15th November 2019
10:29 a.m.
Benny was impatiently waiting on Frida to pick up the phone. He was in his office at Mono Music and while he was waiting, he looked at all the photos on the wall. The photos portraited him at the peak of his musical career with ABBA. Those were the days, he thought. Suddenly he heard a warm voice and he was taken back to reality.
"Good morning Frida" he said, he was a bit anxious. He always was when he had to call Frida. He felt his mouth dry and his heart racing fast.
"Good morning to you, too" Frida replied chuckling. She knew the power she still had on him.
"I called to wish you a happy birthday. I hope it's a good one. When you come back to Stockholm to record, you'll get your present too" Benny replied clearing his voice.
"How come you never forget about this day, you gamla man?" Frida asked chuckling.
"I could never forget" – he said with a half-smile and she blushed – "do you remember when the kids tried to bake a cake for your birthday?" he added laughing.
"Yes, man. That cake was as hard as rock – too much flour. And still you ate two pieces" Frida answered laughing.
"Hey I didn't want to disappoint them, especially the girls" Benny replied smiling and he took off his glasses. "Listen, how are you?"
"I'm fine. You know it's hard sometimes because I have my family around but the only person I want to celebrate my birthday with is not available. Now it's just a day like the others, but with the gifts. Benny, do you ever think about her?"
"Not a day pass me by where I don't think about her, Frida. And I guess it's the same for you, too" Benny answered sniffing.
"Yes, you're right" she said blowing her nose.
"But don't be sad, today it's your birthday and I want you to be happy. Oh, by the way in a while a postman should ring your bell" Benny said smiling.
"Actually, he's ringing now. What are you up to, Andersson?" Frida asked chuckling.
She went at the door with the phone in her hands and the postman handed her red roses.
"Benny... do you know anything about red roses?" Frida asked.
"50, to be fair" Benny answered.
"Why 50?" Frida asked a bit perplexed.
"For every year we spent your birthday together – or simply knowing each other" Benny answered remembering all the birthdays he missed. "Read the note please"
"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. I love you, Benny" – Frida said with a shaky voice – "You always know how to take my breath away" she added wiping a tear away.
