younger guests looked at them with surprise. The financial adviser presented
a long, narrow package from the Ingebrigtsen family. Sophie tried hard to
maintain her composure when it turned out to be—yes, it was!—a Barbie doll.
But Joanna made no such effort:
“Are you crazy? Sophie doesn’t play with dolls!”
Mrs. Ingebrigtsen came hurrying over, with all her sequins clanking. “But
it’s only for decoration, you know.”
“Well, thank you very much indeed.” Sophie tried to smooth things over.
“Now I can start ft collection.”
People began to drift toward the table.
“We’re only waiting for Alberto,” said Sophie’s mother to her in a
somewhat brisk tone that was intended to hide her growing apprehension.
Rumors of the special guest of honor had already spread among the other
guests.
“He has promised to come, so he’ll come.”
“But we can’t seat the guests before he arrives, can we?”
“Of course we can. Let’s go ahead.”
Helene Amundsen began to seat people around the long table. She
made sure that the vacant chair was between her own and Sophie’s place.
She said a few words about the beautiful weather and the fact that Sophie
was now a grownup.
They had been sitting at the table for half an hour when a middle-aged
man with a black goatee and a beret came walking up Clover Close and in
through the garden gate. He was carrying a bouquet of fifteen red roses.
“Alberto!”
Sophie left the table and ran to greet him. She threw her arms around
his neck and took the bouquet from him. He responded to the welcome by
rooting around in his jacket pocket and drawing out a couple of Chinese fire-
crackers which he lit and tossed into the yard. As. he approached the table,
he lit a sparkler and set it on top of the almond pyramid. Then he went over
and stood at the empty place between Sophie and her mother.
“I’m delighted to be here,” he said.
The guests were dumbstruck. Mrs. Ingebrigtsen gave her husband a
significant look. Sophie’s mother was so relieved that the man had finally
arrived, however, that she would have forgiven him anything. Sophie herself
was struggling to suppress her laughter.
Helene Amundsen tapped on her glass and said:
“Let us also welcome Alberto Knox to this philosophical garden party. He
is not my new boyfriend, because although my husband is so often away at
sea, I don’t have a new boyfriend for the time being. However, this astounding
person is Sophie’s new philosophy teacher. His prowess extends further than
to setting off fireworks.
This man is able, for example, to draw a live rabbit out of a top hat. Or
was it a crow, Sophie?”
“Many thanks,” said Alberto. He sat down.
“Cheers!” said Sophie, and the guests raised their glasses and drank his
health.
They sat for a long time over their chicken and salad. Suddenly Joanna
got up, walked determinedly over to Jeremy, and gave him a resounding kiss
on the lips. He responded by trying to topple her backward over the table so