“She’s better off here than there,” Aunt Märta says brusquely. “Her sister’s here, too, you know.”

“Oh me, oh my,” the lady responds. “What terrible times we’re living in. Do you think there’ll be a war, Mrs. Jansson?”

“Man proposes and God disposes,” Aunt Märta concludes, paying for the stamp with a coin from her wallet. “Thank you very much.”

Stephie goes into the store with her, too, waiting while she shops. She recognizes the man behind the counter. He’s the red-faced man who was shouting and scolding the boy down at the dock the day before. As he helps Aunt Märta, he keeps shooting curious glances in Stephie’s direction. Something about the look in his eyes makes Stephie very uncomfortable.

When they’re about to leave, a young girl walks through the door. It’s the same blond girl who made her friends laugh outside Auntie Alma’s yard. Her hair is wet and there’s a towel flung over her shoulders. She steps confidently behind the counter and fills a bag with toffees. Just helps herself, not asking anyone, and apparently not needing to pay.

The shopkeeper smiles, patting her cheek. The girl pops a toffee in her mouth, chewing and making smacking noises. She stares at Stephie the whole time, until she makes her way to the door and closes it behind her. When Stephie and Aunt Märta get out onto the shop steps, Stephie sees the girl vanish around a bend in the road on her bright blue bicycle.

seven

When Stephie and Aunt Märta return to Auntie Alma’s, Nellie is waiting by the gate. Her eyes are bright and she shouts as soon as she sees them:

“Stephie, Stephie, we’re going swimming!”

“But we don’t have bathing suits.”

“Oh, don’t we?” Nellie cries triumphantly, swinging a bathing suit out from behind her back. “I do!”

“Where’d you get it?”

“Auntie Alma had it waiting for me,” Nellie tells her. “I’m sure Aunt Märta has one for you, too. Auntie Alma says we’re just going to eat and go.”