My big secret PDF Free Download
1 / 10/10
100%
My big secret by Lucas Svensson.
Translation Michael Cocke
1
AJ
There is something that nobody must know about Daddy.
MA
Hush, what are you saying? And where is your desk?
AJ
Mummy! I am sitting there. I am in the new school. There is the teacher.
TEACHER
What´s your name?
AJ
My name is Aj.
TEACHER
But what´s your real name?
AJ
My name is Aj.
CHILDREN
AJ? The children laugh.
TEACHER
Aj is from Finland, it´s like Sweden but they talk differently.
AJ
Yes, but it isn´t different when you live there.
TEACHER
Dear Aj, will you tell us something about your family.
AJ
Well, we´re from Vasa, in Finland. There is my mother. She is a waitress
at a restaurant, a fine one, in town. Yes…
TEACHER
And your Daddy? What does he do?
Pause
AJ
Can´t I sing a song instead, can I do that?
TEACHER
A song? But your Daddy?
AJ
Good! Then I´ll sing.
(Aj sings Tänk om jag hade en liten monkey)
2
MA
They say she is so cute. I’m not that sure.
AJ
Am I not cute?
MA
That's not what you say about yourself.
Do you hear what Aj is saying?
AJ
Says Mummy to the other mums at school.
MA
Aj looks most like me.
AJ
Do I?
MA
Yes - well, I don´t know. Let´s go.
AJ
Don´t I look more like Daddy?
MA
Yes – Well, I don´t know. You are like most children.
AJ
I think I look more like Daddy.
MA
Don´t do that.
AJ
Sorry. Why not?
MA
You never met him. You don´t talk about him at school, do you?
AJ
No.
MA
Yes, you do. What do you say?
AJ
That he is on a secret mission.
MA
That´s the stupidest thing I have ever heard! You shouldn´t brag about
him.
AJ
Should I say that he is dead?
MA
No, then they will feel sorry for you and there´s nothing about you to feel
sorry about.
Do I look good?
AJ
You are the most beautiful I know, Mummy. But you´re only going to
work, aren´t you?
MA
A beautiful appearance is all you have, never forget.
AJ
I look like Daddy.
MA
No, not much.
AJ
That´s ok, isn´t it? You loved him.
MA
Yes. Do I smell good? I'll bring that meat you like.
AJ
I have a photo of Daddy, look, it´s in Finland. He´s standing by the bed.
He has a violin. He is laughing.
Look, I laugh with my mouth exactly like daddy. In Vasa in Finland
Mummy and Daddy were the most beautiful people in town. When they
came walking people turned.
VASA 1
Oh, who are they?
VASA 2
Oh, I don´t know!
VASA 1
Are they from Vasa?
VASA 2
Impossible, there aren´t such beautiful people here in Vasa!
AJ
Yes, that´s my Mummy and my Daddy and they skated on the ice rink.
Lap after lap. And Daddy played his violin and they skated and skated.
And then I came. But then, Daddy was gone. So we came here, because
there were no jobs in Finland.
MA
How dirty the snow is here in Sweden.
AJ
Yes.
MA
But better than in Finland. But they could maybe clean the snow.
3
AJ
Today a letter arrived
MA
A letter arrived.
AJ
It´s for me.
MA
Don’t run in with snowy boots, kick that off. Now you ran in anyway.
AJ
He has drawn notes around my name as if it was music. Our handwriting
is the same.
MA
He writes like a child.
AJ
Yes, I am a child.
MA
What´s the matter?
AJ
I just have to hold this spoon for a while.
MA
Why?
AJ
If I let go, I´ll fall.
MA
Don´t be stupid. You did.
4
PA
Here I sit.
Aj
Daddy. How are you?
PA
I´m just fine.
AJ
Good. Thank you for the letter. It smells of glue when you stick it under
your nose.
PA
Ciioool.
AJ
Ciioool?
PA
Yep. Ciioool. It´s decoupage glue. It is used for envelopes. What´s the
matter, my girl.
AJ
You write very short letters but they make me happy.
PA
Short?
AJ
Dear you, here is a letter from your dady. There should be two d´s in
daddy, Daddy. Yeah yeah. I am happy even though I am in prison. I
hope you too are happy. Many kind regards. Daddy. Very short.
PA
But it took a long time to write. It´s not easy to write about being happy.
AJ
I have never met you in real life. What are you really like?
PA
I´m content and happy.
AJ
Don´t you want to get out?
PA
When It’s time I will be released.
AJ
That´s good, that´s very good. Mummy and I are waiting for you. Did you
hear? I and Mummy.
PA
Yeah, yeah.
AJ
If you came here, we could go skating all three of us.Yes, and if we
happen to go to Vasa instead we can do it there too.
PA
Yeah, yeah.
AJ
I will write soon. I don´t know all the words but I will try to write as many
as possible. It´s very hard to write to someone you never met. We smile
in the same way, you and I.
5
MA
The main course is lamb and there´s also eggs and herring, yes, eggs
and herring.
AJ
Here under the serving tables no one sees you. It´s Saturday. That´s
when I´m with Mummy at the restaurant.
MA
The Easter buffet includes coffee and a slice of banana cake, a brandy is
also included at a discount for those who want.
SOMEBODY
We are out of eggs.
AJ
I´m looking at Mummy from here under the table. She is so beautiful in
black and white. She kind of sails between the tables.
MA
It´s filet of lamb, that´s right, also a potato gratin is included. Coffee and
for those who want it -
AJ
Brandy at a discount…
MA
Thank you, yes, thank you, thank you.
AJ
What´s brandy?
MA
It makes you drunk and happy.
AJ
Now she sails away again. The daffodils shine yellow on the tables and
she is black and white. Who does she smile at now? Who are you
smiling at, Mummy?
MA
Thank you very much. Yes, of course.
AJ
The spring sun shines so warm and sharp through the windows, they are
dirty. To lie here below with Mummy at work is good.
MA
Don´t look at me.
AJ
Mummy sneaks herself a brandy.
MA
How to cope.
MA
Two eggs and herring? Right and then there’s banana cake for dessert.
NÅ
Nå, here is for you.
AJ
There is Nå. He is completely red in the face. He makes mashed
potatoes. Now his face appears under the table-cloth. A sandwich with
meet?
NÅ
What are you doing under the table?
AJ
Writing a letter to Daddy.
NÅ
Come out to the kitchen.
AJ
The kitchen is warm, inside the pantry there are very, very thin glasses
on stems that are piled up forming a high pyramid and they go ping. If
you shout they sing and if you take them down and fill them with water
you can play on them with your finger. Then the glasses sound horribly
lonely.
NÅ
Nå, do you play on them?
AJ
Yes.
NÅ
Do you like that meat?
AJ
Yes thank you.
NÅ
Where is your Daddy then?
AJ
He is – well, I don´t know.
