The Saviour of Lasnamäe by Mari Saat

Author:Mari Saat [Saat, Mari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781908251541
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

It was on her third visit to read to Rael’s grandma that Sofia found a stern-faced man with round eyes suddenly standing before her. Sofia hadn’t noticed how he had got into the flat or even the room, because she was tied up with an English article. The text was oddly worded and interesting at that. She didn’t understand all of it, of course, but as she read, a general picture formed naturally in her mind, and it was accompanied by photos that she’d have liked to look at and read the captions. She wasn’t able to because she had to read the article – and keep an occasional eye on Grandma as well, but now all of a sudden a black wall loomed between the two of them. He was a burly man, dressed in black, with black hair and strict-looking, bulging brown eyes that looked fixedly at her and said, “Ah, so you must be Sofia then?”

Sofia nodded because she’d lost the power of speech.

“And you’re the one working while Rael’s asleep?” he continued sternly.

“N-no,” stammered Sofia, although unjustifiable guilt brought her voice back, “Rael’s making tea in the kitchen…”

“Ah, Rael’s making tea in the kitchen, is she?” mocked the man. “Come and see how she’s getting on with it!”

He took Sofia by the hand and dragged her behind him into the kitchen. Rael was sprawled on the sofa, arms dangling, headphones on, eyes closed and a happy expression on her face.

The man removed her headphones and Rael sat up quick as a flash, snatched the headphones back and clasped the music player and the headphones tightly to her chest.

“Sofia said you’re making tea in the kitchen – making tea like this, are you?” the man asked, now scoffing.

“Yes,” grumbled Rael in an injured tone, “in principle I am, but it’s a bit early yet…”

“Ah, in principle you are, is that it? Well carry on with it then!” yelled the man, pointing at Rael under her nose. “Can you not get it into your skull that if you let someone else read while you make the tea, then you’ll carry on making the tea and be a kitchen girl all your life! You’ll throw away everything I’ve earned! Just you wait and see!”

“But I’m not just making tea,” whined Rael, “I’m listening to my music too! I have to keep in touch with the tracks! If I’m not up to the minute, what will I talk to other people about? Who’ll ever talk to me?”

“That music player!” shouted the man, and made a threatening movement that made Rael cower protectively over the player again. “Music players should all be smashed, destroyed; you’ll drive yourselves doolally with all that listening. The beat makes your brain soft. You’ll see, when you’re a deaf kitchen hand… or… or a tramp hunting through bins for food.”

He then turned abruptly to Sofia and asked, unexpectedly quietly but sternly, “Tell me, Sofia, what do you want to be?”

Sofia suddenly felt herself blush, her ears

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