs. Miranda, who was in front of the door with her parents, was putting on her jacket. Bobby was wearing a white shirt and black pants. Lily went in her room, and came back with her beige Honecker coat. Lorraine put in her shoes and then took her purple jacket. Lily put on her boots, and then her coat.
"Are we ready to go?" Lori asked.
"I'm ready." Lily said.
"Wait a moment." Lorraine said.
She put on her jacket and looked at Lori.
"Now I'm ready."
"Perfect. Now in our car." Lori said.
Lori opened the front door and they all left the house. It was very dark. Lily locked the door with a key, and followed Lori, Bobby, Lorraine and Miranda to the car. The santiagos sat down in the car. Lily sat down on the left side of the backseats, next to Lorraine, and closed the door.
"Ready." Lily said and put her seatbelt on.
"Good. Then let's go." Lori said, and started the engine of her car.
She drove backwards and turned on the street, used the clutch and drove off. The streets where snowier like in the morning.
"My god it's so much snow." Lori said.
"Much more than when I went to get the curry." Bobby said.
Lori turned into a main street. A snow removal unit drove in the opposite direction of them.
"The city does something at least." Lori said.
"Is snow that bad?" Lorraine asked.
"It can be a danger." Lily answered.
Lori turned into the franklin avenue, and they came closer and closer to the house of the Louds.
"There we are." Lori said and turned on the driveway.
The Santiagos and Lily got out. A person stood under the roof that covered the front door. It was Lana. Lori, Bobby, Lily, Lorraine and Miranda walked to the door, where Lana was standing.
"Hi Lana. Merry Christmas." Lori said.
Lana nodded a little bit.
"You Alright?"
Lana shook her head.
"Okay. Tell me when you need something."
Lana nodded. Lori opened the front door and the Santiagos entered.
"Merry Christmas." Bobby said.
The door got closed. Lori, Bobby, Lorraine and Miranda were inside. Yet Lily wasn't. She stood next to Lana and looked with her at the roads and the sky, that was foggy and illuminated by the Town.
"Kurt?" Lily asked.
Lana nodded and wiped something from her face.
"I understand." Lily said.
"I got reminded of him."
"What reminded you of him?"
"I don't know. I just couldn't stop thinking about him. And…"
Lily wrapped her right arm around Lana.
"I know who." Lily said.
"I was happy."
"I know."
"All is broken... All I wanted, all I planned... Broken…"
"It is. I'm sorry for that."
Lily looked at the snow.
"We both went through different hells. Yet what we feel is the same." Lily said.
Lana leaned her head on Lily.
"I feel tired of all of this." Lana said.
"We stand through this." Lily said.
Lily stretched her hand to the snow on the railing inf front of the door, and took a bit of it. Lily held it, and looked with Lana at it. Then Lily let it fall out of her hand.
"We should go in." Lily said.
Lana turned to the door. She opened it and entered, followed by Lily. In the House were the kids Playing. Miranda with Hank and Howard junior, and Mia with Lucas, Luan's child. On the couch in the living room was Laerke. She looked tired and pale, like she didn't sleep for a whole week. Lily looked to the dining room. Her sisters with, if they had, partners and her parents were in the dining room and talked. Lola spotted Lily and Lana, and went to them.
"Good that you're here. How are you?" Lola asked.
"Normal. How is the situation here?" Lily asked.
"Like every time the family is here as its whole. Lynn talks strange things about black Russian cars. Though I heard her many times saying more weird things."
Lana entered the ding room. Lola whispered to Lily.
"You talked to her?"
"I did. Yet I can't fix anything. Though she feels better I assume." Lily whispered.
"That's something."
Lily looked briefly to Laerke. Lola noticed.
"She is fine. If we can consider her fine."
"How is she?"
"That's something you need to ask Lucy."
Lily looked in the Living room. Lucy was standing next to Leni, holding a drink in her hand. Lily went to Lucy.
"Ah. Hello Lily."
"Lucy. I have some questions." Lily said.
"Okay. Ask me."
"How is Laerke?"
"Laerke... Well I was at a specialist for nuclear medicine with her. It is better than expected, not great but less bad than we thought."
"This is good to hear."
"Yes... I guess so…" Lucy said and took a sip of her drink with widened eyes.
"Is there a problem?" Lily asked.
"No. Just some usual issues."
"So the criticism you had towards me all the time?"
"It's nothing new I could say. But I could say so much. So much. And a part of me wants to curse you. But the other part sees the consequences. And it wouldn't bring us further. Nothing would change and the butter bread would still fall the same."
Lily nodded.
"Lily, one thing is there."
"This is?"
"You should get in contact with Laerke. Try to be her aunt. After what you did, you should make her feel better."
Lily nodded and looked at a clock at a wall.
"I will try my best."
"I hope you say how you mean it."
"I do."
Lucy nodded.
"It's a good thing to hear that."
Lucy turned to her sister Luan. Lily took a pillbox out of her pocket and took two pills. She stood at the same spot for five minutes, and then went in the living room. She sat on the couch next to Laerke. Laerke looked at her. She recognized her, and turned back and looked on the ground. Lily tried to think. She knew german. And from her past, barely any words danish. She tried to remember. Bad memories went in her mind. Memories of people butchered, barely alive yet still conscious. She shook bher head, and tried to focus on the present. She slightly started sweating. The only things that came to her mind was greeting. Lily slightly turned her head to Laerke and looked at the same spot she was looking at. She had to focus. Lily wiped the sweat away from her forehead and spoke.
"Hvordan har du det?"
(How are you?)
Laerke looked with widened and woken up eyes at her.
"Du taler ligesom mig?"
(You speak like me?)
Lily shook her head and waved her hand over her ear.
"No. Just simple words."
Laerke looked again at the floor. She was disappointed, like rarely someone was.
"Think, someone understand me." Laerke said.
Lily nodded.
"I barely know how this is. Maybe, different. But being in a country which language you can't speak."
"Country?"
"Germany. I was able to speak German but when everyone speaks it and you still think in your language... It gets too much."
Laerke looked at Lily and symbolized an explosion in her head. Lily nodded, and started sweating really strong. Laerke and Lily looked at the floor again. Lorraine approached them.
"Dinner is in ten minutes Grandma said."
"Okay." Lily said and nodded.
"Everything alright?"
"Yes. Laerke and I had a talk."
"You did?"
Lily nodded.
"Okay. Without any problems?"
It was too much for Lily at this point. She got up fast and left the living room. Lorraine sighed.
"No. Of course not."
Lorraine went to the dining room. Lily was standing next to Lucy. Lorraine watched them.
"It was a big mistake." Lily said.
"Maybe." Lucy said and took a sip of her drink.
"I will refuse doing this in the future."
Lucy turned to Lily, with a look that was surprisingly understanding. Lorraine was surprised and kept listening.
"Look, we don't need to discuss that now. Let's stop trying anything and just enjoy this evening. Okay?"
"I accept."
Lorraine went to her mother. Lori was sitting on a chair at the big table. Lorraine sat on the chair next to her and leaned herself at Lori.
"Already stress." Lorraine whispered.
"With who?" Lori asked quietly.
"Lily with Lucy because of the Girl Lucy has."
"Ah. I see."
"It's a very heated up thing."
"I know. The way they talked…"
"Don't worry."
Lorraine whispered in Lori's ear.
"Mom, does Lily go to jail?"
Lori looked at Lorraine and went with her hand over Lorraine's head. She smiled warmly to Lorraine
"No. She won't." Lori whispered.
"How can you be that sure? And… Will you go to jail? You were with her when she did it." Lorraine whispered.
"Honey... No need to worry. I talked to people who know what will happen. And believe me, there is nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"I am rarely that sure."
Lorraine nodded. Bobby and Lynn senior entered the dining room, holding the food. The kids ran into the room, and the adults sat down.
"So we made chicken curry with rice at home." Bobby said.
"And a good meatloaf." Lynn senior said.
"Great." Miranda said.
Bobby and Lynn senior put the food on the table.
"Bon appetit to all of you." Bobby said.
Many of the family member answered at the same moment with the same responce.
"Bon appetit."
The plates got filled and the dinner began. Lorraine looked to her left. Next to her was Leni. Leni smiled at Lorraine.
"You look wonderful today." Leni said.
"You too aunt Leni. I wish I had a dress like you." Lorraine said.
"Thank you. You don't seem so happy."
"I wanted to wear a dress. Like Mom, or like you. Because I want to look good."
"You don't need to worry about that."
"How do you mean?"
"You look good already. Don't worry about any dresses."
"Okay." Lorraine said, smiled, and started with the dinner.
Lynn junior ate her meatloaf, and looked to her right. Luna sat next to her.
"You alright?" Lynn asked.
"Hmm? Oh, yes. Very. It gets better with every week." Luna said.
Lynn started smiling.
"It's great to hear that."
"Yes. Sam is well, Mia does great at kindergarten. Our family seems to fix itself again. Couldn't be better."
"Yes. It's true."
"And Lucy with her adoptive daughter Laerke, never thought it would go so well with them."
"Me neither." Lynn said and looked to Lucy and Laerke.
Laerke looked at the meatloaf and the rice on her plate. She was visibly, and positively overwhelmed by the amount of food on her plate.
"This food?" Laerke asked overwhelmed and looked at Lucy with big eyes.
"Yes. This is food. And it's all yours." Lucy said.
Laerke looked at the food. She couldn't believe it was all hers. Laerke took the Meatloaf in her hand and shoved as much of it in her mouth as she could. Lucy held her back.
"Hey hey hey. Not like that. We have fork and knife to eat." Lucy said.
Laerke swallowed the meatloaf down and shoved the rest of it in her mouth. Lucy took Laerkes hands and wiped with a napkin the fat of the meatloaf off of her hands. Lucy put a fork in Laerkes hands, and then took Laerke's hand with the fork, and took a piece of chicken with the fork.
"Now you eat it from the fork." Lucy said.
Lucy let Laerke's hand go. Laerke looked confused at the fork, and then took the chocked with her teeth from the fork. Lucy nodded with a smile.
"Well done." Lucy said.
Laerke picked up another piece of curry chicken, and ate this too. Then she laid the fork aside, took a handful of rice in her hand and shoved it up her mouth. Lucy shook her head, and wiped Laerke's hands again.
"Nobody takes it away from you." Lucy said.
The dinner continued. And hour Later, the table was empty again, and the Louds stood in the living room around the christmas tree that stood in the corner on a small table.
"What is the first song we sing?" Lynn senior asked.
"Silent night." Lucy said.
"Okay. Family, Prepare." Rita said.
The family took some songbooks and looked up the right pages. Leni had some problems.
"Howard why are the songs lyrics written in Russian?" Leni asked.
"What?"
Howard looked at the book Leni had. He took it and turned it. Leni was able to read the lyrics now. Leni looked happily at it. Lily leaned to Lorraine
"This song is actually German." Lily said.
"Really?" Lorraine asked.
"Yes. Very well known there."
Lynn senior's voice rang through the living room.
"Now we sing."
They started singing.
«Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!»
It felt kinda weird for lorraine to sing. Around her family. She never sung in their presence.
«Silent night! Holy night!
Saviourrds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!»
Lorraine glanced discreetly at Lily. Lily wasn't singing. She just hummed the notes of the song.
«Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!»
The family stopped singing.
"That wasn't bad." Rita said.
"You didn't sing young lady." Lucy said and took Laerke on her arms.
"Ingen." Laerke said.
"Of course you say no."
"Now the second song." Lynn senior said.
"But Lincoln's favorite." Lynn junior said.
"Jingle bells. Get ready."
They turned the pages to the right page.
"And now!" Lynn senior said loudly and the family started singing.
«Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bob tail ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight! Oh!
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh. Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.»
"And again!" Lynn junior said.
«Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh. Hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.»
They finished the song. Lori smiled.
"That was better than last year." Lori said.
"Much better." Sam answered.
"Last year wasn't that bad." Luna said.
"I have different memories then." Lola said.
"You often have different memories." Sam said.
Luna gestured a bottle from wich she "drank" from. Lola shook her head with a mad facial expression on her face. Sam leaned to Luna and whispered her ear.
"That wasn't good of you Luna."
"Uh... Sorry…" Luna whispered.
"Just hold your words back."
"Okay."
"When are the presents coming?" Mia asked.
"Soon." Luna said.
"Lorraine also always asked for the presents." Lori said.
Bobby rolled his eyes.
"Don't remind me."
They saw Rita giving a present to Lynn senior.
"Okay. Now." Sam said.
Sam went to the front door and went to her car. Lily went to the frint door and searched the pockets of her coat. Then she took two envelopes and two small presents out, wrapped in white wrapping paper. Sam cam,e through the door with two big bags. She closed the door.
"You got presents?" Sam asked.
"Yes." Lily said.
"Only four?"
"I didn't want to give presents originally. But I decided the other way, but too late."
"Well you're here. And that's what matters."
Sam looked into the bags she had and then took a small present out. It was labeled with Lily, and was wrapped in red wrapping paper with snowmen on it.
"Merry Christmas." Sam said, and took the bags into the living room.
Lily looked at the present. She put it in her coat and then went into the living room. She looked around and saw Lucy holding Laerke. She went to them, and placed one of the presents she had in Lucy's arms between her and Laerke. Lily went away. Lucy looked at the present and gave it to Laerke.
"Here. From aunt Lily." Lucy said.
Laerke looked at it. Lily went to Lorraine and Miranda. She gave them the Envelopes.
"This is for you." Lily said.
"Thank you." Miranda said.
"Thank you aunt Lily." Lorraine said.
They both opened the envelopes. In both was a card and 200 dollars. Lorraine's card showed a snowy taiga forest, somewhere far in the north, and a snowman wo looked like he welcomed someone. Miranda's card showed a kitty with a Santa hat and some presents. The Kitty had a ginger fur and smiled. On Lorraines card stood:
«Merry christmas to you Lorraine, I hope you can do something with this.»
"Thank you." Lorraine said and hugged Lily.
On Miranda's card stood:
«Merry christmas to you Miranda, use these 200 dollars wisely.»
Miranda smiled and gave Lily a hug.
"Thank you." Miranda said.
"No problem."
Lorraine went to her mother. A moment later, she came back to Lily, with a present in her hands. It was a small present, wrapped in white wrapping paper with silver snow flakes on it.
"That's for you." Lorraine said and gave the present to Lily.
"Thank you." Lily said.
She laid the last present she had to the side and opened the one Lorraine gave her. She held a box in her hand. It was a train modell. A wagon. The box had a picture of it printed on it. It was a greed wagon, with the swiss coat of arms and the yellow writing «SBB CFF». Lily nodded, and carefully wrapped her right arm around Lorraine.
"Thank you." Lily said.
"You're welcome." Lorraine said.
Lily took the other present she had. It was labeled with Lynns name. Lynn Junior. She gave the box with the wagon back to Lorraine.
"Can you take care of this for a moment?"
"Sure." Lorraine said
Lily approached Lynn junior who stood near the christmas tree.
"Lynn."
"Lily."
Lily stretched the present to Lynn junior. Lynn took it, and opened it. It was a black box.
"Wow... A black box." Lynn junior said with sarcasm.
She opened the box, and took out a necklace made of silver. It was simple, but Lynn started to smile.
"Okay. I like this."
She put the necklace around her neck. She smiled at Lily.
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry that it isn't personal if that was something you wanted. I didn't have much time."
"No worry. I tried to get you a present... But something else happened."
"What happened?"
Lynn bent to Lily and tapped her index finger on her own head.
"This little demon up there makes me crazy."
"Didn't you take your pills?"
"No. That day I didn't have them. So you can guess how it was."
"I can't guess that."
"Of course you can't."
They both stood awkwardly silent there for a moment. Then Lynn wrapped her arms around Lily.
"Thank you for the necklace." Lynn said.
"You're welcome."
Lucy sat on the couch with laerke on her lap. They both held the present Laerke got from Lily.
"Wanna open it?" Lucy asked.
"Åben?"
"Open. It pronounced open."
Laerke ignored Lucy and ripped the wrapping paper off. The present was a wodden box. Laerke opened it, and then held a small plushie polar bear in her hands. She looked with widened eyes at it, and then wrapped her arms around the plushie polar bear.
"En isbjørn."
(A polar bear.)
Lucy smiled as she saw how much laerke like the polar bear plushie Laerke got from Lily.
"What a nice present isn't it?" Lucy said.
Laerke ignored her and focused on the plushie.
"I get it. You love it."
Presents got shared and many got a smile. Two hours later, Lori; Bobby, Lorraine, Miranda, and Lily said goodbye, and went to the car of the Santiagos. They got in and Lori sat on the driver seat. She drove off. Lily took the present she got from Sam out of her coat pocket, and looked at it.
"Who is this gift from?" Lorraine asked.
"Sam." Lily answered.
"Open it."
Lily unwrapped the present. It was a black box. Lily opened the box. It was hard to see, but when light fell on it, a golden coin, six centimeters wide, with a eagle on it looking to its left. Lily took out her phone and turned on the flashlight. It was the German Bundesadler. Around of it was a writing.
«85 Jahre Bundesrepublik Deutschland 1949-2026»
Meaning, 85 Years of Federal-Republic of Germany, 1949-2026.
"What is it?" Miranda asked.
"The last federal German memory coin." Lily said.
She closed the box. They went through the darkness of the night, until they reached the house of the Santiagos. They got out with all trhe stuff they got, and went into the house. Lori closed and locked the door.
"Time for bed girls. Say goodnight to aunt Lily."
"Goodnight." Miranda said and went upstairs.
"Night." Lorraine said and hugged Lily.
"Goodnight Lorraine." Lily said.
Lorraine went upstairs.
"Good that you came with us." Lori said.
Lily nodded.
"We go to bed. Goodnight." Bobby said.
Lori and Bobby went in their bedroom. Lily went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth. Then she went in her room, where she changed her clothes to some that were good to sleep in them. She turned off the light, and laid down. Lily took the radio and turned it on. Only the static of the stortwave was audible on 13.75 megahertz. She tuned on another band. 49 meters. But nothing really was on there, except some barely audible stations and one channel marker that sounded like a goose that was screaming. She turned the radio off, and closed her eyes.
End of the Chapter