Dorthe Nors - So Much for That Winter

Minna does like Svaneke, but

Svaneke reminds her a bit of Linda.

The houses have tricked themselves out for the season.

The houses bulge with whitewashed plinths.

Minna raises her eyes to the horizon.

The ocean’s not going anywhere.

The ocean’s seen much worse.

The cliffs are above thoughts of time.

The Baltic! Årsdale!

Minna wants to hike toward Årsdale a bit later.

Minna wants to hike so far south that she can hike in peace.

Minna’s looked at the map.

The rocks extend a long way out down there.

The rocks permit clambering.

Minna can walk far out onto the rocks.

Minna’s on her way down and out, but

Svaneke Dairy is famed for its beer ice cream.

Svaneke Dairy lies en route.

Minna wants to have an ice cream to hike on.

The weather’s good for ice cream, and lots of people have thought the same thing:

The tourists have formed a line.

The line reaches far out into the gravel.

The line hardly budges.

The small children crawl around on a plastic cow in the courtyard.

The mothers stand in line.

The fathers look after the kids.

The retirees rummage in their purses.

The retirees cannot find their spectacles.

The waitresses are dressed in Morten Korch costumes.

The waitresses resemble actresses from the fifties.

The waitresses look like Tove Maës and Ghita Nørby.

The waitresses hobble becomingly in their feudal shoes.

The waitresses look homespun by the latte machines.

Minna’s crept forward a little ways in the line now.

Minna can see that there are celebrities in the line.

The celebrities take a long time to serve.

The retirees are on a first-name basis with the celebrities.

The small children ride the cow.

The fathers look at smartphones.

The mothers are ready to crack.

Minna on the other hand is of good cheer.

Minna wants to have a cup of coffee with her ice cream.

Minna’s advanced far in the line.

Minna’s about to order.

Tove Maës just can’t see Minna.

Tove Maës can only see the celebrity.

The celebrity’s from on TV.

The celebrity will have ice cream with licorice in it.

The celebrity will have espresso.

The celebrity flaunts the fact that he comes here often.

Tove Maës and the celebrity gossip about the locals.

Ghita Nørby limps out after more sherbet.

Ghita and Tove want most to serve the celebrity.

The celebrity can get what he wants.

Minna’s been cut in front of twice now.

Minna raises her hand tentatively.

Minna gets up on tiptoe.

The celebrity laughs loud and long.

Tove Maës laughs loud and long.

The retirees’ hip cement begins to crumble.

The kids will be confirmed soon.

The mothers and fathers have long since divorced.

Minna says, Excuse me!

Minna’s surprised to hear her own voice.

Minna continues, There are lots of folks who’re waiting.

Tove Maës freezes under her bonnet.

Ghita Nørby moves in frames.

Minna blushes with justice on her side.

Minna orders a caffe latte.

Minna orders a tub of beer ice cream.

Tove Maës hobbles over to the coffee machine.

Ghita Nørby shoots the celebrity a glance.

The celebrity walks out into the courtyard.

The retiree behind Minna smiles gratefully.

Minna looks proudly back at the line.

Minna regards the people she’s rescued.

Minna’s proud of her sudden asshole filter.

Minna sticks a feather in her cap.

Small victories count too, she thinks.

A hand pokes up in the middle of the line.

The hand pokes up and waves.

A large gray head pops to the side.

Gunvor’s mouth is a gaping O.

Gunvor calls out Minna’s name loudly in the dairy.

Minna! It’s me! Gunvor Kramer! From the folk high school!

Minna hears her coffee fizz out of the coffee machine.

Tove Maës sends a wicked smile out of the corner of her mouth.

Minna’s asshole filter worked well two seconds ago, but

Minna’s asshole filter has large holes in the mesh.

Gunvor Kramer’s found a corner in the courtyard.

Gunvor Kramer’s pushed Minna deep into the corner.

Gunvor Kramer’s wearing a linen smock.

Gunvor Kramer’s hair is pinned fast with a Viking clasp.

Gunvor’s been thinking a lot about Minna.

Minna’s made a big difference for Gunvor.

Gunvor was only capable of simple compositions.

Gunvor couldn’t get larger works to hang together.

Gunvor mostly preferred music with a chorus.

Gunvor was stuck artistically.

Minna helped her advance.

Gunvor stands in the supermarket, and then it happens.

Gunvor has to run out of the store.

Gunvor has to go over to her car.

Gunvor seats herself behind the wheel.

Gunvor finds her notebook in her purse.

Gunvor writes down the lyrics.

Gunvor hums the melody.

This is just an example, says Gunvor.

Gunvor clears her throat.

Minna’s coffee halts in front of her mouth.

The coffee steams in the morning heat.

The beer ice cream melts.

Gunvor sings a song.

The song’s about love.

Love is vulnerable, sings Gunvor.

Love falls to pieces so easily, she sings.

People are so busy.

No one should forget anybody.

No one should forget anybody.

Gunvor’s eyes are large and shiny.

Gunvor’s finished now.

Gunvor says that it’s the prologue to a cantata.

The cantata’s still missing a lot.

Minna smiles and grasps her beer ice cream.

Minna moves over on the bench.

Minna says, It’s good to know you got something out of the class.

Gunvor scrapes the bottom of her sherbet tub.

Gunvor asks how long Minna’s going to be on Bornholm.

Minna answers vaguely.

Gunvor gets an idea.

Gunvor’s planned a day trip to Dueodde.

It’s hot, Gunvor says, let’s go down and bathe.

Minna says, I’m not big on swimming.

Gunvor points at her sundress and asks, Why the bathing suit?

Minna needn’t reply.

Minna doesn’t owe Gunvor a reply.

Gunvor’s already moved on anyhow.

Gunvor tells her about the sand in Dueodde.

The sand is fine.

The sand gets into every fold of skin.

Gunvor slaps her thighs.

The skinfolds quiver.

Something moves inside the linen smock.

Minna feels powerless, especially in her face.

Minna needs to put up a fight.

Minna’s mouth tries to come up with a lie.

Minna’s mouth doesn’t want to say anything.

Gunvor’s mouth doesn’t want anything but, but now Minna gets lucky:

The backpack rings.

Minna’s backpack is sitting on the bench and ringing.

Gunvor looks at the backpack.

Minna knows quite well who’s hiding in the pack.

Minna opens it up anyway.

People ought to go away when they talk on their cells.

Anything else is rude.

Minna presses the answer button.

Minna gets up carefully from the bench.

Minna leaves the corner with Gunvor.

Minna here.

It’s about time! says Elisabeth.

Elisabeth gets down to business.

Elisabeth’s been saving up.

Minna walks hesitantly through the courtyard.

Minna approaches the cow.

Elisabeth pricks up her ears on the other end.

Elisabeth asks, Who are those kids?

Minna says, I don’t know.

That’s true enough, but not true enough for the sister.