Post by Mina Crow on May 5, 2006 1:04:04 GMT 12
“Wake up, makea.”
The blinds were pulled back, and Mina covered her head with the blankets as the dawning sun set its rays upon her face. Her mother, Malin Yrjö, walked up to the bed and pulled the covers back down, laying a kiss on the fifteen year old girl’s cheek.
“Come on. We have to take Juha to the airport, remember?”
Mumbling irritably, Mina opened her eyes. She had always slept late, and any attempt to wake her resulted on her having a temper for the rest of the day.
“Come on”, continued her mother, more insistent this time.
“Little sisko, are you going to make me miss the flight on purpose?”
Juha stood on the doorway, smiling at his family. He was a light skinned young man, aged 21, and an exact copy of what his father had been at his age – about 6’3” tall, with short, spindly coal-black hair, almond shaped gray eyes and a grinning mouth, twisted on a playful smirk more often than not. Juha had taken over their father’s role when he had left. To Mina, he was the best brother she could ever dream of having. The siblings were closer than Siamese brothers, and at times even Malin felt left out. Juha was too alike to her liking, if only in appearance.
Mina grunted one more time, rubbing her eyes, and sat up in bed.
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead”, mocked Juha. She threw her pillow at him, and he dodged it, laughing. “Get up, we’re waiting for you.”
Half an hour later, Mina walked down the stairs to the kitchen, where Juha and Malin were already having breakfast.
“Pancakesh?” asked Juha. His mother shot him an admonitory glance.
“No talking with your mouth full, poika.”
The young man rolled his eyes and swallowed before blowing Malin a kiss. “Think positive, mum – you won’t have me speaking while eating for a long time here.”
Malin shook her head, while Mina sat down on her chair. “Hey, big lout, would you mind leaving me some scraps?” Juha had always had a voracious appetite, so Mina lunged for her share of food while it still existed.
“You know, plane food stinks”, he justified himself. “Have to build up some reserves…”
Helsinki, airport. Two hours for the flight; Juha had just dispatched his luggage on the check in. Mina almost threw herself at her brother, hugging him fiercely.
“You pick an American girlfriend I don’t approve, and you’re in big trouble with me, you hear, veikko?” she whispered against his chest, half joking, half threatening. She could feel his metallic necklace through his shirt. “I-kirjain lempiä te, Juha.”
He smiled and messed up her hair, without a word, and hugged her back, taking Mina’s feet off the ground. Malin looked up at her oldest child, then embraced him almost as strongly as her daughter had done.
“Take care, Juha. Call me when you get there, ok?” He nodded. “I-kirjain lempiä te, my dear.” Juha bent down and kissed her forehead. “I-kirjain lempiä te kanssa, äänetön.”
Always with a smile, he picked up his backpack and headed for the passengers’ area, waving goodbye as he walked to the escalators.
makea – sweetie
sisko – sister
poika – son
veikko – brother
äänetön – mum
I-kirjain lempiä te - I love you
The blinds were pulled back, and Mina covered her head with the blankets as the dawning sun set its rays upon her face. Her mother, Malin Yrjö, walked up to the bed and pulled the covers back down, laying a kiss on the fifteen year old girl’s cheek.
“Come on. We have to take Juha to the airport, remember?”
Mumbling irritably, Mina opened her eyes. She had always slept late, and any attempt to wake her resulted on her having a temper for the rest of the day.
“Come on”, continued her mother, more insistent this time.
“Little sisko, are you going to make me miss the flight on purpose?”
Juha stood on the doorway, smiling at his family. He was a light skinned young man, aged 21, and an exact copy of what his father had been at his age – about 6’3” tall, with short, spindly coal-black hair, almond shaped gray eyes and a grinning mouth, twisted on a playful smirk more often than not. Juha had taken over their father’s role when he had left. To Mina, he was the best brother she could ever dream of having. The siblings were closer than Siamese brothers, and at times even Malin felt left out. Juha was too alike to her liking, if only in appearance.
Mina grunted one more time, rubbing her eyes, and sat up in bed.
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead”, mocked Juha. She threw her pillow at him, and he dodged it, laughing. “Get up, we’re waiting for you.”
Half an hour later, Mina walked down the stairs to the kitchen, where Juha and Malin were already having breakfast.
“Pancakesh?” asked Juha. His mother shot him an admonitory glance.
“No talking with your mouth full, poika.”
The young man rolled his eyes and swallowed before blowing Malin a kiss. “Think positive, mum – you won’t have me speaking while eating for a long time here.”
Malin shook her head, while Mina sat down on her chair. “Hey, big lout, would you mind leaving me some scraps?” Juha had always had a voracious appetite, so Mina lunged for her share of food while it still existed.
“You know, plane food stinks”, he justified himself. “Have to build up some reserves…”
Helsinki, airport. Two hours for the flight; Juha had just dispatched his luggage on the check in. Mina almost threw herself at her brother, hugging him fiercely.
“You pick an American girlfriend I don’t approve, and you’re in big trouble with me, you hear, veikko?” she whispered against his chest, half joking, half threatening. She could feel his metallic necklace through his shirt. “I-kirjain lempiä te, Juha.”
He smiled and messed up her hair, without a word, and hugged her back, taking Mina’s feet off the ground. Malin looked up at her oldest child, then embraced him almost as strongly as her daughter had done.
“Take care, Juha. Call me when you get there, ok?” He nodded. “I-kirjain lempiä te, my dear.” Juha bent down and kissed her forehead. “I-kirjain lempiä te kanssa, äänetön.”
Always with a smile, he picked up his backpack and headed for the passengers’ area, waving goodbye as he walked to the escalators.
makea – sweetie
sisko – sister
poika – son
veikko – brother
äänetön – mum
I-kirjain lempiä te - I love you
