CHAPTER 6

The darkness of the night sneaked in over Beckasin road and along with the awakening streetlights came the shadows. Shadows rose from the boxwood hedges and the shades from the trees looked like they wanted to grab us in their arms. As we slowly walked down the road our silhouettes created ghostly characters in the pavement. The wind shook the treetops above our heads and jagged the edges of the shadows. The bell on Polo’s collar echoed pleasantly in the dark and one by one we tripped along.

The air was cold and I shivered in my sequin jacket. One hand I kept warm in my jeans pocket while the other hand had a firm grip of the velvet bag with the beans. Luckily I was wearing sneakers and Elfvie had kept her slippers on, so we could make our way almost silently. As we moved down Beckasin road we passed the small brick houses. I took the opportunity and peeked in through the lighted windows. The night gave me a clear view right into the homes of Elfvies neighbours. In almost all the houses stood already an elderly and met my eye through the glass, as if they had foreseen that we would walk past.  Some stood with empty eyes starring out in the night. Others stood alert and watched with their hands as spyglasses. I hurried on and kept close to Elfvie and Polo. I tried not to look, but in the corner of my eye I saw the old ones still looking after us as we passed them. Close behind me floated one black and one white person still battling.

As we came closer to the park the evening air closed in upon us. It smelled of wet leaves and forest moss. We met not a single person or being on our way. The wind made the swings squeak over the playground. The biggest trees creaked like the pirate ship at sea.  We stopped under a streetlight. Elfvies west sparkled. She released Polo from the leash and the dog took off over the park. “Hide and seek!” she cried after him. Her voice sounded for once weak and fragile. She turned around and smiled at me. The evening mist made her glasses almost impossible to see through and the humid from her breath flew into the air like white clouds. Elfvie took a seat in the shade of an oak and sprinkled the silver beans in a circle around it. She suggested that I look for the troll at the retirement home. Maybe someone from there had swiped it home with them. So, I started to stroll back the same way as we came.

I turned a few times to see Elfvies breath rise behind the oak as smoke signals. The further away from the park I got, the more it felt like I was no longer alone.  All the houses had put out their lights. Not even a bedside lamp could give me some comfort. It seemed like the road was empty, but there was tiny sounds all around that made me wary.  I took a deep breath and tried to keep my legs calm. No running, I repeated in my head. You are too old to run, I told myself.  This reminded me of when I was little. I always threw myself up the stairs from the basement when leaving the laundry room.  Neither my little sister nor I wanted to be the one who had to put out all the lamps on the ground floor of the house. You had to start with the lamps in the living room farthest from the staircase to the upper floor. Then you raced through the rooms as if the darkness was chasing you. If you were lucky then someone had let the lamp in the hallway upstairs stay lit. The two persons behind me had calmed down and the white one was right now shaking its finger at the black one.

Again, I told myself to get a grip and I stopped on the pavement. The velvet bag had become damped in my hand. I opened the little knot and took out a few beans. They were so smooth and polished. I continued to walk towards the retirement home and through the branches I could catch a glimpse of its high carillon and towers. I dropped a bean after the other with a few meters apart to attract the lost troll. The wind snatched hold of the big tree above my head and chestnuts started to fall like rain. I ran aside and brushed off the shoulders of my glitter jacket. Suddenly, I was dazzled. Colourful and bright lamps were turned on and a little man started to wind funny music from his wagon.  On a large sign above the wagon, it was written with squiggly letters “tickets and popcorn”.

The little man was wearing a magician hat taller than himself. His gigantic pants were pulled up over his great tummy and his shoes were way to big.  I stumbled to the wagon and smiled suspiciously to the little man. He stopped winding the music, but it still continued to play. Humming he started to fold a paper bowl. His nose was very red and his brushy eyebrows made it hard to see his eyes. A stiff shirt collar pressed up his cheeks and made his face look a bit amusing. Even though his fingers were chubby they were quick and nimble. In a few seconds he had made a perfect bowl with laced edges. Still humming, the little man filled the bowl with warm popcorn and handed it to me. He smiled with satisfaction. I took the popcorn bowl and tasted. They were delicious.  The little man cleared his throat loudly and for long time. He coughed a little as well and waved at my face. Eventually he got some words out of his mouth. “Should you not let your friend have a taste as well?” he said. My friend, I asked? The man walked around the wagon and tapped me on my back. He puffed and groaned and for a second I thought he would rip the jacket. Then he came around again and lifted his big hand to my face. Slowly he opened his fingers. In the middle of his palm sat a small troll with sequins in his fists.