Dreams. Chronicles of the Night.



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21 July 2009


Closing Time

I studied the shelves at the grocery store. I needed fish, so I stopped at the fish department. There were several species available so, after some contemplation, I took a trout, smoked herring, and a few hundred grams of fresh whitebait.

Satisfied with the contents of my shopping cart, I felt completely at ease. The store had such a peaceful atmosphere, with not so many customers, that my eye lids were beginning to feel heavy. I didn't feel like moving anywhere, so I fell asleep.

I don't know how long I had slept, but I woke up when the lights were being switched off. Vendors were cleaning the place. The shelves were emptied and machines shut down for the night. I was the only customer left. The shopping cart still in my arms, I rushed to the nearest cash desk.

But there were no cashiers at the desk. Nevertheless, I put the fish on the counter and asked the nearest employee whether I could pay? The seller hesitated and asked for another employee. Soon he came back and said, 'We have closed for today. No need to pay. Just take the fish that you want, and leave the rest here in the bin.' I took all the fish.

At home the floor was flooded with water. Apparently my parents had just finished cleaning. I walked carefully so as not to wet my socks. Then I decided to take the fish with me and jumped on a bus.

The bus was about to leave towards northern Finland in Oulu. There were not too many passengers on board. For snacks I had a bag full of fish.