The graveyard visit

Before going to visit your parents? grave, Ottar invites you to have dinner with him. You accept and go with him to Bacchus, a restaurant that opened just a year ago. The two of you sit there, having a conversation about absolutely nothing that?s important. As they served the food you went on talking about life in the military, but without telling him much and not really disclosing anything significant. Ottar talked about his job for the past five years in very much the same way, without telling names or anything that was confidential. But after a while the talk turned to sports, exercise and television. Just as you lean back in your seat, having consumed the last piece of food on your plate, Ottar suddenly asks: ?Why go there? You don?t even believe in that crap!? You understand the question very well, and have sort of expected it, but it is still a tricky one to answer, and you don?t feel like getting into a lengthy explanation. Not at this point. So you just tell something about respecting the ways of other people. By the look on his face he knows you?re feeding him a load of bullshit. But he doesn?t push the question.

After sitting by the table for a while, digesting the meal, Ottar pays the bill and gets up. You follow suit and get into the car outside. As you?re putting on the seatbelt, he asks if this is really something you want to do? You just nod, and stare out the window.

The church lies a bit further up the valley, practically wedged down between the mountainsides. Because of this, there is almost never any direct sunlight. Only for a few hours each day, as the sun passes overhead. It?s too late in the day now, and the entire church and graveyard is wrapped in shadow. Ottar pulls over and you get out. But, as he starts to follow, you interject: ?Sorry! But I?d rather be alone right now. It?s just something I have to do.? He looks worried for a moment, but smiles and asks if he should pick you up later? You answer ?no? and close the door. Ottar drives off, probably wondering what this is all about. It doesn?t feel right keeping him in the dark, especially when it involved no real secrecy and was just a simple case of saying goodbye. But it was a habit you got in the military, keeping personal business on a personal level.

You have a little trouble finding their graves, but finally you see Robert?s grave and right next to it is your mother?s. It was a very nice little family gravesite. You bet it said something about this in those papers you signed, and regret not reading them properly. You lie down in the grass, between the two graves opposite to the gravestones and prop yourself up. Lying there for a while, looking back and forth between them while considering what to say. While doing so, you remember the first time you led a conversation like this, and how the second time had felt much more natural, and with horror you remember the third ? So many friends buried ? None of them had had the inscription ?Beloved father- or mother? on their tombstones. ?Well mum, and dad ? How have you been?? Not waiting for an answer, you can still practically hear mom complaining about her husband being distracted and the car never working right, and dad complaining about the stock market and ?those bloody computers that never worked right?. ?Yeah I know. It?s been too long and too far. I?ve missed you too.? This conversation goes on for a while, while answering the questions they would have asked, or you think they would have asked.

It is starting to get cold when you finally get up and leave. You haven?t brought your cell phone, so you walk over to the house next to the churchyard, thinking to borrow their phone. Contrary to belief, the house didn?t belong to the church, but had been built by the caretaker along with the church almost a hundred years ago. When he had retired, the house had changed owners a number of times. You seemed to recall that it belonged to an old lady, but judging by the sports car and the SUV parked outside it has changed hands again. The house looks in good order and is well maintained, the garden is the same. You knock on the door, a white wood rose painted door, and listen for reactions inside. There are voices ? distinctly female voices ? and the sound of feet approaching the door. It flies open, and you are looking down at a young girl, maybe 18 years old. The look she gives you is one of almost utter fascination mixed with complete surprise. She is fairly short and has a nice and curvous figure. Her hair is very dark, and cut very short, reminding you of a crow?s nest. Her eyes are bright blue and have a very intelligent look to them. Her features are smooth, almost baby-like, and attractive. The girl is dressed in a light summer dress in yellow, with flowers sprouting all over the texture; it complements her features almost perfectly. Slowly, and with a sensual slur in the voice she asks: ?What can I help you with?? You don?t think she?s here alone, so you ask if her parents are in? Giving a sigh and maybe even a pout she shouts for someone inside ? ?SIS! SOMEONE HERE TO SEE YOU!? There?s no response and the girl starts again: ?SIS! THERE?S SOMEO??

?ALRIGHT? someone interjects from upstairs and you hear stomping feet coming down the stairs. The other girl is clearly older, you guess her to be about your own age. She is taller than the other girl, but has almost the same figure; only it has a fullness and shape that implies maturity and sensuality even while retaining that teen firmness and attractiveness. Her figure is much easier to study as she?s only dressed in a towel. The wet black hair reaches to the middle of the back, water drips from the tips and there are spots of foam in it. You think about apologizing, but decide that doing so would make her even more irritated. You notice that the other girl has a smug grin standing next to you, and decide that they?re probably sisters.

-

Suzanne angrily got out of the tub as she heard her sister wailing downstairs, about someone wanting to see her. She had hoped that Kayla could have handled it herself, or at least told them to come back later. Wrapping a towel around herself and brushing strands of hair from her face, Kayla starts shouting again. But, Susanne cut her off by shouting ?ALRIGHT?! She trampled downstairs and saw someone standing in the door with her sister. The man was very tall and striked her as very handsome. Kayla had a pleading look on her face; like a puppy being showed a treat. But there was also an air of greediness about her. ?So, what can I help you with?? she asked, directing her attention at the stranger.

He had an apologetic look, but didn?t offer one. ?I was wondering if I could borrow a phone and call for a taxi?? Though it wasn?t his fault, Suzanne wanted to start shouting, mostly at Kayla. Instead she nodded and asked him to come inside.

?I haven?t seen you around before. Did you just move here?? Suzanne didn?t really want to make idle conversation, but thought it polite.

?No! I have just been away.? He picked up the phone and dialled a number. ?Yes hello? This is John Walker; I?d like a taxi to pick me up at the church. How soon can you send one?? Suzanne suddenly felt really warm in an embarrassed way. ?An hour and a half? Why?? Ok. No.? He hung up and looked at her, noticing the strange face.

?You really don?t recognise me?? He made another apologetic look, squinted slightly, but made no effort to guess. Which was really for the best. ?It?s Suzanne.? He smiled, not looking the least embarrassed for not recognising her.

Suzanne Sorenson had been one of John?s classmates all those years ago. Even though she had been one of the most attractive girls in school, she had kept pretty much to herself. John had been one of the few friends she had had, as both of them had trained the same martial arts. But when he had left, they had lost touch. Suzanne had dropped out of her education and married with an architect, much older than her. But their interests had been completely opposed, and he seemed to prefer sluts and hookers to her ? whom had little experience. So they had divorced after just a year. Suzanne had bought this house and gotten a job as a gardener. Her kid sister had moved in when she started school, and they had lived together for the past two years. While Suzanne was pretty much herself, and had only dated once after the failed marriage, Kayla was very outgoing and had a great personality, at least according to everyone else. Suzanne had asked John to sit down, while she had gotten on a bathrobe and fixed a couple of sandwiches. Kayla had taken a seat in the sofa facing him. And after sitting there for hours catching up, John realises how late it is and asks to try and call a taxi again. Before she could say anything, Kayla volunteers to drive him home. However **** Suzanne is to let her sister be alone with him, she can?t very well take him home herself and it would be rude to make him call a taxi.

-

You don?t really want to leave yet ? Just the company of Suzanne has made you feel good about your decision to come back to Stryn. But even so, it is getting late, and it might be interesting to get to know Kayla a little better.