BUBBLE

3 - old people things

By the time the promised hour had come around, the members of this large family had finally settled in, made themselves comfy, rested, and re-energized themselves for an evening dinner. They tried their best not to fill their hunger with snacks so they could eat a true meal, but even that was difficult. The hungered bellies made noises and comments were passed to one another, half embarrassed from what sounds came out.

"Don't laugh," she told him, throwing a scarf on as she stood in the entryway. "I haven't eaten anything. I am afraid I will become a monster if we don't get out and eat something." As imagined, he thought to himself,  happy to note that it couldn't have been more like her.

"Let's go. They are already having a few drinks waiting for the rest of us—"

But she was out of the door before he could place his ear muffs over his ears, or finish the sentence, because turning around, he had come to find her missing from the bubble of their suite. Always ready, and always impatient.

Björn closed the brown door and slowly took steps to get beside her. She was walking extra slow, afraid of slipping on the freshly fallen snow. It was much icier than when they had arrived in the morning, she thought as they made clean footprints into the ground. It must have come down when she was sleeping.

"Hey," Christian called, raising a hand to his father to guide them to the group. The atmosphere in the reception area was warm, a truly cozy place to enter after facing the dark and bitter cold. Their walk hadn't been more than two minutes, but that felt chilling enough. What had been enjoyable was that the space they entered immediately set them in a very comfortable setting, making the environment feel like home even when home was a little further away.

As all the members had met at reception, they finally were led to the restaurant for the much awaited meal. It turned out it was not only Agnetha who felt she could devour a seven course meal easily. The others were just as famished and the first thing on their mind was to place the first order in, appetizers for the whole table, until the rest knew what they wanted to order for themselves.

"How's the room?" Isabelle asked, beginning a conversation amid the deep and thoughtful process of choosing what to eat.

"It's lovely," Agnetha smiled, eyes lighting up as she spoke. "So much space, and you really can see such a beautiful view of the valley."

"It's mesmerizing to see it. I wonder if we can see the lights tonight," she thought. "I guess it depends if the sky is clear or not. And it doesn't look like it."

"Yeah," Agnetha agreed. "That would be so fantastic to see it. I just hope I don't fall asleep so fast."

"With the nap you took, do you think you'll be asleep?" asked Ester, jaw dropping at her grandmother.

"How do you know I took a nap?"

"I came to see your room, grandpa said you were sleeping. We walked around the lobby and we saw different stuff around here, like activities. And, by the way, we have to do them. Starting tomorrow," she directed.

"Heh," Agnetha chuckled. "Don't imagine me skiing. I can't remember the last time I did that."

"Old people don't ski?" Ester genuinely wondered. Linda laughed at her daughter's question.

"Well, I don't think it's that. Mom will end up in the trees."

"Just sit in a sled and let the girls pull you," Jens jokingly suggested to Agnetha.

"Yeah, or you should go and try the reindeer ride or the huskies. They can pull you around the fields for a safari. I'll take Nike tomorrow to see them."