Thursday, December 19, 2021
I was in a lousy mood. It was December 19 and there was no snow. When I was a kid, the Kumpunotko winters were cold and white which, in hindsight, was nice, even if I didn’t always appreciate it when I rode my Crescent against the wind by the river, teeth chattering, afraid to blink because my eyes might freeze shut. 

Now I wanted to close my eyes to get a break from the grayness that embraced our little town. Then again, my meetings with Jennifer did bring some sunshine into my life and today’s date wasn’t an exception. I never called them dates, Sara did, always jokingly but … you know. She didn’t need to worry about me, though. Jennifer and I were friends, dear friends, and that’s the way we both wanted it to be. 

I waited outside the fancy coffeeshop for a while, and checked the time on the big clock at the end of the market square. When it was 12:02, I went inside to get us a table. Jennifer was always late, but every time we met, I always waited outside until the agreed time. 

Jennifer rushed in at 12.10, wrapped up in a long scarf that, with her red wollen hat, revealed only her red cheeks and blue eyes. She waved at me, the way only she could, with fingers wiggling, ordered a hot chocolate and walked straight to our table by the window. Yes, it was our table.

“Sorry, I’m late. Again, as always,” she said as she hung her coat on the chair and rubbed my arm as a greeting. 

“It’s fine. I had nothing else to do,” I replied. 

“How are things? Wait, it’s Thursday, do you have a premiere?”

“Yes, our Thursday theme night. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. You coming?”

“I can’t. I have to make sure Pete’s ready for his school play tomorrow night. Then it’s Xmas break, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a break.”

“Same here. Except that it doesn’t feel like Christmas when it’s raining,” I said and gestured towards the window. “What’s the play?”

“The same it’s always been, silly. It’s the same it was when we went there. A Christmas Carol.”

“Oh. Well, I was never in it. Maybe one year, I think AJ made me work the lights, now that I think of it. Did you do it?”

“Yes. I was one of the ghosts the first year.”

“What’s Pete playing?”

“He’s Scrooge himself.”

“Wow, the lead. That’s amazing.”

“Would you want to come and see it with me?”

“What about Sami?” I said. While Sami and I hade established a friendly and courteous relationship, he still made me feel uncomfortable. Especially when he didn’t get Jennifer’s jokes. 

“He’s traveling. As usual. Some big deal going down,” Jennifer said and I thought I could detect a sigh at the end of her reply. 

“Too bad. I’d love to come. Could be fun to return to the old school, too, I haven’t been back since we left, not even since I moved back here. What time is it?”

“Seven.”

“See you there 6.45?”

“OK, but Peter, why won’t you just get a phone? It doesn’t have to be a smartphone, just something so I can text you if I’m going to be late.”

“If?” I said, and winked. 

“That’s right, mister,” Jennifer said and slapped me on the wrist. 

We sat there for an hour, talking about this and that before Jennifer said she had to go back to work. 

“Yeah, I have to run, too. I’m going to pick up Sofie, she’s taking the train here.”

“Is Tina’s family going to spend Xmas here?” Jennifer asked as we stood outside the coffeeshop. 

“Yeah, and Sofie’s coming early. Her school break started today.”

“She must be turning into a young lady by now.”

“She sure is. She’s sixteen now, seventeen in the spring.”

“Time flies, Peter. I remember when we were sixteen. Geez. See you tomorrow,” she said, gave me a hug, and walked toward the hospital. 

“I do, too, Jennifer,” I said when she crossed the street and disappeared around the corner. 

Then I pushed my hands in my jacket pockets and walked to the station. I had exactly eight minutes to get there before the train. 

I only needed four.

➡️ More on Someday Jennifer (HarperCollins Canada 2019)