When the game finished, Denise suggested that we go to a pizza place. We hopped back on the red train and headed towards Pizzeria Uno on the near north side. Axel and Astrid loved the Chicago style pizza as did we all. After eating we headed for home back on the red line train. When we got home we all were pretty tired out so we sat around the living room and talked for a while before we all drifted off to sleep. Debbie and Denise went into the basement with Pavel, Astrid and Axel went to their room and Barb and Sofia came with Jane and I.
The next morning found Axel and I the first ones in the kitchen, as usual. Axel was first so he was getting the coffee ready. When everyone was up and drinking coffee, we tried to decide what to have for breakfast. I whispered in Sofia’s ear to get the surprise we had bought for Astrid and Axel. Sofia went to the cupboard where she had hidden the herring and brought out the bags with the jars. She handed the herring bag to Axel. He looked inside and then hooted with glee, “Our breakfast dilemma is solved!” as he showed off a jar of herring. Astrid cheered while Jane blew a raspberry with her tongue and then laughed. Sofia then handed another bag to Astrid who smiled as she saw the 2 jars of lingonberry jam and said, “For those of you with no taste I can make Swedish pancakes!” Everybody cheered!
Axel came up to me and asked, “Where did you find the herring? Astrid told me you did this for her last spring.”
“There’s an international store that’s not too far away. I’ve ordered you a case of this stuff…you have to promise to keep it to yourselves!”
Axel laughed and thanked me as did Astrid. We had a wonderful breakfast. Barb, Sofia and I cleaned up the dishes while everyone else went out to the patio to lie in the sun. When we had finished the dishes Barb and Sofia sat and talked while I caught up on the news in the world on my computer. After about an hour Sofia asked me, “Tony, would you mind very much if I came around here from time to time during the school year?”I looked at her and said, “You can spend as much time as you want here. You and Pavel are always welcome in our house, isn’t that right Barb?”
Barb smiled and said, “That’s right! You are always welcome. But, be careful not to miss out on the college experience. College is nothing like high school. You will meet lifelong friends and learn things that will blow your mind.”
Sofia smiled and said, “I have already made lifelong friends like you Barb!”
Barb took Sofia’s hand, brought it to her mouth and kissed it tenderly and said, “So have I Sofia, so have I.”
I smiled at the touching display and said, “Well, Jane tells me she has hired you to tutor her in math this fall.”
Sofia laughed and said, “I wouldn’t say hired. I won’t take a dime from her considering how great you all have been to me. She has taught me more this week than I can ever teach her!”
“Don’t be too sure,” I said. “You haven’t seen her math skills up close!”
Sofia laughed and said, “Well, I’m a damn good math teacher! I managed, singlehandedly, to get our entire football team through math last year with the lowest grade a ‘C+’! If I can get those jocks through it, I can get Jane her ‘A’!