Hell Fire

16 December 2004

Bonnie opened her eyes. Today she was not going to clean or shake heavy rugs. Margot needed new shoes and they were going to drive into town and look at the stores. Then they would go to a café and then the bank. After that she would go to Nelly. Nelly had to be taken to the hospital for some tests. Simon grunted sleepily when she woke him.

“It’s nearly Christmas,” she whispered, “and this afternoon we’ll go into town to buy presents.”

Buoyed by what was to come, Simon bounced out of bed. As they ate breakfast, they discussed what they would buy for Granny and Grandpa. He wolfed down his porridge and came up with several dazzling suggestions. Bonnie made it clear that it couldn’t be anything expensive.

“I’ll pick you up as soon as I’m finished with Nelly,” she promised.

The wind was strong and the snow was falling thick and fast. It was turning out to be a harsh winter. Bonnie drove slowly and carefully; she felt safe with the snow chains Britt had given her in the trunk. When they got to daycare, Kaja came out to meet them, said goodbye to Bonnie, and took Simon inside with her. Bonnie drove over to Margot’s, a little white house with a small front lawn that her grandchildren looked after in summer.

Margot was a frail old lady with thick steel-gray hair. Bonnie followed her into the kitchen. There was a basket of bananas on the table and Bonnie gladly accepted one. Margot had a personal alarm around her neck and she pressed the button at regular intervals to make sure it worked. Within minutes, she would get a call from the switchboard and Bonnie would have to explain that it was just a test.

“What kind of shoes are you looking for?” she asked, as she ate her banana.

“I would like two pairs,” Margot said. “One for special occasions and one for everyday. I thought we could go to Magnussen’s because they’ve got the best selection. I have to have shoes with laces; otherwise I can’t get them on. And I’ve got a wedding to go to,” she explained happily. “My granddaughter is getting married. They’ve already had a baby, so it’s high time. It’s a little girl.”

“So you’re a great-grandmother?” Bonnie said, impressed. “Have you seen her yet?”

“No, only a photograph. But they’ve promised to come and visit me. They’ve named the baby Vilde. What do you think of that?”

“Lovely.”

Margot had put on a nice outfit as she was going into town. But her hair was greasy, which Bonnie thought was odd. Old people generally had dry hair.

“When we get back, I’ll wash your hair for you, if you like.”

“No,” she replied. “That’s not necessary. I washed it only yesterday.”

Bonnie couldn’t believe that. She stroked Margot’s hair; it stuck to her hand.

“What kind of shampoo do you use?”

“Wella,” Margot told her.

Bonnie went into the bathroom and on the edge of the bathtub was a bottle of Wella conditioner. But there was no shampoo to be seen.

“You’ve washed your hair with conditioner,” she explained to Margot. “It’s an easy enough mistake to make.”

Margot gave a sheepish smile and reached for her coat.

“We can buy some shampoo when we get to town,” Bonnie suggested. She helped Margot get into the passenger seat and fastened the seat belt. When they got into town, she parked in the big parking garage above the shopping center, got a ticket, and then helped Margot into the elevator and they went down to the stores. It wasn’t easy to get Margot’s feet into a pair of smart shoes, but the young girl who helped them was very patient. She knelt down and eased the shoes onto Margot’s old feet. Then she helped her up to try them out. Margot took a few steps across the floor and then sat down again, and gave her verdict on each pair. Too tight. Too big. Too high. Too stiff on the sole. Eventually she found a couple of pairs she was happy with, one white and one brown. They went to the register to pay. After that, they moved on to the bank. It was a rare visit for Margot and she had some bills she wanted to pay in the old-fashioned way — even though Bonnie had warned her about the fees. She also withdrew some cash and, on the way back to the car, they bought a bottle of shampoo.

In the afternoon, Bonnie drove to Nelly, who was sitting ready and waiting. She had the letter from the hospital in her hand; Bonnie read it and found clear directions for where they were supposed to go. In through the main entrance and the B elevator up to the fourth floor. Follow the blue line on the wall until you get to reception.

“Are you nervous?” Bonnie asked.

“No, not at all. It’s just some x-rays. And if they find something, they find something. After all, I’m eighty-six.”

While Nelly was in getting her x-rays, Bonnie sat in the waiting room and flicked through a women’s magazine. She always felt despondent whenever she browsed through that type of magazine. The pictures showed a glamorous world she would never be part of, and after a while she threw the magazine down and started thinking about Christmas shopping. Maybe she’d get a scarf for Mom and gloves for Dad. She knew she had given them that before, so it would be doubling up. But they might be glad of a bit of variation. Her mother would be happy with anything. It was important to show how pleased you were, for goodness’ sake. When Nelly finally came back, she was relieved. Her coat was buttoned up wrong, so Bonnie gave her a hand. She put the receipt from the parking lot in her wallet so that she could claim expenses. When they got back to Nelly’s house, they sat for a while at the kitchen table for a chat. Nelly gave Bonnie a hug when she got up to go, and then Bonnie drove straight to daycare to pick up Simon.

“We could buy slippers,” he suggested. “You know, the ones with sheepskin.”

“We could,” Bonnie hedged. “But it might be tricky to get the right size, and if they don’t fit then we’ll have to exchange them.”

“I want chocolate cake after,” he declared. “And Cherry Coke.”

“Chocolate cake and Cherry Coke you shall have,” Bonnie promised, putting the old Opel in gear. The snow was falling on the windshield and visibility was poor. She heard Simon chatting away in the back but only half listened because she needed to concentrate on the road. As they drove past the big Kiwi grocery store twenty minutes later, Bonnie spotted an old woman walking along the road. She was wearing a brown coat and hat and had a plastic bag in her hand. It was obvious she was struggling with the strong wind and ice. Dear God, Bonnie thought, that someone as old as that had to venture out alone in this weather. She instinctively slowed down. When the old woman heard the car coming up behind her, she stopped and turned around. To her surprise, Bonnie saw that it was Gjertrud. She put her foot on the brake, pulled over to the side, and got out of the car. When Gjertrud recognized Bonnie, her face lit up, and at the same time she had to put a hand on her hat to stop it from blowing away.

“Gjertrud,” Bonnie exclaimed, “what are you doing out in this weather when I do your shopping for you?”

Gjertrud clutched her Kiwi bag. “I ran out of cat food,” she explained. “He’s sitting in the kitchen meowing.”

“But couldn’t you have asked Edith?”

“She wasn’t home.”

“Get in,” Bonnie ordered. “I’ll drive you home.”

Gjertrud shuffled around the car while Bonnie held the door open. She noticed Simon in the back as she got in, and told him what a lucky boy he was to have Bonnie as his mother. She was the best person in the whole world.

“Now, is there anything else you need before you go home?” Bonnie asked as she started the car.

“Well, nothing that’s important.”

“But there is something you’d like to get?”

“I don’t want to trouble you; you’ve got your own things to do. And your son.” She seemed embarrassed. She sat there with her eyes downcast, clutching her handbag. Bonnie didn’t give up until Gjertrud said what she wanted.

“I don’t have any eau de vie left.”

“Then off we go to Wine Monopoly,” Bonnie said. “I’ll pop in and get some for you. The day’s not quite the same without it,” she added and laughed.

Then Gjertrud had to laugh too, and Simon leaned as far forward between the seats as he could. Gjertrud opened her bag and took out her wallet with shaking hands. She took from it a crumpled note and gave it to Simon. He thanked her politely, just as his mother had taught him.

There was a line at Wine Monopoly, of course, because it was almost Christmas. Bonnie decided that since she was standing in line anyway, she might as well get herself a bottle of cheap red wine. When they got back to Gjertrud’s house, the old dear wanted to pay for both bottles and the gas, and she wouldn’t let them go until Bonnie took the money.

“It’s nearly Christmas,” she said. “God bless.” Then she said goodbye and went inside to her hungry cat.