The Circle (Hammer) - By Elfgren, Sara B.,Strandberg, Mats Page 0,42
with Gustaf, it’s like looking at an old black-and-white movie. He sort of brought in all the colour. But I feel as if I still belong to that black-and-white world, and that he’s going to realise it at any moment. That I’m not … in colour. If he sees that, everything’s going to come crashing down.’
‘But he loves you. That’s obvious. Maybe you just have to trust in that.’
‘I wish it was that simple,’ Rebecka says.
‘Don’t you love how I’m sitting here giving you advice, me with my huge experience of boys and relationships?’ Minoo says, and Rebecka laughs.
‘Okay, now it’s your turn. Don’t you have any deep dark secrets you want to get off your chest?’
Minoo hesitates. ‘Well, I’ve got a crush on someone I can never be with,’ she says. ‘How immature is that?’
‘Come on. Who is it?’
‘You have to promise not to tell anyone. I mean, I know you wouldn’t say anything, but I have to say, “don’t tell anyone,” so that I’ve said it. It makes me feel better about it.’
Rebecka laughs again. ‘I promise,’ she says.
Minoo can barely make herself say his name. She’s so afraid of sounding like the silly little virgin she is. ‘Max.’
It comes out of her like a gasp. She’d like the floor to open up and swallow her, for someone to nail fresh planks over her and forget her for all eternity.
‘Do you think he feels the same?’ Rebecka asks, as though it wouldn’t be strange if he did.
‘Of course not,’ Minoo answers. ‘Sometimes he sort of looks at me, but that’s probably me reading things into it that aren’t there.’
‘Why don’t you talk to him outside school some time? If you feel there’s something between you, you’re probably right.’ She makes it sound so easy.
‘Thanks. But I think the best thing for me to do is just to stop being in love with him.’
‘Good luck,’ Rebecka says ironically, and Minoo can’t help but smile.
14
CITY MALL IS the epitome of everything Vanessa hates about Engelsfors. It’s deserted, ugly and, above all, an embarrassing failure.
It opened six years ago to a great fanfare and free balloons for all the children. Now there’s nothing there but shuttered shops and Sture & Co., hangout of choice for all the local drunks. The entire building sits in constant gloom because no one can be bothered to replace the light bulbs in the ceiling. The Crystal Cave is the first new addition to the place for more than two years.
A bell dings as Vanessa opens the door. There is a strong smell of incense. The walls are a warm yellow and it’s packed with shelves, tables of books, dream catchers, dolphin paintings, scented candles and mysterious jars. And, of course, there are crystals in all colours and sizes.
An older woman is sitting behind the counter flipping through a gossip magazine. Her skin has been battered by the sun, and her straggly blonde hair is a mess mangled from endless perms. Her lipstick is a frosty pink, and her eyelids droop under a heavy coat of turquoise shadow. Her denim outfit has small golden butterflies embroidered here and there.
So, this must be Mona Moonbeam. Vanessa doesn’t know what she was expecting, but not someone who looks as if she’s stepped out of an eighties music video. As she approaches the counter she smells stale smoke and sickly perfume. ‘Hi …’ she begins.
‘What do you want?’ Mona croaks, without looking up from her magazine.
Vanessa is annoyed. This shop probably needs all the customers it can get. Mona Moonbeam ought to cheer and scatter rose petals at her feet. ‘Am I disturbing you?’
Mona Moonbeam lowers her magazine slowly and looks at her. ‘What do you want?’ she repeats.
‘My mother was in here and had her palm read. Jannike Dahl? She said you had some kind of two-for-one offer.’
She lays the receipt on the counter and Mona picks it up slowly, as if she wants to emphasise that she’s not going to hurry on Vanessa’s account. She puts on the glasses she has hanging around her neck and examines the slip of paper closely and fastidiously. Then she looks at Vanessa and lets out a long, deep sigh.
Vanessa is about to turn and leave. But she’s already put this off for several weeks and the offer expires today. Her mother would be disappointed. She wants Vanessa to share her interest in dream interpretation, affirmation and aura photography. ‘Is there a problem?’ she asks.