Helena Halme - The Red King of Helsinki - Lies, Spies and Gymnastics

Iain’s first thought was, how the hell was he to come between mother and daughter? He cleared his throat. ‘Wayward?’

The Colonel inhaled deeply. After a long silence he said, slowly, as if speaking to a child, ‘Use the old trick of drugs.’ Seeing Iain’s grave face, he resumed a normal tone of voice. ‘Everybody with a teenage child is terrified they’re high these days, I know I am.’ The Colonel paused for a moment, looking at Iain. ‘You’re lucky not to have these kinds of worries. Bloody children, nothing but trouble! Anyway, take money from the mother’s purse when she’s not looking. Hint that it was the daughter needing it for drugs. It works every time.’

The date of the competition was announced in assembly the next day. It would be less than a week away on Monday. The Old Crow addressed the back of the vast hall.

‘We haven’t been given much time to prepare, but I am sure the chosen girls will give the best performance of their lives. Remember, you are not only representing your school, the Helsinki Lyceum, but also the city of Helsinki and your fatherland, Finland.’

Nobody seemed to be interested. The Crow had to clear her throat several times to be heard. She scanned the room with her brown eyes full of threat. The restlessness in the vast assembly hall subsided. Pia was sitting right behind Sasha. Next to her was an empty seat, which she’d reserved for Anni. But she was late and would miss the whole of the announcement. At last came what Pia had been waiting for.

‘And now, I’ll pass you onto Miss Joutila who will announce the team.’

When Miss Joutila read out Pia’s name first, she saw Sasha jerk her head towards the left, as if she wanted to look at Pia but stopped herself at the last second.

After assembly, Pia walked past the lockers in the hallway towards the central staircase. She scanned the hall for any sign of Anni. She’d have to slink into the line of pupils making their way to lesson if she didn’t want the Old Crow to know that she missed assembly. But there was no sign of Anni. A few people patted Pia’s back as they passed her. Heikki was waiting at the top of the stairs. He stood with his feet apart, with his hands in the pockets of his jeans.

‘Meet me at the smoking place after class,’ Heikki whispered into her ear. Pia’s heart started pounding. It was so loud she was afraid Heikki would hear it. She nodded. Someone pushed her from behind and she saw the Old Crow had appeared behind them. Heikki and Pia entered the classroom side by side and everyone stared. Pia didn’t look at the people in the room, but hurried to her desk. As she flung her bag down to the floor, she saw Anni’s empty desk. Where was she? Usually, if she was bunking off school she’d call Pia to ask if she wanted to join her. They’d spend the day in town, walking around Stockmann’s department store looking at all the clothes and shoes they couldn’t afford. Or at least Pia couldn’t afford. Anni must be ill. Pia decided to go and see her after school.

The Old Crow started handing out sheets on some grammatical point or other, ‘You must all listen very carefully. This is the most common mistake you all make, and making it during the exam will deduct valuable points from your essay.’ Pia sighed and tried to concentrate on the writing on the sheet. But all she could think about was the Friendship Trophy. Why had the Russian wanted her to take part and not Sasha or Anni? They were both good on the mats. Because of Sasha’s size, it seemed to come easy to her. Pia was forever cursing her long legs. They took so much more effort to control. How did he know which girls were good? Had Miss Joutila told him? And how did Miss Joutila know a Russian from the Soviet Embassy?

Whatever, Pia wasn’t going to let Miss Joutila and the school down. She was going to train hard. She wouldn’t have any dinner tonight. She would lose at least two kilos before the competition.

That would show Sasha.

‘Pia!’ The Crow called, after the most boring Finnish class ever. ‘You are to go and see Miss Joutila in her office.’ Pia looked at her watch. Miss Joutila would have to wait until next break.

Pupils weren’t allowed to enter the area behind the Lyceum. But to have their break-time ciggies the smokers climbed through a massive hole in the chicken wire fence. When it was cold like today, they huddled under a large pine tree, and the smoke rose straight up to the large, lower branches. The ground was covered with cigarette butts. Pia had only been to the place a couple of times, because she didn’t smoke. She’d tried it once, but inhaling made her feel sick. She didn’t mind the smell of it, though, especially when it was on Heikki.

When Pia got to the tree, Heikki was already there, smoking and talking with Sasha. Because of the Old Crow she’d got there before Pia. Sasha was standing close to Heikki, her down coat touching the sleeve of Heikki’s jacket.

‘Pia, come here, hon,’ Heikki said. He was blowing smoke rings. When Pia was next to him, he put his arm around her. Pia held Sasha’s gaze. Nobody said anything for a while. Heikki dropped his cigarette and put it out with his boot, kissed Pia lightly on the lips and said, ‘We’re off – see you Sash.’

That showed her, Pia thought, as they walked around to the back of the school. Pia had never before dared to come here. A small path led all around the school building. On the other side was marshland, with the occasional birch tree. The bare trunks looked sad and lonely, sticking out of the white snow like ghostly skeletons. They walked past several low windows. Pia recognised the biology labs and the home economics classroom with its row of stoves and ovens and kitchen cupboards. Heikki peered through each window before they passed it.

‘In case some old cow is sitting and spying on us,’ he said and looked back at Pia.

After the classrooms there was a wide bit of the red brick wall with no windows. This is where Heikki stopped and turned Pia’s back against the wall. Pia could taste the cigarettes in Heikki’s breath. His lips were as soft as they had been the night of the party. There was a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to melt into him. Heikki’s tongue became more persistent, getting deeper into her mouth, exploring every bit it could reach. Pia pulled back – she needed air.

‘Heikki,’ Pia started, but he’d put his hands inside Pia’s jacket and started kissing her again. This time he was gentler. Pia was glad he had hold of her waist. She could have fainted out of happiness.

Heikki was moving his hands further up; then he pushed them inside Pia’s jumper. His touch felt cold against her bare flesh. With one hand, Heikki undid Pia’s bra.

Pia pulled back out of Heikki’s grasp. ‘Not here!’

Heikki took a step back and put his hands into his jeans pockets. His eyes were dark. ‘I need to talk to you about something.’

‘What?’ Pia was struggling with both of her hands to redo the bra. ‘What is it?’

‘The Tournament’

‘What about it?’ Finally she got the hook and the eyelet to meet.

‘I don’t think you should do it.’

Pia looked at Heikki. His lips were smaller and pinched together, as if he was trying not to breathe. What did Heikki have to do with the Friendship Tournament? Pia was confused. Then she heard the shrill sound of the bell.

‘Listen, Pia, don’t get involved in this. It’s dangerous!’ Heikki said. But Pia was already running round the building. Being found smoking (though she hadn’t smoked!) would put an end to her gymnastic career at the school. Miss Joutila was dead against smoking. And The Old Crow had told them that being found behind the fence would result in suspension. Being unable to go to school was the last thing Pia needed. It would also mean she’d not see Heikki every day. Pia ducked underneath the windows and finally reached the hole in the chicken wire. Just before they entered the school, Heikki caught Pia’s arm and said, ‘I mean it Pia, the trophy’s not worth it!’ His grasp was firm. Even through her thick jacket, it hurt. His face was serious and his eyes dark. Suddenly, he let go and casually walked through the door without looking back.