BUBBLE

7 - dream on

Walking arm in arm, the two had gone on for an additional twenty-five minutes over, talking about more than the topic that was finally in the open between them. When that one wrapped up and taken them out of the heavy and emotional mode, they found they had become consumed in another, one that they couldn't remember exactly how it had been brought up. Simply sharing about a movie he had watched, she'd begun to recall she had actually read the book. The plot was very similar and both of them were excited to share how they adored the story. They discussed it with good interest for ten minutes, laughing and urging the other either to watch the movie or read it as a book instead.

"Okay," she laughed. "I'll watch it, but in order to, we should find our way back. How many turns did we take?" she wondered.

"Honestly..." he looked around, hoping there'd be a sign or at least to see the mountain but it was openness and the path they were on. "I have no idea."

"Wherever we are, I hope there's a place nearby for the toilets, because..." she laughed and made a face. Walking a bit more along their path, they had found a few more people with skis and sticks, pushing through the snow. They were in the distance that they could not reach to them, and by the time they'd get close enough to, they people would have disappeared. Gliding rapidly across the field they looked to were two huskies pulling a man standing at the back of a sled. The glee was visible on Agnetha's face, and she moved towards her own way to see them better, watching the way they dashed and pulled through the snow. It's like the reindeer rides Nike was going to ride on, but here were some huskies. The man had noticed Agnetha and Björn standing, watching the dogs, so he rounded his way around them. It was pure luck, Björn thought. He'd at least have the chance to ask which way would take them to the ski lodge. He put his hands together and blew a whistle and immediately Agnetha threw a hand to hit at him. The huskies could take the whistle to a certain meaning and what should happen to the one riding then? They listened to the man call a greeting as he slowed the dogs from pulling.

"Hey!"

"Hey," cheerily greeted Björn.

"Oh. Cute dogs," Agnetha said like a statement to the obvious first, during the same time Björn was quickly adding on.

"Sorry, do you know which way to get back? We've walked so far. We didn't even realize!"

"Where are you trying to get to?"

"The ski resort. It's back there, but is there another path? A short cut?"

"No, there's only one way to get back to the resort, you've walked out of the area," he kindly smiled. The man was heavy built, hazel eyed, and much, much younger. His red jacket revealed he worked at one of the resorts around. "You would have to take the same way, it's your safest bet and once you find the mountain it'll take you back to the resort... Which is an hour walk at most." Agnetha rose from petting the husky's head and she listened closer, and she noticed the young man was looking at both her and Björn then to the sled. No way could they walk another hour without being tired, being the age they are.

"If I return in about seven minutes or so, would you be here?"

"I'm sure within those seven minutes the furthest you'll see us to have got would be to that tree there," Agnetha joked.

"Then I'll be back," he promised, nodding politely to Agnetha. He was off on his way quickly, and it left her to turn to Björn.

"I guess he'll bring us a car," she said, facing Björn. It was clear she was relieved. "No way can I walk all that way." She took out the phone in her pocket and peeked at it like she couldn't see a thing. Agnetha tapped through the phone until she called her daughter to check in on them, to see how it was all the way they were. They were gone for such a while they hadn't updated them on where they were. At least, she'd tell them they'd be back to the village soon. "Ah, the call won't go through. What's the matter with it?" She tried Christian, thinking that was the issue. "Björn, call from yours." He didn't need to be told a second time from that command, he just did it following her words naturally.