Free See You Tomorrow by Tore Renberg

through the door in the morning they have to feel welcome. Of course, Mr Spar. They’ve been happy with her up to now, hard to find fault with Sandra. A good girl, no denying she always has been. Always did her homework, got good marks, kept her room tidy and folded her clothes neatly. Sandra has never been able to live any other way, she gets a guilty conscience from just thinking about not doing things in a neat, proper and orderly fashion. Oh yes, her mother usually says when they have family over, you know Sandra, she was already tidying up toys when she was just a little tot.
    She’s done her part of the job. The floors are clean. She can go.
    â€˜Sandra?’
    She gives a start. Suddenly aware of Tiril behind her, standing by the bottle return belt. Her hair is lank, make-up heavy, fingernails black and her gaze harsh. Headphones on. Does she always have to look so angry, is it necessary? Does she have to look like everyone’s going to die at any moment?
    â€˜Where’re you going?’ Tiril asks, chewing her gum slowly and pulling off the headphones.
    Sandra’s can’t bring herself to meet those eyes. ‘My mum and dad are waiting,’ she says, stepping into her shoes. ‘You’ll lock up, won’t you?’
    â€˜Yeah, did you think I was going to leave it open or something?’
    Tiril responds as if someone has had a go at her. It’s weird to think that girl is going to sing in the gym hall on Thursday. She seems like she hates everything and everybody, what is it she’strying to prove? Sandra feels her anger form an aching lump in her chest. She does everything she can to be kind to people, to be open and understanding, everything she can for people to like her. She’s used to people being polite. There’re a lot of things you could say about Mum and Dad, but she agrees with them that the least you can expect from people is that they’re friendly and polite, we only share a short time on this earth together so it’s important to meet one another with love and kindness, that’s the message of Jesus and the message of love.
    Daniel, I’m coming now.
    â€˜No, no, I just meant … anyway, look, I’ve got to run.’
    â€˜Okay, so run then.’
    Sandra feels a nauseous surge in her stomach. ‘Do you know what?’ she says firmly, her own boldness making her nervous. ‘Do you know what? You can choose, are you aware of that?’
    Tiril blinks for a fraction of a second but maintains her composure. ‘Choose fucking what?’
    â€˜The light or the dark,’ Sandra says quickly, startled by herself. She turns and hurries towards the exit.
    â€˜How sweet,’ says Tiril. She goes back into the shop.
    Sandra takes a deep breath, as though she’d done something illegal. She brings her tongue across the dry skin around her mouth and stops in front of the mirror hanging by the back door.
    Now Jesus isn’t the one I’m going to kiss any more, she thinks. She’s never told anyone that she used to kiss Jesus. She’d turn out the light, creep under the duvet, close her eyes, blush, begin to move her lips and then she’d kiss Jesus. Her body would tingle, making her feel warm. But all that has to end, now that she’s got her boy.
    â€˜Daniel,’ she whispers, allowing her lips to part.
    â€˜Daniel,’ she repeats, while applying a layer of lip gloss.
    â€˜Daniel,’ her lips mouth, as she adjusts her new bra, trying to get her boobs to sit the way she thinks he’d like.
    â€˜Daniel,’ she whispers while she fixes her fringe, moves the silver cross into place in the notch of her neck, dries the sweat from her forehead and tries to find that particular facial expression, ‘I’m coming now.’
    Then she opens the door, feels the air hit her, and she runs.

14. FOG (Rudi)
    Rudi sees a wizened hand run through her fringe, wiping her teary eye, then a smile