Watching Hanatamago pull on her leash as they walked down the cold path in Riseberga park, Tino ignored the slight twinge of embarrassment at the thought of using his dog to meet someone. It was the best chance that he had. He didn’t think it was quite appropriate to use his position as Peter’s teacher to meet Berwald nor did he want to since he was aiming for- what? A casual meeting? He was flying in the dark but it didn’t matter.
It was the last Saturday of break and Tino was hoping that Peter had returned to Sweden by now. If he had then Tino had decided to bet on Berwald and Peter being in the park around the same time as they had been for the last couple of weeks. It hadn’t snowed yet and he hoped that the two were out taking advantage of the It was possible that they wouldn’t be there but it was worth trying. He’d overheard Peter talking about dogs so Hana was the perfect bait. So he kept on walking towards the field where he had hidden before.
As he approached the field, he kept his eyes peeled for the familiar figures, willing them to be there. Yes! There were voices, he could hear them clearly. This was it. Tightening his grip on Hanatamago’s leash he adopted a purposefully casual stride and headed down past the field gazing around as if he was vaguely interested in whatever was around him.
Glancing over he saw Peter and the tall figure of Berwald. Berwald had a soccer ball and he was getting ready to kick it back to Peter. However, as soon as Peter saw Hanatamago his attention snapped from soccer to the dog and then up to Tino. As soon as he saw Tino a look of recognition shot across his face and he ran over. Tino felt a rush of elation shoot through him. It was going perfectly.
“Tino! What are you doing here? Is that your dog? May I pet him?” Peter asked already kneeling on the ground and holding his hands out for Hanatamago to sniff at.
“Yes, you may pet her,” he put a bit of weight on the ‘her’. “And I’m out walking for exercise.” Which was true enough he thought privately.
Peter immediately started to pet Hanatamago and laughed when she tried to lick his hands. “She’s really cute.”
“Peter. Who’s this?”
A deep voice came from behind and Tino felt a slight shiver run down his back. This was it. He had to make at least a decent impression or else. Turning to face Berwald, he reached out a hand and introduced himself.
“Hello, my name is Tino Väinämöinen. Your son Peter is one of my students at school.”
Berwald looked momentarily surprised but also extended his hand to shake. “Berwald Oxenstierna. Nice t’finally meetcha.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too,” Tino replied. “It was unfortunate that I wasn’t able meet all the parents of my students before the year started.”
Peter interrupted before Berwald could reply. “Dad, look look look.” He pointed to where Hanatamago had bitten into the sleeve of his jacket. “I can make her go in circles.” He started to wave his arm and Hana was forced to circle to keep her grip on him.
“Peter, stoppit. S’not nice to do.”
Tino reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a red rubber ball and offered it to Peter. “Here. She loves to chase after her ball. If you want, throw the ball for her and she’ll bring it back.”
“Okay!” Peter grabbed the ball and Tino quickly unhooked her leash. Once Hanatamago was free, she started jumping at Peter’s heels and barking, eager to play. The two ran back into the field where Peter threw the ball as hard as he could, and Hanatamago exploded after it, barking like mad.
Tino smiled a little at sight, and the two men stood there silently watching Peter laugh and throw the ball and the dog bring it back.
Berwald seemed to hesitate for a moment before asking “D’ya like Sweden so far?”
Tino turned back to Berwald and smiled lightly. “Oh yes. It’s been fine. Although I’m still figuring things out slowly.”
Berwald nodded calmly.
“It’s different from Finland and Russia but I like it here. Getting used to the differences has been interesting to say the least,” Tino continued, happy to have a sort of conversation going.
“Y’lived in Russia too?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious.
“Yes. I lived there for three years in Saint Petersburg.”
Band-Aids 6a/?
Watching Hanatamago pull on her leash as they walked down the cold path in Riseberga park, Tino ignored the slight twinge of embarrassment at the thought of using his dog to meet someone. It was the best chance that he had. He didn’t think it was quite appropriate to use his position as Peter’s teacher to meet Berwald nor did he want to since he was aiming for- what? A casual meeting? He was flying in the dark but it didn’t matter.
It was the last Saturday of break and Tino was hoping that Peter had returned to Sweden by now. If he had then Tino had decided to bet on Berwald and Peter being in the park around the same time as they had been for the last couple of weeks. It hadn’t snowed yet and he hoped that the two were out taking advantage of the It was possible that they wouldn’t be there but it was worth trying. He’d overheard Peter talking about dogs so Hana was the perfect bait. So he kept on walking towards the field where he had hidden before.
As he approached the field, he kept his eyes peeled for the familiar figures, willing them to be there. Yes! There were voices, he could hear them clearly. This was it. Tightening his grip on Hanatamago’s leash he adopted a purposefully casual stride and headed down past the field gazing around as if he was vaguely interested in whatever was around him.
Glancing over he saw Peter and the tall figure of Berwald. Berwald had a soccer ball and he was getting ready to kick it back to Peter. However, as soon as Peter saw Hanatamago his attention snapped from soccer to the dog and then up to Tino. As soon as he saw Tino a look of recognition shot across his face and he ran over. Tino felt a rush of elation shoot through him. It was going perfectly.
“Tino! What are you doing here? Is that your dog? May I pet him?” Peter asked already kneeling on the ground and holding his hands out for Hanatamago to sniff at.
“Yes, you may pet her,” he put a bit of weight on the ‘her’. “And I’m out walking for exercise.”
Which was true enough he thought privately.
Peter immediately started to pet Hanatamago and laughed when she tried to lick his hands. “She’s really cute.”
“Peter. Who’s this?”
A deep voice came from behind and Tino felt a slight shiver run down his back. This was it. He had to make at least a decent impression or else. Turning to face Berwald, he reached out a hand and introduced himself.
“Hello, my name is Tino Väinämöinen. Your son Peter is one of my students at school.”
Berwald looked momentarily surprised but also extended his hand to shake. “Berwald Oxenstierna. Nice t’finally meetcha.”
“It’s very nice to meet you too,” Tino replied. “It was unfortunate that I wasn’t able meet all the parents of my students before the year started.”
Peter interrupted before Berwald could reply. “Dad, look look look.” He pointed to where Hanatamago had bitten into the sleeve of his jacket. “I can make her go in circles.” He started to wave his arm and Hana was forced to circle to keep her grip on him.
“Peter, stoppit. S’not nice to do.”
Tino reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a red rubber ball and offered it to Peter. “Here. She loves to chase after her ball. If you want, throw the ball for her and she’ll bring it back.”
“Okay!” Peter grabbed the ball and Tino quickly unhooked her leash. Once Hanatamago was free, she started jumping at Peter’s heels and barking, eager to play. The two ran back into the field where Peter threw the ball as hard as he could, and Hanatamago exploded after it, barking like mad.
Tino smiled a little at sight, and the two men stood there silently watching Peter laugh and throw the ball and the dog bring it back.
Berwald seemed to hesitate for a moment before asking “D’ya like Sweden so far?”
Tino turned back to Berwald and smiled lightly. “Oh yes. It’s been fine. Although I’m still figuring things out slowly.”
Berwald nodded calmly.
“It’s different from Finland and Russia but I like it here. Getting used to the differences has been interesting to say the least,” Tino continued, happy to have a sort of conversation going.
“Y’lived in Russia too?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious.
“Yes. I lived there for three years in Saint Petersburg.”
“Mmm. “Y’speak Russian then?”