New Plan, New Man

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from the book i-Land – A double Irish and a Dutch – Chapter 3 – Escape to Cork

Avoka goes for a coffee while Harry gets his hair done. She gets an SMS from Hunt, who once again, suggests to her about how much he would like to be with her at the same place now. Avoka already knows it’s just one of those Saturdays where he seems to have nothing better to do than sending SMS but never means it. She takes a picture of her coffee and some delicious chocolate biscuits and posts it over with the message, “Yes, look what you’re missing.” He sends back a kiss picture and replies, “Oh, how much I would love that now.” Avoka is sure he is either sitting somewhere alone and is bored or he is sitting with some other woman and is bored while sending those pics. They continue the SMS communication with what they would like to do each other when they were together, now exchanging kissing pics and commenting. Avoka feels like playing Ken and Barbie with a guy and must laugh about this kind of communication. Finally, she tells him that she needs to go now; that she is meeting up with Harry, who has offered her a job for doing the PR and Social Media Campaigns for his new E-Roller. Hunt writes back, “Seriously? That means what, you’re leaving your current job again? A multi-guru company against a start up?” Avoka replies, “Yes. The current job is just a matter of time; they already asked me to sign such an assignment paper, similar, to the Fruit of the Loom thing that when I don’t fulfil the test results with their given percentage, they keep the rights to take consequences.” Hunt replies, “Oh, not again, but well, I understand.  Yes, you’re right, whatever you do I’m with you.” Avoka replies, “Oh, thank you, you are always so understanding.” Hunt replies, “You’re really brave, I wish you good luck. You seem to have a good time in Cork, enjoy your night out.” Avoka replies with a smile, kiss and thumb up and the message “Have a fabulous Saturday night, too.” Avoka leaves the cafe and picks up Harry from the hair-dresser, who has a nice, fresh cut now. Avoka comments, “Looking good, ready to move on?” Harry says, “Oh, thank you, yes, that hair had to go; it’s like what they say about women when they cut their hair leaving some past behind.” Avoka answers, “Yes, exactly!” Harry throws in, “We still have some time till the party starts at the Electric tonight. We could go to my place and try to contact the Dutch guy in Amsterdam who does the production and design part on the E-roller and we can discuss the next steps on how to promote it; what do you think, Avoka?” Avoka replies, “Yes, that’s a great idea, let’s go.” They walk over to Harry’s house. His daughter is preparing some late kind of brunch for her and her boyfriend. With a grinning smile, she says “Hello, you must be Avoka, right?” Avoka replies, “Yes, and you are Tally, right?” She nods, answering, “Yes, nice to meet you. I heard about you, Harry told me about your great team leader and the team at the Fruit of the Loom and how stupid they must be not to use your skills.” Harry puts in, “Yes, actually I’m the lucky one who gets the advantage of it now; she will do the PR and social media campaigns for our E-roller. That’s why we are here now; we want to contact Jarome and discuss things.” Tally says, “Wow, that’s great, you said yes? He was so hoping for it. Saying you are really tough, exactly the kind of person he needs for the job.” Avoka smiles, “Oh, thank you, yes it will be a tough job, but I will do my best. It’s a great roller and I think it deserves some cool ideas to be promoted, doesn’t it?” Tally says, “Yes, that’s true.” They start a Google Hangout with Jarome, who luckily is at home and start talking through some ideas. Jarome is excited and really likes the suggestions that Avoka makes and they talk for another hour and agree to meet up next month to work out things more in detail and get to know each other in person. It’s a really productive afternoon and at seven p.m. Harry and Avoka call a cab to drive over to the Electric bar, where they have a great party for the night including some Jazz singers and Top-DJ’s. Tally explains they will join later but that she also has another party to go to.

 

In the city, a demonstration against water charges is running. So far, the water in Ireland was free but the government wants to make a change starting with the new year. The main road is blocked and as they shortly start a march which probably walks toward the direction of the roads close to the Electric bar, Harry and Avoka decide to get off the cab and walk the last bit to the bar. They still have time to take the walk through the city. The demonstration guys are loud holding their speech. Harry laughs. “Yes, this is Ireland; here the people still go out on the street and fight for their rights.” At the side, they see some of the Fruit of the Loom guys sneaking along the wall, showing no interest at all in the street’s activity. Harry smiles. “This is really two worlds clashing in this small town–our guys at this hyper-tech company and the original Irish crowd. I love that contrast.” Avoka agrees, “Yes, and at my new company I also have two worlds clashing, the American Internet guru and the Indian Customer Service, yeah! I still don’t get it that this multi-guru outsources at such a company. I wonder how they even meet the goals, as from the work I see I can’t believe it.” Harry replies, “Yes that’s a good question, but this I even wonder about the Fruit of the Loom. But they kind of manipulate things. I lately saw one guy who had left his menu set on the wrong menu point ‘available’ throughout the whole night and they simply put it on someone else on the phone support. If they work it that way, who knows about the real figures? Also, they use such old software you wouldn’t believe that the number one company on technology uses the software from the last decade on their own services.” Avoka says, “So true, but I’m so glad that we finally made this deal and I can work the communication part in your company.” Harry says, “Yes, I’m excited, too.” They pass by on one of the stores that sell the latest gadget from the Fruit of the Loom company. Avoka says, “Oh, Peter bought this one, of course, with the extra they provide the employees with.” Harry replies, “Yes, I was thinking about it, too. But still I don’t know when I see all the problems that come with it.” Avoka agrees, “Yes, I didn’t buy it either, even though they gave $300 extra on it, this couldn’t make me buy one.” They both laugh.

Arriving at the Electric, some people are sitting already outside along the canal, while the sun is slowly going down behind the hill. It’s a beautiful atmosphere and Avoka takes some pictures and immediately posts them on Facebook. Avoka and Harry enter the Electric, going straight to the bar ordering some drinks and a food plate, then walking over to the tables at the window with the view of the water and the sunset. A DJ is already on the turntables playing a cool mix between chill out, lounge and soul music. The evening can start, ready to party.

An hour later the party is in full swing, the crowed is dancing, Avoka is sitting near the window looking at the river. She is thinking about Ian. When, was he coming back to Ireland? There appears the vibrating sound from her phone and yes, it is Ian. He has sent a message asking if she was enjoying the Cork weekend and if her ex-colleague was behaving. Avoka replied, “Yes, of course. Now we are even doing business together.” Ian replies, “Sure, that’s a reason.” He adds a tweak emotion icon and asks if she will be in Dublin for the upcoming weekend. With the next text message, he adds, “I really would love to meet you; I miss you somehow.” He writes he’ll be back in Dublin on Wednesday. She is crazy for meeting him and agrees to a date at the weekend. Ian also writes that he did not like the game they played at her at her current job and that he also had an idea. He had talked with his team manager from the Rugby game, who had suggested that they needed some good PR. His manager sounded really interested and he asked to meet to discuss some ideas with her. Avoka was all ears, of course, and she agreed.

She was staring at the river and dreaming how great it would be to have her own PR company here and just quit that job at the guru company. She already had an idea how to find some synergies between the e-roller and the Rugby team that had the potential to make it a fabulous campaign. She was smiling in the air, then grabbing the martini and emptying the glass. Another message arrived from Hunt! “Wishing a great Saturday night and sending a big kiss.” Avoka recorded some music the DJ was playing–some jazzy lyrics, “What nature brings” by Nekta–and sent it to Hunt with a golden Burberry Kiss and the lines ‘Enjoy the Weekend!’ She knew he would party with some other woman who he probably had worked with during the week, any customer or colleague, and roll in the sheets, sharing his fantasies with any woman for the weekend, and by Sunday afternoon he would have left her. Then, sitting in a cafe all by himself, he would text something to Avoka but never come to meet her. Once she had wished to meet him and she was so excited and had loved this idea. But now all she thought was whatever.

She always had written those messages with the thrill to meet him. But finally realizing this would never happen, she had lost this appetite and actually she did not want to be one of those women for a weekend and on the other side, she wouldn’t want a man to share with other women.  And for just friends, the whole Whatsapp chat was much too sexual. So finally, it had turned into this Whatsapp fantasy she never wanted to be. But did it matter? Not really. Of course, it was sad somehow; they could have been real, good friends–there was something they had in common. He was the first guy she had felt to be on the same wave-length with; they really had the same taste in many things and the same views. He was someone she had always felt understood her. Had he felt the same way about her? She did not know what really had been his intention. If it was just sexual like with all those other women, he could have had it but he never went for it. If it was just friends, then why did it get so sexual? And when it was nothing then why was it so intense and went on 24/7 and for almost a year now? She couldn’t really figure out what it was about. Once he was ghosting, and after months he suddenly had replied for advent wishes and again ghosting. Was this accidental or what was it? She had not recognized his number right away and wrote thanks, wondering who was sending the message, then she had seen the profile pic and replied in an additional line, ‘Ah, it’s you’ but then haven’t heard from him again – ghosting once more. She did not understand this phenomenon on him. On that last one should she ask again? But he had started the conversation and then did not reply. He had done that before. Was it just one of his “sitting-alone-in-the-cafe-moments” or was there something that he missed? Like for her, it was once him; but not now anymore. What was it really that caused this ghosting? Another woman, person, complex–what was the real issue behind that? Was it this “He’s just not that into you” thing; would she ever find out? But it was always him who would suddenly come back. Maybe she was living in a ghoster’s paradise and she should just let it go – he should haunt someone else. She always had enjoyed all those Whatsapp and phone conversations and you could see it in her eyes in every picture she posted how it had made her shine but she wanted someone real, now, someone to meet in real life like Ian and not talking to a ghost. Maybe someone loved the idea of her but couldn’t handle her reality.

New Beginnings – part 04

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A Victorian bar in South Kensington that somehow had become Pippa’s second home during the last summer semester.

“I will be there at around six. I’m with a client here.” Tess replied.

“See you, there. Drinks waiting.” Pippa wrote.

Pippa was on her second Martini when Tess arrived.

“Hi sweety, how is it going? You are impressed by your new job as I see, aren’t you?” Tess asks ironically.

“Yeah, I’m so impressed, you can’t believe what kind of asshole this assistance guy is who I have to work with, unbelievable, a total sexist!” Pippa states this with anger.
“Well, you better get used to this, when you enter the working sphere, that’s the first thing they will pick on, after all it is all about competition, honey.” Tess tries to calm Pippa down. “You have no idea what I experience with my colleagues; even in our law firm, half the energy goes into fighting against our colleagues. Jim lately sued Kathrin for dealing with one of her clients, and that’s within our own firm. Imagine that!” Tess keeps going.

“How do you get through that?” Pippa asks. “When I look in the mirror in the morning, I tell myself, “This is the best time. You can do this, if you want to drive a Maserati, you better be a bitch.” Tess said.

“You say what?” Pippa laughs out loud.

“Yes, that’s what I tell myself every morning, and it works.” Tess says, “and don’t take things personally, darling. That’s rule number one. People don’t do all this because they are against you, they do it because they are for themselves.” Tess continues.
“Well, I was thinking changing this job, looking for another one, but this again takes time, and I am in my final year now, so I don’t want to waste too much time on job hunting.” Pippa says.

“You know most of these bricks are just insecure or feel intimidated by you in some way; they might not appear to be that smart. That’s the main reason why people bully. There is always that one jackass who ruins everything. Get your own strategy on how to get along with those morons, and you will find your way. This event company is good for you to work with. Rise above it; you’re not doing this for him; instead, you should focus on your studies and your bright future; and, of course, the money. You’re doing it for greater things ahead. Always know your “why”!

They both have another drink and change the topics. Tess is again reporting the details and latest news about her new lover and they are big. “He asked me for a boat-trip. Can you imagine?” Tess giggles.

“A boat-trip?” Pippa asks and was astonished by that idea as most guys would simply ask for a weekend-trip to the country-side.

“Yes, he suggested a turn from Mallorca to Ibiza, he has an invitation on a party in Magaluf, one of his friends is throwing a party there. It sounds amazing and I really would love to go there, but I have this case with that merger running so I don’t know if it is a good idea to take the whole week off.” Tess says hesitating.

“Well, come on, you are almost through with this case, can’t your associate do this paper stuff, you will be back at the opening day. Imagine what a great time you will have there, go for it, girl!” Pippa keeps motivating her as she has worked so hard since the break-up and really deserves a good break.

“Yeah, you are right. It is just the paperwork that needs to be sorted, and the form of order sought is already here. I should go for the trip.” Tess agrees with a big, triumphant smile on her face. “I’m going.” Tess was working on a merger between a global media company and an Asian production company, and it had taken her endless nights to finally get the deal together, but it was all set, and it seemed like it was never the right time for taking time off for a holiday, so if it wasn’t now, then when.

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Nights out, Charity & boat trips

from the book Blend 37 – Pippa Bow

A week later, Pippa was sitting on her study project a case study for a new female tech gadget while clicking some likes from Tess party pictures and a sunny day on her cruise. The pictures looked amazing and she could almost get jealous, but Tess really deserved this break and the two looked so happy together. Pippa’s messenger popped-up. “Hey, how are you?” Brendon, the study colleague who had joined the Java Programming course the week before a course Pippa took as a minor subject in addition to her design studies. Brendon had previously studied in San Francisco and had just lately moved to London.

 “Hey, hanging on this marketing strategy for my nature products, what’s up?” Pippa writes back.

“Uh, on a Friday night?” He asks.

 “Well, yes, on a Friday night, when else?” Pippa replies.

“Wow, yeah, you are pretty busy I’ve seen. How is your new part-time job?” Brendon asks.

 “My, new job? Don’t remind me!” Pippa writes “Not on a Friday, night, please!” she adds.

“And what are you doing on a Friday night?” she asks. “Chatting?” he replies.

 “Oh, yeah, obviously, and anything else?” Pippa questions.

 “Well, I got an invitation for the Icetank party tonight, I was wondering if you want to join? Alexa will be there, too she was asking if you might like to join?” he adds a smile.

“Being spontaneous? Yes, why not.” Pippa confirms the invitation, the Icetank parties are always amazing and the invitations are always very limited handed mostly to the It-people and the celebrity kind of crowed.

“Ok, ten o’clock, I pick you up?” Brendon asks.

“Yep, sounds great!” Pippa writes with a blink.

 “Cool.” He replies.

Pippa quickly jumps under the shower. She puts on her Vata dry oil an Ayurveda oil with almond and basil to re-vitalize a little. She was almost falling asleep as she was sitting on her study.

Now standing in front of her open walk in wardrobe she has quickly to decide what to wear, dress or trousers? No question, she puts on the new Lipsy trouser with a white blouse combined with a lace top underneath and her high heels with the red sole.

The doorbell already rings. “I am coming one sec!” She shouts. Taking off the shoes again to get quicker to the door.

“Oh, hey Brendon, time passed so quick, already ten, is it?” She asks.

“Yes, it’s already ten.” He says with a smile.

 He’s looking damn good, Pippa thinks, and can’t help to bite her lips, she swallows than in a stuttering voice. “Yes, I will be ready, give me a minute.”

She still has no make-up on and rushes into the bathroom and has just time for a mascara. She gets all her stuff together, grabs her coat than stops in the corridor with a critical look in the mirror and quickly puts some lipstick on. She turns around looking at Brendon: “Ready!” she says.

“Wow, you are looking beautiful, let’s go.” He replies, and they walk over to his car and make their way to the Icetank at Covent Garden.

Brendon and Pippa are standing on the buffet chatting with Alexa who takes a refill for the empty champagne classes. Her boyfriend Hendrik, the initiator and sponsor of the party one of the most popular and elitist events in town held once a year but who is on a business trip in Asia, so the party is on Alexa’s patronage. “I just welcomed our Russian special guests you know Victor and his precious wife Anastacia? I will introduce you later to them, they are responsible for the draw that we will hold at midnight. You won’t believe the first prize. Actually, you might want to help me to get some more tickets out. You moving your sexy ass through the crowed, is going to double the charity’s revenue.” Alexa jokes.

 “Or triple it.” Brendon laughs while taking a look at Pippa’s backside.

 “Well okay, I see the conversations go flat here, so let me help you out, darling.” Pippa replies and smacks her hip on Alexa and they all have a good laugh.

Pippa starts giving out some tickets and the people are very generous. They buy tickets in total from 500 to 1000 pound per couple at least. Pippa talks to a Chrissy a US model who Pippa had met on her last holiday in Ibiza who currently is on a Europe trip with her boyfriend an international lawyer who also has to do some business in Brussels.

“Oh, let’s meet next week, I really would like some advice on our new apartment, you got such great style Pippa, I would love to go for a shopping tour with you.” Chrissy suggests.

 “Of, course sweety, I’m quite busy, apart from my study I just started a new part-time job and you cannot believe what kind of asshole I have to work for. I will make some space for an afternoon, a shopping tour with you and nice dinner would be lovely.” Pippa agrees and they set a date.

Pippa turns around and looks straight into the eye of exactly the asshole she was just talking about.

“Good evening Mr.” she pauses. “Oh, Toby, what pleasure to meet you here.” Pippa forces herself to a smile.

“I wonder, what someone like you is doing on this party.” He then looks at the draw. “Ah, you are working here, of course, I would doubt you ever being on the invitation list of that event.” Toby comments with the utmost condescending look at Pippa.

“Well, I’m sure you want some draws supporting the charity, helping some less fortunate people who did not grow up with all the advantages you have, don’t you?” Pippa asks pretending a sweet smile on her face. Knowing that he must have tricked himself into this party, probably by stealing his boss’ invitation or any other kind of scam. Knowing that buying even one single ticket of the draw would hurt his empty pockets. He was the kind of guy who everyone new came from a low social background who tried too damn hard to play like he was a rich guy. With his whole attitude so overdrawn and who had the generosity of a small man with his biting marks on everyone he could not imagine could have a much better fortune than himself. Exactly like he was now standing opposite Pippa trying to make her small with every word that came out of his plebeian mouth not even knowing that for her this was just a favor, a small gesture to her friend.

“Well, I take one, yes, to support the less fortunate people like you.” Toby demands with his bold lip. Pippa puts a smile on.

 “Just one?” Knowing how expensive the tickets are and knowing that he talks much bolder than his pockets are. “Oh, come on Toby, no one, went under ten here, I am sure you want to be on top of the sponsor list, don’t you?” Pippa keeps teasing.

“Of, course, then give me ten.” He strikes a pose and continues in his arrogant tone of voice.

“Sure, that’s a five than.” Pippa smiles. “Toby opens his purse and pulls out a fifty pound note.

“Oh, honey, I mean five thousand, it is fife hundred per ticket. That’s a problem?” Pippa asks.

“Are you sane, are you putting this money in your own pocket, if you want to rip me off, you got the wrong one.” He grabs Pippa’s arm.

 “I will report you, that you tried to rip me off.” He drags Pippa over to one of the security guards.

“This girl tried to get money out of me by selling me overpriced draw tickets. She demanded five thousand pound. She’s a criminal, who is responsible for this draw?” Toby lifts his nose, looking around. Even the security guards know who Pippa is and they know the price of the draw. They hardly can hide their laughter.

 “Well, yes, leave this to us, we will take care of that.” The guard pauses.

“Mistake.” He puts his hand in front of his face to hide his bursting into laughter. “Go back to your more important business talks.” The other guard suggests.

“Well, thank you.” Toby, nods and turns around disappearing back in the crowed.

“So, you little criminal!” The guard claps on Pippa’s shoulder “how could you?” They burst into laughter. Meanwhile the other guard informed Alexa who is already on her way and joins the three with a tablet of champagne glasses in her hand.

 “Need a drink?” she asks. “Who was this asshole? How did he got an invitation to the party?” Alexa looks at Pippa.

“He is the asshole, I have to work with at my new part-time job for the One Event agency.” Pippa explains.

“Jesus, and who is he?” Alexa keeps asking.

 “He must have taken the invitation from Sarah the director, he does her mail.” Pippa suggests.

“Well, thanks for the entertainment.” Alexa cheers the classes.

“Let’s chill and cheer. I’ve seen you made already over a million in the first half hour, with the draw. Unbelievable. Take a break and watch out better, that you don’t hit another of such low puns.” Alexa jokes and the two walk back to meet some guest from Asia.

An hour later the tombola is announced together Alexa and Pippa present the winner and the prizes. The first price goes to an Italian couple who just lately had married. They are screaming out of happiness when they hear their name. They win a week’s cruise on the superyacht Joy.

The turmoil let go and the evening gets a bit quieter Brendon comes over to Pippa.

“Wow, you are pretty busy, what a prize, a honeymoon on the Joy, I wish would win that.” He smiles at Pippa.

 “Yes, that cruise is amazing.” Pippa agrees. They both walk over to the dancefloor the music has slowed down and they have a dance together. As she leans her head on Brendon’s, which feels good by the way, looking over Brendon’s shoulder, Pippa sees how a guy disappears through the front door, the shadow of Toby. By now he must know that Pippa was not just a servant on the party and Pippa senses that this will have quite an impact on her work with Toby at her part-time job and probably not a positive one and she knows that she better puts on her knight’s of armor next time she enters the office. But for now here on Brendon’s shoulder she can rather strip off and she turns her head around Brendon is looking at her, coming closer with her head, she looks into his beautiful shiny eyes and then she can feel his lips touching hers and she get’s lost in a long kiss. He is pulling her a little tighter and they dance away in the rhythm of the night.

*

Waking up in Brandon’s Chelsea apartment. The day couldn’t start any better. Brandon was still sleeping. Pippa hushed out of the bed, grabbing the jumper on the floor, Brandon’s, pulling it over and walking barefoot over to the kitchen to make some coffee. Secretly she loves the instant Nescafe coffee and she knows despite there is a bright selection of Nespresso on the shelve that every English habitant had a hidden Nescafe glass somewhere in their kitchen shelve. And there it was, Pippa takes a tablespoon of Nescafe and waited for the water in the cattle to heat. She takes a look out of the window starring in the flat opposite the street. She sees how a couple is arguing, an older man with a British look in his morning robe and a somehow younger latin looking woman heavily gesticulating, than the men is walking toward the woman hitting in her face. He looks over to the window and seconds later the curtains are pulled to cover the window. Pippa is shaking her head while peering the hot water on her coffee. This was the kind of relationship that was an absolute taboo to her, but some woman would take just anything. The woman surely was capable to make her own money but instead she would accept that to live a good live. If any man would hit her in the face she would be so gone if she would not even hit first.

Pippa nipped on her coffee checking her email, she had received a text message from Tess who had had her own kind of magic dinner night.

Tess’s new boyfriend Gibson had invited Marco and Letitia to a dinner night on the boat. Marco was in politics and Letita a known journalist, the two were together for a long time. Gibson and Marco new each other from old times as they had studied at the same University Stanford. Some of Marco’s clients were high ranking politicians as well as celebrities and during the dinner, he had told his anecdotes from his latest case one of those prominent divorces. Probably one of the reasons why he would never get married he said. Some couples have contracts you would not need to get married with that kind of contract in the first place. But unfortunately, this couple had not such a contract. The guy an actor had married one of those Latin girls and would now need to pay a hell of money but of course Marco tried his best to keep the guy’s Millions together. The woman was much younger and had only married the guy for money and now wanted the divorce. She claimed violence from his side and betrayal that he would cheat on her. But in truth she was the one who used every opportunity when the guy was on set or traveling and had been seen with some other guys. She also was friends with one woman who was known for a divorce scandal where the truth had revealed that the woman had made up all allegations. This was the situation Marco had now to prove that his client was the victim and not his wife. Which was not easy as she was so shrewd, but he had a strategy, as Ms Olivera was not the actor’s first wife. Whereas he had reputation and history of woman but none of them had ever reported any violence. So, his strategy bringing them up in court as witnesses was part of his strategy while the actor felt quite embarrassed about the situation meeting all of the woman again. But this was still better than losing it all to this woman. Tess could understand she would not like to meet all her ex-lovers again. But Marco found it kind of exciting.

 “Wow, I will meet all Hollywood’s beauties and some other of the World’s top models, he had had them all!”

 A comment that was followed by a side-punch from his girlfriend sitting next to him.

“I will join you on each of them when you interview them.” Letita suggested not all, too serious. “Actually I like the idea, I could make some contact which could get me some good interviews to write about, would you mind, darling?” She teased.

“Ah, here there is the synergy of our relationship. Of course, my sweetheart knows her own way how to get her slice of the pie.” He snugged a kiss on her cheek.

“My win of the case on the front side of our number one newspaper and media cover at best times, is then mine, isn’t it, sweety?” Marco looked at Letitia and they both couldn’t hide a smile and they all burst into laughter.

They were really the perfect couple, Tess thought, and she exchanged a look with Gibson who pulled her a little closer for a long kiss.

They all had another bottle of champagne before everyone went off in their cabins.

‘

Tess had sent beautiful pictures from a Majorcan coast. They had set the sails in the morning and would be in a little bay in Paguera in the afternoon where they had another dinner with some of Gibson’s friends. They had arrived in the afternoon and Tess had jumped straight from the yacht into the blue ocean. They had spent an amazing candle-light dinner with a private piano concert and had returned at their yacht at around ten. The next day was a short turn to Magaluf where they had an official party to attend from one of Gibson’s business partners a massive pool party including caviar, champagne and VIP’s from all over the world. Also, Chrissy and her husband had joined the party.

Read the full story here Blend 37 – Pippa Bow

Seventh Story – What Took Place in the Palace of the Snow Queen, and what Happened Afterward

The Snow Queen – A Fairy Tale
by Hans Christian Andersen

The walls of the palace were of driving snow, and the windows and doors of cutting
winds. There were more than a hundred halls there, according as the snow was driven
by the winds. The largest was many miles in extent; all were lighted up by the
powerful Aurora Borealis, and all were so large, so empty, so icy cold, and so
resplendent! Mirth never reigned there; there was never even a little bear-ball, with
the storm for music, while the polar bears went on their hind legs and showed off their
steps. Never a little tea-party of white young lady foxes; vast, cold, and empty were
the halls of the Snow Queen.

The northern-lights shone with such precision that one
could tell exactly when they were at their highest or lowest degree of brightness. In
the middle of the empty, endless hall of snow, was a frozen lake; it was cracked in a
thousand pieces, but each piece was so like the other, that it seemed the work of a
cunning artificer. In the middle of this lake sat the Snow Queen when she was at
home; and then she said she was sitting in the Mirror of Understanding, and that this
was the only one and the best thing in the world.
Little Kay was quite blue, yes nearly black with cold; but he did not observe it, for she
had kissed away all feeling of cold from his body, and his heart was a lump of ice. He
was dragging along some pointed flat pieces of ice, which he laid together in all
possible ways, for he wanted to make something with them; just as we have little flat
pieces of wood to make geometrical figures with, called the Chinese Puzzle. Kay
made all sorts of figures, the most complicated, for it was an ice-puzzle for the
understanding. In his eyes the figures were extraordinarily beautiful, and of the utmost
importance; for the bit of glass which was in his eye caused this. He found whole
figures which represented a written word; but he never could manage to represent just
the word he wanted, that word was “eternity”; and the Snow Queen had said, “If you
can discover that figure, you shall be your own master, and I will make you a present
of the whole world and a pair of new skates.” But he could not find it out.
“I am going now to warm lands,” said the Snow Queen. “I must have a look down into
the black caldrons.” It was the volcanoes Vesuvius and Etna that she meant. “I will
just give them a coating of white, for that is as it ought to be; besides, it is good for the
oranges and the grapes.” And then away she flew, and Kay sat quite alone in the
empty halls of ice that were miles long, and looked at the blocks of ice, and thought
and thought till his skull was almost cracked. There he sat quite benumbed and
motionless; one would have imagined he was frozen to death.
Suddenly little Gerda stepped through the great portal into the palace. The gate was
formed of cutting winds; but Gerda repeated her evening prayer, and the winds were
laid as though they slept; and the little maiden entered the vast, empty, cold halls.
There she beheld Kay: she recognised him, flew to embrace him, and cried out, her
arms firmly holding him the while, “Kay, sweet little Kay! Have I then found you at
last?”
But he sat quite still, benumbed and cold. Then little Gerda shed burning tears; and
they fell on his bosom, they penetrated to his heart, they thawed the lumps of ice, and
consumed the splinters of the looking-glass; he looked at her, and she sang the hymn:
“The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there the children to
greet.”
Hereupon Kay burst into tears; he wept so much that the splinter rolled out of his eye,
and he recognised her, and shouted, “Gerda, sweet little Gerda! Where have you been
so long? And where have I been?” He looked round him. “How cold it is here!” said
he. “How empty and cold!” And he held fast by Gerda, who laughed and wept for joy.
It was so beautiful, that even the blocks of ice danced about for joy; and when they
were tired and laid themselves down, they formed exactly the letters which the Snow
Queen had told him to find out; so now he was his own master, and he would have the
whole world and a pair of new skates into the bargain.
Gerda kissed his cheeks, and they grew quite blooming; she kissed his eyes, and they
shone like her own; she kissed his hands and feet, and he was again well and merry.
The Snow Queen might come back as soon as she liked; there stood his discharge
written in resplendent masses of ice.
They took each other by the hand, and wandered forth out of the large hall; they
talked of their old grandmother, and of the roses upon the roof; and wherever they
went, the winds ceased raging, and the sun burst forth. And when they reached the
bush with the red berries, they found the Reindeer waiting for them. He had brought
another, a young one, with him, whose udder was filled with milk, which he gave to
the little ones, and kissed their lips. They then carried Kay and Gerda, first to the
Finland woman, where they warmed themselves in the warm room, and learned what
they were to do on their journey home; and they went to the Lapland woman, who
made some new clothes for them and repaired their sledges.
The Reindeer and the young hind leaped along beside them, and accompanied them to
the boundary of the country. Here the first vegetation peeped forth; here Kay and
Gerda took leave of the Lapland woman. “Farewell! Farewell!” they all said. And the
first green buds appeared, the first little birds began to chirrup; and out of the wood
came, riding on a magnificent horse, which Gerda knew (it was one of the leaders in
the golden carriage), a young damsel with a bright-red cap on her head, and armed
with pistols. It was the little robber maiden, who, tired of being at home, had
determined to make a journey to the north; and afterwards in another direction, if that
did not please her. She recognised Gerda immediately, and Gerda knew her too. It was
a joyful meeting.
“You are a fine fellow for tramping about,” said she to little Kay; “I should like to
know, faith, if you deserve that one should run from one end of the world to the other
for your sake?”
But Gerda patted her cheeks, and inquired for the Prince and Princess.
“They are gone abroad,” said the other.
“But the Raven?” asked little Gerda.
“Oh! The Raven is dead,” she answered. “His tame sweetheart is a widow, and wears
a bit of black worsted round her leg; she laments most piteously, but it’s all mere talk
and stuff! Now tell me what you’ve been doing and how you managed to catch him.”
And Gerda and Kay both told their story.
And “Schnipp-schnapp-schnurre-basselurre,” said the robber maiden; and she took the
hands of each, and promised that if she should some day pass through the town where
they lived, she would come and visit them; and then away she rode. Kay and Gerda
took each other’s hand: it was lovely spring weather, with abundance of flowers and of
verdure. The church-bells rang, and the children recognised the high towers, and the
large town; it was that in which they dwelt. They entered and hastened up to their
grandmother’s room, where everything was standing as formerly. The clock said “tick!
tack!” and the finger moved round; but as they entered, they remarked that they were
now grown up. The roses on the leads hung blooming in at the open window; there
stood the little children’s chairs, and Kay and Gerda sat down on them, holding each
other by the hand; they both had forgotten the cold empty splendour of the Snow
Queen, as though it had been a dream. The grandmother sat in the bright sunshine, and
read aloud from the Bible: “Unless ye become as little children, ye cannot enter the
kingdom of heaven.” And Kay and Gerda looked in each other’s eyes, and all at once
they understood the old hymn:
“The rose in the valley is blooming so sweet, And angels descend there the children to
greet.”
There sat the two grown-up persons; grown-up, and yet children; children at least in
heart; and it was summer-time; summer, glorious summer!

Fifth Story – The Little Robber Maiden

The Snow Queen – A Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen

They drove through the dark wood; but the carriage shone like a torch, and it dazzled
the eyes of the robbers, so that they could not bear to look at it.

“‘Tis gold! ‘Tis gold!” they cried; and they rushed forward, seized the horses, knocked
down the little postilion, the coachman, and the servants, and pulled little Gerda out of
the carriage.
“How plump, how beautiful she is! She must have been fed on nut-kernels,” said the
old female robber, who had a long, scrubby beard, and bushy eyebrows that hung
down over her eyes. “She is as good as a fatted lamb! How nice she will be!” And
then she drew out a knife, the blade of which shone so that it was quite dreadful to
behold.
“Oh!” cried the woman at the same moment. She had been bitten in the ear by her own
little daughter, who hung at her back; and who was so wild and unmanageable, that it
was quite amusing to see her. “You naughty child!” said the mother: and now she had
not time to kill Gerda.
“She shall play with me,” said the little robber child. “She shall give me her muff, and
her pretty frock; she shall sleep in my bed!” And then she gave her mother another
bite, so that she jumped, and ran round with the pain; and the Robbers laughed, and
said, “Look, how she is dancing with the little one!”
“I will go into the carriage,” said the little robber maiden; and she would have her
will, for she was very spoiled and very headstrong. She and Gerda got in; and then
away they drove over the stumps of felled trees, deeper and deeper into the woods.
The little robber maiden was as tall as Gerda, but stronger, broader-shouldered, and of
dark complexion; her eyes were quite black; they looked almost melancholy. She
embraced little Gerda, and said, “They shall not kill you as long as I am not displeased
with you. You are, doubtless, a Princess?”
“No,” said little Gerda; who then related all that had happened to her, and how much
she cared about little Kay.
The little robber maiden looked at her with a serious air, nodded her head slightly, and
said, “They shall not kill you, even if I am angry with you: then I will do it myself”;
and she dried Gerda’s eyes, and put both her hands in the handsome muff, which was
so soft and warm.
At length the carriage stopped. They were in the midst of the court-yard of a robber’s
castle. It was full of cracks from top to bottom; and out of the openings magpies and
rooks were flying; and the great bull-dogs, each of which looked as if he could
swallow a man, jumped up, but they did not bark, for that was forbidden.
In the midst of the large, old, smoking hall burnt a great fire on the stone floor. The
smoke disappeared under the stones, and had to seek its own egress. In an immense
caldron soup was boiling; and rabbits and hares were being roasted on a spit.
“You shall sleep with me to-night, with all my animals,” said the little robber maiden.
They had something to eat and drink; and then went into a corner, where straw and
carpets were lying. Beside them, on laths and perches, sat nearly a hundred pigeons,
all asleep, seemingly; but yet they moved a little when the robber maiden came. “They
are all mine,” said she, at the same time seizing one that was next to her by the legs
and shaking it so that its wings fluttered. “Kiss it,” cried the little girl, and flung the
pigeon in Gerda’s face. “Up there is the rabble of the wood,” continued she, pointing
to several laths which were fastened before a hole high up in the wall; “that’s the
rabble; they would all fly away immediately, if they were not well fastened in. And
here is my dear old Bac”; and she laid hold of the horns of a reindeer, that had a bright
copper ring round its neck, and was tethered to the spot. “We are obliged to lock this
fellow in too, or he would make his escape. Every evening I tickle his neck with my
sharp knife; he is so frightened at it!” and the little girl drew forth a long knife, from a
crack in the wall, and let it glide over the Reindeer’s neck. The poor animal kicked;
the girl laughed, and pulled Gerda into bed with her.
“Do you intend to keep your knife while you sleep?” asked Gerda; looking at it rather
fearfully.
“I always sleep with the knife,” said the little robber maiden. “There is no knowing
what may happen. But tell me now, once more, all about little Kay; and why you have
started off in the wide world alone.” And Gerda related all, from the very beginning:
the Wood-pigeons cooed above in their cage, and the others slept. The little robber
maiden wound her arm round Gerda’s neck, held the knife in the other hand, and
snored so loud that everybody could hear her; but Gerda could not close her eyes, for
she did not know whether she was to live or die. The robbers sat round the fire, sang
and drank; and the old female robber jumped about so, that it was quite dreadful for
Gerda to see her.
Then the Wood-pigeons said, “Coo! Coo! We have seen little Kay! A white hen
carries his sledge; he himself sat in the carriage of the Snow Queen, who passed here,
down just over the wood, as we lay in our nest. She blew upon us young ones; and all
died except we two. Coo! Coo!”
“What is that you say up there?” cried little Gerda. “Where did the Snow Queen go to?
Do you know anything about it?”
“She is no doubt gone to Lapland; for there is always snow and ice there. Only ask the
Reindeer, who is tethered there.”
“Ice and snow is there! There it is, glorious and beautiful!” said the Reindeer. “One
can spring about in the large shining valleys! The Snow Queen has her summer-tent
there; but her fixed abode is high up towards the North Pole, on the Island called
Spitzbergen.”
“Oh, Kay! Poor little Kay!” sighed Gerda.
“Do you choose to be quiet?” said the robber maiden. “If you don’t, I shall make you.”
In the morning Gerda told her all that the Wood-pigeons had said; and the little
maiden looked very serious, but she nodded her head, and said, “That’s no matter,
that’s no matter. Do you know where Lapland lies!” she asked of the Reindeer.
“Who should know better than I?” said the animal; and his eyes rolled in his head. “I
was born and bred there, there I leapt about on the fields of snow.
“Listen,” said the robber maiden to Gerda. “You see that the men are gone; but my
mother is still here, and will remain. However, towards morning she takes a draught
out of the large flask, and then she sleeps a little: then I will do something for you.”
She now jumped out of bed, flew to her mother; with her arms round her neck, and
pulling her by the beard, said, “Good morrow, my own sweet nanny-goat of a
mother.” And her mother took hold of her nose, and pinched it till it was red and blue;
but this was all done out of pure love.
When the mother had taken a sup at her flask, and was having a nap, the little robber
maiden went to the Reindeer, and said, “I should very much like to give you still
many a tickling with the sharp knife, for then you are so amusing; however, I will untether you, and help you out, so that you may go back to Lapland. But you must make
good use of your legs; and take this little girl for me to the palace of the Snow Queen,
where her playfellow is. You have heard, I suppose, all she said; for she spoke loud
enough, and you were listening.”
The Reindeer gave a bound for joy. The robber maiden lifted up little Gerda, and took
the precaution to bind her fast on the Reindeer’s back; she even gave her a small
cushion to sit on. “Here are your worsted leggings, for it will be cold; but the muff I
shall keep for myself, for it is so very pretty. But I do not wish you to be cold. Here is
a pair of lined gloves of my mother’s; they just reach up to your elbow. On with them!
Now you look about the hands just like my ugly old mother!”
And Gerda wept for joy.
“I can’t bear to see you fretting,” said the little robber maiden. “This is just the time
when you ought to look pleased. Here are two loaves and a ham for you, so that you
won’t starve.” The bread and the meat were fastened to the Reindeer’s back; the little
maiden opened the door, called in all the dogs, and then with her knife cut the rope
that fastened the animal, and said to him, “Now, off with you; but take good care of
the little girl!”
And Gerda stretched out her hands with the large wadded gloves towards the robber
maiden, and said, “Farewell!” and the Reindeer flew on over bush and bramble
through the great wood, over moor and heath, as fast as he could go.
“Ddsa! Ddsa!” was heard in the sky. It was just as if somebody was sneezing.
“These are my old northern-lights,” said the Reindeer, “look how they gleam!” And on
he now sped still quicker, day and night on he went: the loaves were consumed, and
the ham too; and now they were in Lapland.

Fourth story – The Prince and Princess

The Snow Queen – A Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen

Gerda was obliged to rest herself again, when, exactly opposite to her, a large Raven
came hopping over the white snow. He had long been looking at Gerda and shaking
his head; and now he said, “Caw! Caw!” Good day! Good day! He could not say it
better; but he felt a sympathy for the little girl, and asked her where she was going all
alone. The word “alone” Gerda understood quite well, and felt how much was
expressed by it; so she told the Raven her whole history, and asked if he had not seen
Kay.

The Raven nodded very gravely, and said, “It may be, it may be!”
“What, do you really think so?” cried the little girl; and she nearly squeezed the Raven
to death, so much did she kiss him.
“Gently, gently,” said the Raven. “I think I know; I think that it may be little Kay. But
now he has forgotten you for the Princess.”
“Does he live with a Princess?” asked Gerda.
“Yes, listen,” said the Raven; “but it will be difficult for me to speak your language. If
you understand the Raven language I can tell you better.”
“No, I have not learnt it,” said Gerda; “but my grandmother understands it, and she
can speak gibberish too. I wish I had learnt it.”
“No matter,” said the Raven; “I will tell you as well as I can; however, it will be bad
enough.” And then he told all he knew.
“In the kingdom where we now are there lives a Princess, who is extraordinarily
clever; for she has read all the newspapers in the whole world, and has forgotten them
again, so clever is she. She was lately, it is said, sitting on her throne, which is not
very amusing after all, when she began humming an old tune, and it was just, ‘Oh,
why should I not be married?’ ‘That song is not without its meaning,’ said she, and so
then she was determined to marry; but she would have a husband who knew how to
give an answer when he was spoken to, not one who looked only as if he were a great
personage, for that is so tiresome. She then had all the ladies of the court drummed
together; and when they heard her intention, all were very pleased, and said, ‘We are
very glad to hear it; it is the very thing we were thinking of.’ You may believe every
word I say,” said the Raven; “for I have a tame sweetheart that hops about in the
palace quite free, and it was she who told me all this.
“The newspapers appeared forthwith with a border of hearts and the initials of the
Princess; and therein you might read that every good-looking young man was at
liberty to come to the palace and speak to the Princess; and he who spoke in such wise
as showed he felt himself at home there, that one the Princess would choose for her
husband.
“Yes, Yes,” said the Raven, “you may believe it; it is as true as I am sitting here.
People came in crowds; there was a crush and a hurry, but no one was successful
either on the first or second day. They could all talk well enough when they were out
in the street; but as soon as they came inside the palace gates, and saw the guard richly
dressed in silver, and the lackeys in gold on the staircase, and the large illuminated
saloons, then they were abashed; and when they stood before the throne on which the
Princess was sitting, all they could do was to repeat the last word they had uttered, and
to hear it again did not interest her very much. It was just as if the people within were
under a charm, and had fallen into a trance till they came out again into the street; for
then, oh, then, they could chatter enough. There was a whole row of them standing
from the town-gates to the palace. I was there myself to look,” said the Raven. “They
grew hungry and thirsty; but from the palace they got nothing whatever, not even a
glass of water. Some of the cleverest, it is true, had taken bread and butter with them:
but none shared it with his neighbour, for each thought, ‘Let him look hungry, and
then the Princess won’t have him.”‘
“But Kay, little Kay,” said Gerda, “when did he come? Was he among the number?”
“Patience, patience; we are just come to him. It was on the third day when a little
personage without horse or equipage, came marching right boldly up to the palace; his
eyes shone like yours, he had beautiful long hair, but his clothes were very shabby.”
“That was Kay,” cried Gerda, with a voice of delight. “Oh, now I’ve found him!” and
she clapped her hands for joy.
“He had a little knapsack at his back,” said the Raven.
“No, that was certainly his sledge,” said Gerda; “for when he went away he took his
sledge with him.”
“That may be,” said the Raven; “I did not examine him so minutely; but I know from
my tame sweetheart, that when he came into the court-yard of the palace, and saw the
body-guard in silver, the lackeys on the staircase, he was not the least abashed; he
nodded, and said to them, ‘It must be very tiresome to stand on the stairs; for my part,
I shall go in.’ The saloons were gleaming with lustres, privy councillors and
excellencies were walking about barefooted, and wore gold keys; it was enough to
make any one feel uncomfortable. His boots creaked, too, so loudly, but still he was
not at all afraid.”
“That’s Kay for certain,” said Gerda. “I know he had on new boots; I have heard them
creaking in grandmama’s room.”
“Yes, they creaked,” said the Raven. “And on he went boldly up to the Princess, who
was sitting on a pearl as large as a spinning-wheel. All the ladies of the court, with
their attendants and attendants’ attendants, and all the cavaliers, with their gentlemen
and gentlemen’s gentlemen, stood round; and the nearer they stood to the door, the
prouder they looked. It was hardly possible to look at the gentleman’s gentleman, so
very haughtily did he stand in the doorway.”
“It must have been terrible,” said little Gerda. “And did Kay get the Princess?”
“Were I not a Raven, I should have taken the Princess myself, although I am
promised. It is said he spoke as well as I speak when I talk Raven language; this I
learned from my tame sweetheart. He was bold and nicely behaved; he had not come
to woo the Princess, but only to hear her wisdom. She pleased him, and he pleased
her.”
“Yes, yes; for certain that was Kay,” said Gerda. “He was so clever; he could reckon
fractions in his head. Oh, won’t you take me to the palace?”
“That is very easily said,” answered the Raven. “But how are we to manage it? I’ll
speak to my tame sweetheart about it: she must advise us; for so much I must tell you,
such a little girl as you are will never get permission to enter.”
“Oh, yes I shall,” said Gerda; “when Kay hears that I am here, he will come out
directly to fetch me.”
“Wait for me here on these steps,” said the Raven. He moved his head backwards and
forwards and flew away.
The evening was closing in when the Raven returned. “Caw, caw!” said he. “She
sends you her compliments; and here is a roll for you. She took it out of the kitchen,
where there is bread enough. You are hungry, no doubt. It is not possible for you to
enter the palace, for you are barefooted: the guards in silver, and the lackeys in gold,
would not allow it; but do not cry, you shall come in still. My sweetheart knows a
little back stair that leads to the bedchamber, and she knows where she can get the key
of it.”
And they went into the garden in the large avenue, where one leaf was falling after the
other; and when the lights in the palace had all gradually disappeared, the Raven led
little Gerda to the back door, which stood half open.
Oh, how Gerda’s heart beat with anxiety and longing! It was just as if she had been
about to do something wrong; and yet she only wanted to know if little Kay was there.
Yes, he must be there. She called to mind his intelligent eyes, and his long hair, so
vividly, she could quite see him as he used to laugh when they were sitting under the
roses at home. “He will, no doubt, be glad to see you, to hear what a long way you
have come for his sake; to know how unhappy all at home were when he did not come
back.”
Oh, what a fright and a joy it was!
They were now on the stairs. A single lamp was burning there; and on the floor stood
the tame Raven, turning her head on every side and looking at Gerda, who bowed as
her grandmother had taught her to do.
“My intended has told me so much good of you, my dear young lady,” said the tame
Raven. “Your tale is very affecting. If you will take the lamp, I will go before. We
will go straight on, for we shall meet no one.”
“I think there is somebody just behind us,” said Gerda; and something rushed past: it
was like shadowy figures on the wall; horses with flowing manes and thin legs,
huntsmen, ladies and gentlemen on horseback.
“They are only dreams,” said the Raven. “They come to fetch the thoughts of the high
personages to the chase; ’tis well, for now you can observe them in bed all the better.
But let me find, when you enjoy honor and distinction, that you possess a grateful
heart.”
“Tut! That’s not worth talking about,” said the Raven of the woods.
They now entered the first saloon, which was of rose-colored satin, with artificial
flowers on the wall. Here the dreams were rushing past, but they hastened by so
quickly that Gerda could not see the high personages. One hall was more magnificent
than the other; one might indeed well be abashed; and at last they came into the
bedchamber. The ceiling of the room resembled a large palm-tree with leaves of glass,
of costly glass; and in the middle, from a thick golden stem, hung two beds, each of
which resembled a lily. One was white, and in this lay the Princess; the other was red,
and it was here that Gerda was to look for little Kay. She bent back one of the red
leaves, and saw a brown neck. Oh! that was Kay! She called him quite loud by name,
held the lamp towards him, the dreams rushed back again into the chamber, he awoke,
turned his head, and, it was not little Kay!
The Prince was only like him about the neck; but he was young and handsome. And
out of the white lily leaves the Princess peeped, too, and asked what was the matter.
Then little Gerda cried, and told her her whole history, and all that the Ravens had
done for her.
“Poor little thing!” said the Prince and the Princess. They praised the Ravens very
much, and told them they were not at all angry with them, but they were not to do so
again. However, they should have a reward. “Will you fly about here at liberty,” asked
the Princess; “or would you like to have a fixed appointment as court ravens, with all
the broken bits from the kitchen?”
And both the Ravens nodded, and begged for a fixed appointment; for they thought of
their old age, and said, “It is a good thing to have a provision for our old days.”
And the Prince got up and let Gerda sleep in his bed, and more than this he could not
do. She folded her little hands and thought, “How good men and animals are!” and she
then fell asleep and slept soundly. All the dreams flew in again, and they now looked
like the angels; they drew a little sledge, in which little Kay sat and nodded his head;
but the whole was only a dream, and therefore it all vanished as soon as she awoke.
The next day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet. They offered to let
her stay at the palace, and lead a happy life; but she begged to have a little carriage
with a horse in front, and for a small pair of shoes; then, she said, she would again go
forth in the wide world and look for Kay.
Shoes and a muff were given her; she was, too, dressed very nicely; and when she was
about to set off, a new carriage stopped before the door. It was of pure gold, and the
arms of the Prince and Princess shone like a star upon it; the coachman, the footmen,
and the outriders, for outriders were there, too, all wore golden crowns. The Prince
and the Princess assisted her into the carriage themselves, and wished her all success.
The Raven of the woods, who was now married, accompanied her for the first three
miles. He sat beside Gerda, for he could not bear riding backwards; the other Raven
stood in the doorway, and flapped her wings; she could not accompany Gerda,
because she suffered from headache since she had had a fixed appointment and ate so
much. The carriage was lined inside with sugar-plums, and in the seats were fruits and
gingerbread.
“Farewell! Farewell!” cried Prince and Princess; and Gerda wept, and the Raven wept.
Thus passed the first miles; and then the Raven bade her farewell, and this was the
most painful separation of all. He flew into a tree, and beat his black wings as long as
he could see the carriage, that shone from afar like a sunbeam.

To be continued….

Third Story “The Snow Queen”– Of the Flower Garden at the Old Woman’s Who Understood Witchcraft

The Snow Queen – A Fairy Tale by Hans Christian Andersen

But what became of little Gerda when Kay did not return? Where could he be?
Nobody knew; nobody could give any intelligence. All the boys knew was, that they
had seen him tie his sledge to another large and splendid one, which drove down the
street and out of the town. Nobody knew where he was; many sad tears were shed,
and little Gerda wept long and bitterly; at last she said he must be dead; that he had
been drowned in the river which flowed close to the town. Oh! those were very long
and dismal winter evenings!

At last spring came, with its warm sunshine.
“Kay is dead and gone!” said little Gerda.
“That I don’t believe,” said the Sunshine.
“Kay is dead and gone!” said she to the Swallows.
“That I don’t believe,” said they: and at last little Gerda did not think so any longer
either.
“I’ll put on my red shoes,” said she, one morning; “Kay has never seen them, and then
I’ll go down to the river and ask there.”
It was quite early; she kissed her old grandmother, who was still asleep, put on her red
shoes, and went alone to the river.
“Is it true that you have taken my little playfellow? I will make you a present of my
red shoes, if you will give him back to me.”
And, as it seemed to her, the blue waves nodded in a strange manner; then she took
off her red shoes, the most precious things she possessed, and threw them both into
the river. But they fell close to the bank, and the little waves bore them immediately to
land; it was as if the stream would not take what was dearest to her; for in reality it
had not got little Kay; but Gerda thought that she had not thrown the shoes out far
enough, so she clambered into a boat which lay among the rushes, went to the farthest
end, and threw out the shoes. But the boat was not fastened, and the motion which she
occasioned, made it drift from the shore. She observed this, and hastened to get back;
but before she could do so, the boat was more than a yard from the land, and was
gliding quickly onward.
Little Gerda was very frightened, and began to cry; but no one heard her except the
sparrows, and they could not carry her to land; but they flew along the bank, and sang
as if to comfort her, “Here we are! Here we are!” The boat drifted with the stream,
little Gerda sat quite still without shoes, for they were swimming behind the boat, but
she could not reach them, because the boat went much faster than they did.
The banks on both sides were beautiful; lovely flowers, venerable trees, and slopes
with sheep and cows, but not a human being was to be seen.
“Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay,” said she; and then she grew less sad.
She rose, and looked for many hours at the beautiful green banks. Presently she sailed
by a large cherry-orchard, where was a little cottage with curious red and blue
windows; it was thatched, and before it two wooden soldiers stood sentry, and
presented arms when anyone went past.
Gerda called to them, for she thought they were alive; but they, of course, did not
answer. She came close to them, for the stream drifted the boat quite near the land.
Gerda called still louder, and an old woman then came out of the cottage, leaning
upon a crooked stick. She had a large broad-brimmed hat on, painted with the most
splendid flowers.
“Poor little child!” said the old woman. “How did you get upon the large rapid river,
to be driven about so in the wide world!” And then the old woman went into the
water, caught hold of the boat with her crooked stick, drew it to the bank, and lifted
little Gerda out.
And Gerda was so glad to be on dry land again; but she was rather afraid of the
strange old woman.
“But come and tell me who you are, and how you came here,” said she.
And Gerda told her all; and the old woman shook her head and said, “A-hem! a-hem!”
and when Gerda had told her everything, and asked her if she had not seen little Kay,
the woman answered that he had not passed there, but he no doubt would come; and
she told her not to be cast down, but taste her cherries, and look at her flowers, which
were finer than any in a picture-book, each of which could tell a whole story. She then
took Gerda by the hand, led her into the little cottage, and locked the door.
The windows were very high up; the glass was red, blue, and green, and the sunlight
shone through quite wondrously in all sorts of colors. On the table stood the most
exquisite cherries, and Gerda ate as many as she chose, for she had permission to do
so. While she was eating, the old woman combed her hair with a golden comb, and
her hair curled and shone with a lovely golden color around that sweet little face,
which was so round and so like a rose.
“I have often longed for such a dear little girl,” said the old woman. “Now you shall
see how well we agree together”; and while she combed little Gerda’s hair, the child
forgot her foster-brother Kay more and more, for the old woman understood magic;
but she was no evil being, she only practiced witchcraft a little for her own private
amusement, and now she wanted very much to keep little Gerda. She therefore went
out in the garden, stretched out her crooked stick towards the rose-bushes, which,
beautifully as they were blowing, all sank into the earth and no one could tell where
they had stood. The old woman feared that if Gerda should see the roses, she would
then think of her own, would remember little Kay, and run away from her.
She now led Gerda into the flower-garden. Oh, what odor and what loveliness was
there! Every flower that one could think of, and of every season, stood there in fullest
bloom; no picture-book could be gayer or more beautiful. Gerda jumped for joy, and
played till the sun set behind the tall cherry-tree; she then had a pretty bed, with a red
silken coverlet filled with blue violets. She fell asleep, and had as pleasant dreams as
ever a queen on her wedding-day.
The next morning she went to play with the flowers in the warm sunshine, and thus
passed away a day. Gerda knew every flower; and, numerous as they were, it still
seemed to Gerda that one was wanting, though she did not know which. One day
while she was looking at the hat of the old woman painted with flowers, the most
beautiful of them all seemed to her to be a rose. The old woman had forgotten to take
it from her hat when she made the others vanish in the earth. But so it is when one’s
thoughts are not collected. “What!” said Gerda. “Are there no roses here?” and she ran
about amongst the flowerbeds, and looked, and looked, but there was not one to be
found. She then sat down and wept; but her hot tears fell just where a rose-bush had
sunk; and when her warm tears watered the ground, the tree shot up suddenly as fresh
and blooming as when it had been swallowed up. Gerda kissed the roses, thought of
her own dear roses at home, and with them of little Kay.
“Oh, how long I have stayed!” said the little girl. “I intended to look for Kay! Don’t
you know where he is?” she asked of the roses. “Do you think he is dead and gone?”
“Dead he certainly is not,” said the Roses. “We have been in the earth where all the
dead are, but Kay was not there.”
“Many thanks!” said little Gerda; and she went to the other flowers, looked into their
cups, and asked, “Don’t you know where little Kay is?”
But every flower stood in the sunshine, and dreamed its own fairy tale or its own
story: and they all told her very many things, but not one knew anything of Kay.
Well, what did the Tiger-Lily say?
“Hearest thou not the drum? Bum! Bum! Those are the only two tones. Always bum!
Bum! Hark to the plaintive song of the old woman, to the call of the priests! The
Hindu woman in her long robe stands upon the funeral pile; the flames rise around her
and her dead husband, but the Hindu woman thinks on the living one in the
surrounding circle; on him whose eyes burn hotter than the flames, on him, the fire of
whose eyes pierces her heart more than the flames which soon will burn her body to
ashes. Can the heart’s flame die in the flame of the funeral pile?”
“I don’t understand that at all,” said little Gerda.
“That is my story,” said the Lily.
What did the Convolvulus say?
“Projecting over a narrow mountain-path there hangs an old feudal castle. Thick
evergreens grow on the dilapidated walls, and around the altar, where a lovely maiden
is standing: she bends over the railing and looks out upon the rose. No fresher rose
hangs on the branches than she; no apple-blossom carried away by the wind is more
buoyant! How her silken robe is rustling!
“‘Is he not yet come?'”
“Is it Kay that you mean?” asked little Gerda.
“I am speaking about my story, about my dream,” answered the Convolvulus.
What did the Snowdrops say?
“Between the trees a long board is hanging, it is a swing. Two little girls are sitting in
it, and swing themselves backwards and forwards; their frocks are as white as snow,
and long green silk ribbons flutter from their bonnets. Their brother, who is older than
they are, stands up in the swing; he twines his arms round the cords to hold himself
fast, for in one hand he has a little cup, and in the other a clay-pipe. He is blowing
soap-bubbles. The swing moves, and the bubbles float in charming changing colors:
the last is still hanging to the end of the pipe, and rocks in the breeze. The swing
moves. The little black dog, as light as a soap-bubble, jumps up on his hind legs to try
to get into the swing. It moves, the dog falls down, barks, and is angry. They tease
him; the bubble bursts! A swing, a bursting bubble, such is my song!”
“What you relate may be very pretty, but you tell it in so melancholy a manner, and do
not mention Kay.”
What do the Hyacinths say?
“There were once upon a time three sisters, quite transparent, and very beautiful. The
robe of the one was red, that of the second blue, and that of the third white. They
danced hand in hand beside the calm lake in the clear moonshine. They were not elfin
maidens, but mortal children. A sweet fragrance was smelt, and the maidens vanished
in the wood; the fragrance grew stronger, three coffins, and in them three lovely
maidens, glided out of the forest and across the lake: the shining glow-worms flew
around like little floating lights. Do the dancing maidens sleep, or are they dead? The
odour of the flowers says they are corpses; the evening bell tolls for the dead!”
“You make me quite sad,” said little Gerda. “I cannot help thinking of the dead
maidens. Oh! is little Kay really dead? The Roses have been in the earth, and they say
no.”
“Ding, dong!” sounded the Hyacinth bells. “We do not toll for little Kay; we do not
know him. That is our way of singing, the only one we have.”
And Gerda went to the Ranunculuses, that looked forth from among the shining green
leaves.
“You are a little bright sun!” said Gerda. “Tell me if you know where I can find my
playfellow.”
And the Ranunculus shone brightly, and looked again at Gerda. What song could the
Ranunculus sing? It was one that said nothing about Kay either.
“In a small court the bright sun was shining in the first days of spring. The beams
glided down the white walls of a neighbor’s house, and close by the fresh yellow
flowers were growing, shining like gold in the warm sun-rays. An old grandmother
was sitting in the air; her grand-daughter, the poor and lovely servant just come for a
short visit. She knows her grandmother. There was gold, pure virgin gold in that
blessed kiss. There, that is my little story,” said the Ranunculus.
“My poor old grandmother!” sighed Gerda. “Yes, she is longing for me, no doubt: she
is sorrowing for me, as she did for little Kay. But I will soon come home, and then I
will bring Kay with me. It is of no use asking the flowers; they only know their own
old rhymes, and can tell me nothing.” And she tucked up her frock, to enable her to
run quicker; but the Narcissus gave her a knock on the leg, just as she was going to
jump over it. So she stood still, looked at the long yellow flower, and asked, “You
perhaps know something?” and she bent down to the Narcissus. And what did it say?
“I can see myself, I can see myself! Oh, how odorous I am! Up in the little garret there
stands, half-dressed, a little Dancer. She stands now on one leg, now on both; she
despises the whole world; yet she lives only in imagination. She pours water out of the
teapot over a piece of stuff which she holds in her hand; it is the bodice; cleanliness is
a fine thing. The white dress is hanging on the hook; it was washed in the teapot, and
dried on the roof. She puts it on, ties a saffron-colored kerchief round her neck, and
then the gown looks whiter. I can see myself, I can see myself!”
“That’s nothing to me,” said little Gerda. “That does not concern me.” And then off
she ran to the further end of the garden.
The gate was locked, but she shook the rusted bolt till it was loosened, and the gate
opened; and little Gerda ran off barefooted into the wide world. She looked round her
thrice, but no one followed her. At last she could run no longer; she sat down on a
large stone, and when she looked about her, she saw that the summer had passed; it
was late in the autumn, but that one could not remark in the beautiful garden, where
there was always sunshine, and where there were flowers the whole year round.
“Dear me, how long I have staid!” said Gerda. “Autumn is come. I must not rest any
longer.” And she got up to go further.
Oh, how tender and wearied her little feet were! All around it looked so cold and raw:
the long willow-leaves were quite yellow, and the fog dripped from them like water;
one leaf fell after the other: the sloes only stood full of fruit, which set one’s teeth on
edge. Oh, how dark and comfortless it was in the dreary world!

To be continued…..

Part V – “What is it you think I don’t want?”

Chapter II Sisley’s first day at Cargo City South from the book Airways – I’m not in Hollywood

“I would like to turn the car around, seeing you?”

Sisley swallows and repeats: “You want to turn the car around to see me and you don’t know if I want this?”

“Yes?” he repeats while questioning.

“Mhhhh, so yes, you can turn the car around and guess, I think I want this, too.” Sisley now stumbling.

“Yes, really? Okay, I already turned around, I’m with you in five minutes.” De Rick answers. Sisley smiles from ear to ear.

Five minutes later, the doorbell rings. Sisley opens the door taking a step out to the corridor. Hearing his steps on the stairs. De Rick walks up the stairs and there he comes up to the third floor. She can hear him saying in his Flemish accent “Oh, these stairs they get me breathless.” De Rick jokes, looking at Sisley and flashing his brightest smile. Sisley is smiling at him, too.

“Oh, the stairs leave you breathless, do they?” she’s kidding. De Rick reaches Sisley’s door, grabbing her around the waist both stumbling into the room. The door falls into the lock. In the background the radio is playing. Standing in the middle of the room. De Ricks arms around her waist, Sisley slinging her arms around his neck. Both slow dancing starring in each other’s eyes and smiling at each other. “I wasn’t sure if you like it but I’m so happy you said yes.”  De Rick says, feeling relieved and smiling from ear to ear.

“Well, it seems like the absolute perfect summer night, tonight. Both kissing and starting to take the clothes off. Sisley got her hands in his trousers back pockets and they are stumbling over to the bed. De Ricks lying on the bed, Sisley taking off her last bits and they start rolling on the sheets.

*

She walks over to the bath then opens the balcony door and steps out. Rick comes over puts his arm around her and kisses her neck. Outside the temperature measures thirty-four degrees.

 “It is still so hot in the middle of the night,” Sisley says with a sighing sound in her voice.

“Yes, this is actually the hottest night in the year, they even reported that on the radio and the heat is still in the air.” De Rick replies. He kisses her and they slowly walk in again.

“Wow, we stick together like glue,” Rick comments with a smile. Both laugh. “Oh, my god!” Sisley is laughing.

“Let’s see if it’s a good sign or a bad one.”

“It must be a good one of course!” She adds and there they go for round number three.

*

Five o’clock in the morning. ”Wow, two hours more to go and I have to get up!” Sisley says astonished. “So, this means you want to go to sleep, now?” de Rick is looking at Sisley.

“Yeah, at least two hours sleep wouldn’t harm, would it?” Sisley jokes.

“You can come with me! I take you to the airport. At what time do you have to be there, latest?” de Rick offers Sisley a ride to the office.

“Ten would do.”

”Cool that gives an hour more, does it?” He kisses her. “That’s true, okay then I come with you.” And there, they both fall asleep.

Hotline & Bills

Treasure passes by with the Airways slogan. “I’m not in Hollywood” Treasure sings in a melody while already on Sisley’s door, he stops “Does your phone work? I can get calls but can’t do any outgoing calls.” He asks Sisley.

Read the full story here Chapter II Sisley’s first day at Cargo City South from the book Airways – I’m not in Hollywood

Part II – Sisley’s first day at Cargo City Sout

Chapter II from the book Airways – I’m not in Hollywood

Three days later: Sisley has arranged everything the new filing System is ready, she had prepared and printed all reports that are again well trapped on the table, the one from the weeks before she had placed in the bin. All her digital data is up to date. Sitting at this table tight on the wall she’s thinking about exchanging her furniture with the ones from the room next door. She sends an e-mail to Treasure who agrees to eleven o’clock. She calls Ernie from the IT department. ”Hi Ernie, how are you? I’m sure you are very busy, aren’t you?” Sisley asks with her a charming voice.

“Yes I’m so busy, I’m playing the new golf game all morning, is your boss in today? He wanted that game as well.” Ernie replies.

“Oh well, no Riveri hasn’t been in a single day this week, but he will be in next week. That’s what he said. How about you, having a little break from your business, I would like to get that table from the office next door into my room, could you come up and help me to get my old table out?” Sisley asks.

“What? Are you crazy?!!! That’s the CEO’s desk, you are not entitled to have such a desk!!! I won’t do that!” Ernie shouts into the phone.

“Oh, I talked to Riveri, he said it’s okay, he actually supports the idea. By helping me, you actually do it for him, too. So, are you going to help me?” Sisley asks again.

“Ah, so it is for Riveri, of course, I’m going to do that.” Ernie agrees immediately.

“Oh, great then you’ll be here at eleven o’clock? Treasure will be here too, and we’ll move it.” Sisley replies happily.

Eleven o’clock and Treasure steps into Sisley’s office. She offers him a Senseo coffee that she knows he loves. It is fifteen minutes past eleven and still, no Ernie is insight. Sisley calls the IT Department. “Ernie, where are you? We are waiting for you.” Sisley wonders.

“Mmmhh, you really want to do this?” Ernie mumbles into the phone.

“Of course, we agreed that already, didn’t we? Even Treasure is here with his assistant, so just come up helping to get out the heavy desk, the new table we can move alone. So you have nothing to do with the CEO’s table. Just helping to get my old one out, alright? It’s for Riveri anyway, he had said this looks so rubbish and tight”. Sisley arguments.

“Okay, I’m coming up,” Ernie replies.

Eleven thirty Ernie comes through the office door and they get started, removing the old table outside the corridor. Sisley has the idea to set the table diagonal, so she has more space and can see towards the door instead of looking at the wall. Treasure’s assistant who is also the quality officer critical observes the office. “Oh, that table has to stand 90° to the window according to security guidelines and the table has to be distanced 60 cm from the wall.”

The quality officer states. “No, then it’s the same setting as before and again I don’t have much space to move. I want it diagonal.”

“But the sunlight is coming through the window and shines straight on the screen that is not allowed according to the safety guidelines!” Treasures assistant insisted on his guidelines.

“Is it? But that table has an L-Shape, so I can place the screen on that side! And again the screen is set 90° to the window. Perfect!” Sisley solves the issue.

“Oh, that table is much too big to turn it that way” Treasures assistant finds another argument why not turn the table.

“Oh, a woman always has their very own estimation when it comes to furniture in rooms, this will never fit!” Treasure giggles and shakes his head.

 “Why, there is more than enough space it fits exactly with this wall.” Sisley walks through the room counting the number of her footsteps to take the measurement.

“Yes, my wife also uses measures like a half arm’s length, or this reaches from the elbow to the thumb.” Says Treasure with a hearty laugh.

“Let’s give it a try, then we see if it fits,” Sisley suggests.

“Yes, let’s put it her way and she will see that it doesn’t fit.” Treasures assistant adds supporting Treasure. The three men start bringing the table in and setting it straight.

“No, there is no way that you can turn it!” comments Ernie.

“The three guys standing in front of the table like they just had moved a menhir, starring at the table and their enormous effort they’ve just made. Sisley standing on the other side between the table and window. Sisley grabs the table-turning it 45° around. “See the perfect fit!” Sisley shouts satisfied.

The three guys standing there surprised with their mouths open: “Yes, and it looks good and you have a lot of space, it’s perfect! Treasure gives in.

“Good and looks much better. Great idea!” He finally confesses. “Well done!” Ernie adds.

Surprised about how specious and chic the room looks now, the three guys leave the room.

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5-0 AND KEYS

Chapter IV from the book Blossom Hill

At 6 pm, Mia opened the door to her house at Lordship Road. Standing in the corridor, checking the mail, she met one of the Russian girls, Versa. She was studying at St. Martins and Mia asked if they should meet this week to talk about the fashion store and some design ideas. They both agreed on a day and time and Versa went upstairs. Mia turned around when another of the Russian girls, Slatka, who came out of Mia’s apartment, loosened her hand from the door and walked upstairs, without saying a word. Mia rolled her eyes while opening her apartment door, then walked straight to the kitchen. Bo was sitting on the sofa.

“I just met Versa. We are going to meet next week for some design ideas for the fashion store. Have you had time, Bo, for the business plan yet? It would be great if we have the concept by the end of the week.”

“Oh, who is Versa, do I know her?” Bo asked.

“Versa? Of course, you know her, she studies at St. Martins. She lives upstairs.”

“Oh, one of the Russian girls, I don’t know them. I met only one, once, but I saw her only for five minutes talking about the electricity here, some time ago, when we had just moved in. That’s the only time I ever talked to one of them.”

Mia is stunned. Wasn’t it Slatka who had just come out of their apartment door not five minutes ago and he tells this story! He was so unbelievable, so unconvincing like something couldn’t be any other way than how he told it. “Oh, really? You only talked once to them, a long time ago. Well, if you say so.” She hadn’t the nerve to challenge him. This wasn’t a good time anyway, and considering last night she shouldn’t fuss about it. Bo was not interested where she was the night before.

She walked over to the bedroom and sorted some stuff from the huge wooden cupboard. She loved this cupboard; it looked so grandiose. She emptied some of the small shelves filled with keys. She took out the cupboard keys, her second car keys and home key and then tested the rest to see if any would fit in the apartment doors. “What about this key here, Bo? It doesn’t fit anywhere, is it one of yours or can it go?”

“No, that’s not mine, throw it away!”

Mia kept on tidying the bedroom, finally taking out the trash. She met Aisha, the Egyptian girl, who was also studying at St. Martins fashion design. Aisha was frustrated; everything was so complicated with their family. They didn’t even like her studying and of course living with her boyfriend—not being married was the greatest sin for her family but they would never agree to a wedding.

Mia explained her situation, that hers wasn’t the perfect relationship either, that lately it had become nothing more than a sideshow. Aisha thought they were the perfect couple and everything was so harmonised. So now, it opened her eyes. It was all far from bliss and they both had to play some kind of hiding game, for some stupid reason. Both laughed. “Shall we go out for a drink tonight? I’ll ask Bo and you ask your sweetie? We can go to the Highbury Hill tonight and have some dinner?”

“Great, idea, let’s go for it. Shall we ask the girls upstairs, too?”

“Yeah, why not, maybe this will refresh Bo’s memory about who visited him in his flat this afternoon.”

Eight o´clock and they are sitting at a table in the Highbury Hill. A huge mixed plate arrives; it looks delicious. Aisha and her boyfriend are amazed and half the girls from the upper flat-share have joined the two couples, including Versa but not Slatka, the girl from the afternoon. Mia does not miss her and Bo pretends not to care either. He keeps his attention on a football match showing on the wall, an English-German match and he can’t help himself as this is an extraordinary game for the English team where the scores are already 3-0 for England and he starts commenting. “Oh, maybe I should look out for some British girl, Germany seems to lose points.”

“Well, if you want to make it up on a one-off, so go for it. I couldn’t care less,” Mia jokes. But she feels another moment that makes her realize that the only reason he was in this relationship was for status rather than anything to do with her. She grabs another gin and tonic that lets her forget Bo’s un-charming comments and she moves on with having fun. With a final score of 5-0 for England, which hasn’t happened before, this becomes Bo’s favourite phrase for the evening. It reminds Mia where their relationship status is and she needs to keep reminding herself to forget about it and enjoy the night anyway. At one o’clock they are back home at their apartment. Mia is ready for bed.

“Oh, I forgot something in the car, I’ll be back in a minute,” Bo shouts, half out of the door.

Mia waits. Ten minutes later, wondering what is taking him so long, she puts on some shoes and walks out. To her surprise, Bo is not at the car but standing at the bin digging in the trash.

“What the hell are you doing there?”

“Oh, nothing, I just lost something,” Bo replies.

“You lost something? Something in the bin?” It dawns on her and a grin appears on her face. She immediately imagines it must be the key that she had thrown away earlier that day while tidying up the flat; this must have been a key belonging to one of his other girls. “Shall, I get a flashlight for you, honey, you think that will help? If you are looking for the key, it is in the white bag,” she says sarcastically.

“Oh, no thanks, it is not the key, I’ve told you I don’t know this key and you can throw it away. Why would I look for a fucking key that has no use for me.” His phone rings and Bo shouts into it. “Yes, I’ll get you the fucking key. I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

Mia turns around and is already on her way back to bed, wondering what else to expect. The next morning, she opens the drawer of her bedroom cupboard to grab her car keys and the key bunch she had thrown in the bin the day before is there again. Bo is still sleeping. She just shakes her head, thinking, Don’t you think I know half of the shit you do already. She moves on, knowing that this relationship won’t last; it was over long ago. Now it amounts to only what material benefit there was for them both. There was no way to speak it out. He would never confess anything and would just play the way of the super couple, always denying everything.