Aliss at the Fire

Asle, the woman says then

I think Daddy has something for you, because you’re seven years old today, it’s your seventh birthday, November 17, she says

November 17, 1897, that’s today’s date, just like Brita says, Kristoffer says

and Asle looks at the two of them, so eager, so shy

It certainly is, yes, just like Brita says, Kristoffer says

and Kristoffer puts his free arm around Brita’s shoulder and then Kristoffer suddenly takes his other hand out from behind his back and in his hand there’s a boat, a little rowboat, one or two feet long, and with seats and oars and bailers and everything a boat should have, and he holds out the boat to Asle

Happy birthday, Asle, you’re seven, Kristoffer says

A big boy like you needs his own boat, a good boy like you, Asle, he says

Yes you’re such a good boy Asle, Brita says

and Asle goes over to Kristoffer, who is holding the boat out to him, and Asle takes the boat, and he stands there and looks at it, and then Kristoffer puts out his hand and Asle takes his hand and then Kristoffer shakes hands with Asle in a slow movement up and down and Asle just stands there and looks and looks at the boat

That’s a nice boat, Kristoffer says

You can see it has seats and floorboards and oars and bailers and everything, he says

And it’s so white and such nice woodwork, and the boat smells a little of tar, just like a brand new boat should smell, Brita says

That’s a nice boat Kristoffer built for you, she says

It’s because you are such a handsome little man Asle, Kristoffer says

You built it, Asle says

and Kristoffer says yes he did build it, because when he was young, a long time ago, he studied with a boat-builder, and even if he didn’t build that many boats with him he did learn how to build boats, yes, he says and then Kristoffer goes over to Asle, who is looking and looking at the boat, and Kristoffer puts his arms around Asle’s shoulders

I have to go try out the boat right now, Asle says

Yes, the waves probably aren’t too high, Kristoffer says

But be careful now, Brita says

Yes, you have to be careful, she says