| From the archive |
|
Monday the 31th of May 1999 Spring is in the air -Italian ballads, sa Beata. So loud you can hardly hear your own thoughts. So you´re at it again. You´re starting to be like Coco. -That couldn´t possible be, Coco said leisurly. She´s far to thin. -You´ve led her on again, Beata said accusingly to Coco. Are there no limits to your undecencies? -It´s not undecent, Asta defended herself. I´m not in love. It´s just a flirt. She sat down in the cherryred sofa with a determined air and hugged a jugoslavian peasant prayer-pillow as a shield between her and Beatas brutal concept of the world. -Oh no? Beata said. And what is this? Chocolat éclairs? Red wine? Lingerie? Newly shaved legs? Are these not sure signs of a woman going down? Losing herself in the Marshes of Love? -You´re so oldfashioned the clocks rewind when you enter the room, Coco said and lighted a cigar. The little one is starting to wake up. Take a look outside. Coco pointed with the cigar out through the windows. -What do you see? -Pollen, Beata answered. A lot of respiratory problems. -It´s spring, Coco said. Spring is finally here and then what happens? Do you remember or has that boring husband of yours killed all your normal instincts? -Men, music and a wondeful mess, Asta dreamed on and happily consumed a chocolate éclair. Spring is in the air. -You see? She´s finally getting the knack of it. She´s finally becoming a real woman. -Real woman, Beata snorted. To sit there all day dreaming romantic mush about lazy twats who´re completely useless when winter comes. -And how much fun is he, your dear hardworking husband? Coco asked and dropped the ash in Beata´s teacup. -Fun, Beata said crankily, one can´t expect to have fun all the time. -Look what he did to your garbage collection, sorry, textile collection. Coco said. One nice husband. Beata looked out the window, determined not to care. -So what have you done with the christmas decorations? Coco continued. The fortytwo bags we carried down from the attic? Beata started to look funny. -It was outdated, Beata said. I had to refresh it. -He made you throw it away? Asta asked, suddenly waking up from her reveries. -Nearly all of it, Beata said and swalloved hard. Most of it. All of it to be exact. -Oh, you poor thing, Asta said. And you´ve been collecting so long. Even Coco looked taken aback by this ruthless behaviour of the man Beata obviously tried to adore. -We went to Denmark last weekend, she said. There were lot of gourgeous guys there. You really should come along next time. -So much to choose from, Asta said dreamy-eyed. -You´re mad both of you, Beata said and dried her eyes. -Yes we are, Coco said, but we have fun. -We´ll cry when it´s winter, Asta said and handed Beata the chocolate éclairs. Have a cookie. It helps. copyright hamnqvist |