Chapter 1.2 - The plan that failed

Broken is the promise, betrayal
The healing hand held back by the deepened nail
Follow the plan that failed

- Metallica, "The God that failed"

The next day, as if by fate perhaps, Ranveig was phoned up by Sofie Motor-Karlsen, now married to her brother Eivind, and asked to hang out at the bowling alley. Ranveig didn't think twice before answering that sure, they would meet up. She had wanted to talk to Sofie herself.

It rained alot this spring, and this day wasn't any different. They met outside the bowling alley and talked about the rain and the weather for a while, before heading inside to play a round.

Even though Ranveig thought of this as a good opportunity to have a talk about the old days, she couldn't help letting her competitive instinct take over once the game started.

This fired up Sofie, and certainly, she wasn't going to let herself get beat. All in good sport, though, of course. The match ended with Ranveig as the winner by 29 points, and after that they sat down for a meal and a drink.

"I was thinking about you just the other day" Sofie began. "I was thinking about the time when we were children. Those were some... interesting times..."

Sofie took another sip from her drink before excusing herself to the bathroom for a while. As she came back, she sat down at the opposite end of the table before jumping straight into it.

"So...how are things at home for you?"

Ranveig: Oh, they're not to bad. both of my boys are doing well in school, and I think Oliver Freddy is making himself a new friend, if you know what I mean.

Sofie: Oh, I think I know excactly what you mean. That's so sweet!

Ranveig: And... for you? How are things?

Sofie: Oh yeah, me and Eivind are doing good. I just got promoted at my job, and I'm now a sous-chef at the restaurant, and Eivind is not far from his dream of being an astronaut. And our children are just lovely, both Kleopatra and our little Walter. Oh, and just the other day he finally figured out how to use the potty by himself, I'm so proud!

Ranveig: Yeah, but I meant... between you and Eivind? How are things?

Sofie: Well, truth be told, and you know what he's like.. he has his quirks..

Ranveig: Oh, I can imagine. It runs in the family.. that's we are like, us Motorsen folks..

Sofie: ..but I have made it my vow to stay faithful, and that I shall keep. Besides, and I say this with all my heart, he is an excellent father for our children and also... let this be between us, but your brother is really good in bed! Sometimes it helps to be both a little inappropriate and insane!

Sofie: But most of all, I am going to stay faithful for the children. Because I know how it hurts when...

Sofie could feel the lump building up in her throat and that sinking sensation in her gut. The sense of panic, confusion and lack of safety.

Sofie: I was only a toddler when they divorced. It was... I still remember the shouting and the screaming. The.. yelling and the threats they gave to each other... I could barely talk yet, but I understood... and I'm sure everyone else knew as well.

Ranveig: Yeah, I think my parents knew. Well, I knew too, somewhat. The rumours did circle around. I must admit though, I was a bit shocked when your parents divorced. I didn't know it was that bad, but I can see now that it was probably for the better at the time.

Sofie: Yeah, my dad just couldn't handle it anymore one day.. after she started a physical fight with him in the library. That's when they finally split and mom moved out. I didn't really know my mom until I was almost a young adult. She didn't visit us for years. And I was really mad with her at first. How she could cheat on my dad like that, and everything.

Sofie: I mean, I know he could be a bit grumpy and hard to deal with sometimes, but... that doesn't make it right... it just doesn't. And with Beau Andrews of all people... the fat, lazy slob!

Sofie: I don't really know how they did it, and it sure took a long time, but at least nowadays they are friends. Somewhat, I think. But I still see it from time to time, and I'm sure Jonathan does, too.. that sometimes when we have family get-togethers, she will prefer to hide away in the next room..

Sofie: He told me she did that just this christmas at his house. When everyone else opened their presents, she was upstairs playing computer games! She didn't come down until she had to, when it was her turn. Somehow that doesn't surprise me.

Ranveig: Yeah, I get that, but at the minimum they are living together again. So it looks like they are trying.
Sofie: Well, they live in the same house again now, but they're not really living together. Mom has her separate apartment. Though they have settled the peace and are not fighting anymore, and they can have their grandchildren over for a visit without any trouble...

Sofie: Oh, I'm sorry for all my blabbering about this. Some conversation, huh?

Ranveig: Well, I am glad we could have it. Honestly, it sets things a bit in perspective. You were always the popular one in school. Especially you and Helene, and well.. I won't say I downright envied you, but there were moments I wished to be in your shoes, without thinking about how it could be at home for you.

Sofie: It wasn't bad at home after mom left, just.. empty. Dad was a good father for me and my brother, though all that happened didn't really help his grumpiness. But still, we had everything we needed and then some. Some days though, it was quite the facade to put up... but yeah, that's what it was like back then.

Ranveig: Yeah, I guess...sometimes though its interesting how things do not always go as planned. Maybe it's just me being crazy again, but every now and then I feel as if there is someone watching over us and whoever that is, actually has it planned for us.

Sofie: Oh no, I think I know excactly what you mean, because I feel the same. And yet plans still fail, it seems. I always felt growing up, that I was meant to live in a traditional happy family where everything was easy and happily ever after and all that. Well, it couldn't have been more wrong!

Ranveig: Yeah, I thought the same. And that I would grow up, get married and live my life just like that. Oh, we could probably go on about this all night, and I would love to continue this conversation with you again soon.

Sofie: Yeah, it's getting late, and I should probably already have been home! Eivind has likely gone to bed by now, as his shift always starts really early. I just hope he remembered to put Walter in his crib...

Sofie Motor-Karlsens family tree.

 

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Chapter 1.1: Springtime of never-never land.

 Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Guide me safely through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
- 18th century children's bedtime prayer

It was the first day of spring and Ranveig Motorsen woke up feeling drowsy. She had been having these strange dreams since shortly after she started writing that science fiction book. She had almost gotten used to them by now, but the dream she had just this night seemed so much more real and alive then the others. Almost as if she had actually been there.

 She stood by her bedside and pondered about it for a few seconds, before heading downstairs to make pancakes and have breakfast with the boys and send them off to school.

 Most days she wouldn't have time for much more then a brief good morning, as she had to go to work early, but today was her day off.

Oliver Freddy, her oldest son, was close to aging up to a young adult and would have his high school graduation later this spring. She was so proud of him, as she was of both her boys. They spoke the usual everyday chit chat at the breakfast table, before they had to run out the door just in time for the school bus.

After they had left, she quickly went over to her computer and sat down to finish her book. Though she was not a professional writer of novels by any means, she had worked hard on it for quite some time. And like so many times before, she was stark in her determination to finish this project. All that was left now, was just the last round of editing and touching up a bit on the ending chapter, and the book would be done and could be sent off to the publisher.

By noon she was finished, and decided to spend the rest of the day relaxing on her bed while watching the romance channel. She had always wanted to find the true love she dreamed of and get married. Sure, she had tried a few times, but nothing really seemed to work out. At 42 years old and with two children she hadn't completely given up that thought, but didn't put anywhere near as much effort into it as before. She was pretty pleased with herself after all. She was already a well respected chess champion, and this she had achieved the hard way while simultaneously and single-handedly raising two children. And keeping a full time job to boot. This moment slouching on the bed was well deserved, she couldn't say anything else.

After a while, she felt an urge to call her old childhood neighbour Kathrine Kråke-Karlsen to invite her over for a talk. Just as she went downstairs to make the call, her phone let off a beep. Oliver Freddy had sent her a text message saying he would head over to a girl he knew from school, Inge Reppe, this afternoon. Ranveig wasn't surprised. She had long suspected something to be going on between the two.

She paused for a while, thinking about the dream again, before making the call to Kathrine. And sure, she would be over in just a bit as soon as her shift at the hospital was over. While waiting, she went back up to her bed to continue watching tv.
Kathrine knew her well enough to know where to find her. Or maybe it was enough to just follow the sound of the tv at near full volume. Whatever the case, she rang the door bell once, and when nobody opened she quickly went inside and up the stairs to find Ranveig excactly where she expected her to be.

"I had a really strange dream tonight.." Ranveig began.
"I was being led into this weird looking place.. and there was this guy there. A complete nutjob! I don't know, but he had some machine that could read memories.. but the strangest part is how real it felt. Like I was actually there, and it really happened. I have never had a dream give me this sensation before.. Maybe I'm just overworked from writing on my book and everything.."

Kathrine: Eh.. I'm no expert on dreams or anything, but it was probably just that, a dream. I wouldn't worry to much about it, if I were you.

Ranveig: Yeah, you might be right. I just don't like how this brought back some memories I thought I was done with. From school and everything.

Kathrine:I remember that, too. Those guys weren't really nice to you. And I did feel guilty about.. well, we shouldn't have left you alone like we did, but.. at the same time, it was so important to hang with the right crowd, and.. well, I'm sorry.

"It's ok, I guess", Ranveig said with a sigh. "We can't change the past, or something. Let's go downstairs, shall we?"

Downstairs Robert Bråge, Ranveigs youngest son, had just come home from school. It was clear he felt agitated by spending his days there, and if he was anything like his father, he would much rather have skipped school to go fishing. Preferrably as far away from any building or road as he could get, but Ranveig was a strict mother. She wanted her kids to make something of themselves, and skipping school was not an option. As long as everything else was ok at school of course. And luckily, Robert Bråge didn't seem to have any problem at all with his peers at school. It was more the teachers , the lessons and the homework that were his problem...

After spending the entire afternoon over at Inge Reppe's house, Oliver Freddy came home for a quick meal before going to bed.

Kathrine stayed for a little while longer, while she and Ranveig exchanged a few more memories from the school days.

After Kathrine had left, Ranveig sat still for a while, watching Robert Bråge with feelings of pride and love as he was doing the dishes.

Then they both took turns brushing their teeth in the kitchen sink before going to bed.

Family trees

Ranveig Motorsens family tree. Ingmar also has the Motorsen last name, but I left that out to save space/clutter.

Kathrine Kråke-Karlsens family tree.

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