Voyage 2002

"I haven't sung for fourteen years, Björn." November 2001 / Agnetha

When she had closed and locked the car doors, she had a good look around again. He wasn't there. She knew that somehow, but he had been there so many times that it still scared her.

She was just ready to start her car when her cell phone made a noise. Startled, she almost hit her head on the roof. With clammy hands, she dug into her bag, looking for her phone.

A text message from Björn: "Ringable, Agge?"

She pressed reply and began to answer.

"No, in acout an iour."

She sent it and then saw her text message. Damn phone, those keys were too small for her fingers! Really such a fantastic invention SMS... not!

"XD"

She stared at the screen and raised her eyebrows. What was XD? As she thought about it, she scanned the surroundings again. Then she turned her attention back to the display.

"XD?"

Within seconds: "Turn your phone. It's a laughing smiley."

She turned her phone, suddenly saw what he meant, and chuckled. "Ha ha."

"Well, shall I call you in an iour then?"

She chuckled again. "I'll be hnme in hblf an hour."

Stupid device! Or stupid incompetent bitch... that was also possible. But she was nervous. She had to get out of here and she had no peace of mind to conjure up all those crappy texts.

Her cell phone tingled again... "I'll call you in hblf an iour then."

She shot up in laughter and paid close attention to what she was typing. "XD."

Then she put her phone back in her handbag and started the engine.

When she was home, putting her groceries away, her cell phone rang. It was Björn. That was to be expected. "Hi!"

"Hi Agge, how are you? Happy with your new phone?"

"Shut it!" she said, bursting into laughter.

She heard him chuckle. Meanwhile, she put the last carton of milk in the refrigerator.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, it's calm here. And how are you?"

"Fine. You won't hear me complain. But I need you for something. Can we meet?"

"Huh? How so?" she asked.

"I'll tell you that when we see each other."

"So you're texting me, asking if I'm callable and so that you can ask me if we can meet up? I thought I was starting to get senile, but this also sounds rather absurd," she said, genuinely surprised.

"I get that it might sound a little weird, but you've told me before that you get stressed out when you get a call when you're in an awkward place," he explained. "So I thought 'I'll ask first if it's convenient.'"

"Hmmm," she replied. He had remembered that well. Since she had a cell phone, she always had it on because of the kids, but she found it a curse and a blessing at the same time.

"And now that I have you on the phone, I'd like to make an appointment with you."

"About what?" she repeated.

"When we see each other."

Fuck! She hated this kind of thing. Surely he could tell her now, right? She got nervous about open ends. What was so important that he...