Voyage 2002

"But did you really not sing at all?" Frida insisted. January 2002 / Agnetha

She grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and closed the door. The wind was blowing hard. Through the thick layer of snow, she plowed to Cirkus. That day's rehearsals had been completed, there were no cars left, except Björn's and - she thought - Benny's. It started snowing again and she quickened her pace. It was extremely cold. At a trot she walked to the front door. She pulled, but it did not open.

Fuck!

She knocked on the door and waited. No response. She was wearing the wrong shoes, and the amount of snow that had fallen again had already closed the grit-covered walkway.

Fuckaduck!

She knocked again. No one. Ice cold feet from walking a few meters. Her hands, too, were already tingling.

Fuckaduckadoo!

She banged her fist on the windowpane as hard as she could. "Hello!"

What a genius she was, with her pretty boots! How long had she lived in this country! "Hellooo!!!"

Somewhere in the distance she heard something. A second later, Björn opened the door. He smiled, but when he saw her questionable look, he immediately stepped aside. "Cold, Agge?"

"No, tropical," she replied, wriggling past him.

Björn closed the door. For a moment she stood recovering. One short stretch and she was frozen!

"Are you all deaf or so?" she asked, trying to blow her hands warm through her gloves.

"Maybe you could try to remember that all three of us are a bit older than you..."

"Hmm," she said, walking on. Automatically, she went looking for Frida. She stood at the piano. Benny was sitting on the stool. They didn't realize she was there. Apparently they really hadn't heard her banging. Frida laughed loudly and briefly put her hand on Benny's shoulder. Benny looked up and saw her. "Agge!" She saw Frida look up and the smile she produced was so open and enthusiastic that Agnetha almost ran to her. Frida did the same and they met halfway.

"Oh, sweet Minsting of mine!" Frida yelled, as they embraced one another. Closing her eyes, she pulled Frida tight against her. It had been so long!

"Hey, honey, how are you?" Frida asked.

She only nodded and swallowed her tears! There was nothing to cry about!

"I missed you," she produced in a hoarse whisper.

"I missed you more!"

"You'd better," she replied.

In the meantime Benny appeared to be standing next to them. "The ladies haven't seen each other for a while?"

"Exactly," Frida said, leaning back and looking at her. "Are you going to take off your coat or do you want to go right now?"

"Right now?!" Benny asked. "Hell no! How long since I have seen her?"

He opened his arms and Frida let go of her. Benny hugged her for a long time. "How are you, Agnetha?"

"I'm fine. How about you?"

He pulled her toward him. "I'm so incredibly happy that you're participating in the ABBA project. It's going to be really great!"

She swallowed and looked at him. She didn't manage to suppress a grimace. "I wouldn't cheer too loudly, if I were you..."

"Yes, um, if we're all hugging, may I have a moment too?"

She chuckled when she saw Björn standing next to Benny with open arms. Jeez, she hadn't even said a proper hello to him before! She let go of Benny and opened her arms to Björn. After a firm hug, they looked at each other. He smiled and briefly slid his hand over her hip as he let her go. A shiver went through her, which she couldn't interpret. After they had stood around talking for a while, Frida announced that they were really going now. It was her night, she proclaimed. She had received a dinner at Operan as a present for her birthday from Minsting. And so they went.