Apple tree alley, Part 2

Move in

It was white all over. The whole apartment - painter's white. We wanted it to be full of life. We painted the tiny kitchen red with beech cupboards. The living room we made yellow. The corridor amber with a beech closet and the bedroom light blue with a beech wardrobe. All that made it so lively. The bathroom we left as it was: white and light blue ceramic tiles with a birch wooden roof.

Mary's double bed was brought into the bedroom. Our bedroom was so big, that there was enough space for my cherry tree desk beside a window with a view to a office building.

My mahogany bookshelves were carried into the living room. The dinner table was put on the best spot in front of the living room window with a view to the sea and the very same sofa, where we became a couple, was at the end of the living room also with a sea view.

Mary's laptop was to be in the bedroom and mine in the living room. That was everything we at first had.

Apple tree alley, Part 1

Our first home

It was maybe the year 1999 or 2000. No, now I remember, it must have been the year 2001. The winter when there was a doping scandal - approximately at that time I visited the place for the first time. There was a funny friend of mine living there, who put his pants on his head, when we went to the balcony for a cigarette, because it was so cold. I told him to put dirty pants, that way it might be even warmer. He did not, maybe he was not as crazy as I am.

Have not heard about him afterwards. Do not remember his real name either. But he had an eye, which made a peculiar noise. I mean, when he pushed his eye gently with his hand, there was a clear sound. An extraordinary fellow. Anyway, that was when I visited the place for the first time. Apple tree alley 22. Already at that time I sensed something special about the place.

Everybody seemed to know each other. On the ground floor there was an artistic couple with a pretty teenage daughter. And an elderly man, whose wife had died couple of years earlier. The man was quite lonely and liked to invite others for a drink. On the second floor there was this funny friend of mine. And a bitter old Bulgarian witch, who was terrorizing the whole neighborhood. Always angry like she would kill someone. Who lived on the third and on the fourth floor, I can not recall. I do not even know, if I ever saw them.

Everyone had to move away sometime between 2003 and 2005. The house was totally renovated. Apartments were made smaller, so that there are now three apartments and a laundry room and a sauna on the ground floor. On the other floors there are five apartments on each.

My good friend Aura lives on the second floor. She told me there is now an apartment available on the top floor. Mary and I have been looking for a flat for some time. Aura asked us to come to see the apartment on the top floor of her house.

When we went to see the place, it was a sunny day. About eleven o´clock on Wednesday the 7th of May. Birds were singing beautifully as we walked along the Apple tree alley. Cool wind from the sea made the day not too hot, but there was a clear feeling of coming summer.

Almost something magical about the atmosphere. I don't know if it has something to do with the nearby cemetery, but the feeling you get, when you arrive to the Apple tree alley, is so peaceful. There is a gentle balance between man and nature there. Squirrels and wild bunnies playing right in front of the house.

The house, Appletree alley 22, is a yellow-white-coloured Art Nouveau style building and the apartment on the top floor has a small kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom and a living room with a view to the sea. About fifteen minutes walk from the city centre and ten minutes walk from where I got a new job. Mary works in a neighboring city. There are really good connections by subway and by bus.

It is a perfect place for a couple like us. Mary loves the place too. Apple trees on both sides of the street and a large garden on the backyard. A peaceful area almost in the heart of the city centre. Quite expensive but worth every penny. Even a pool table in the cellar.

There was no need for many questions. We took the apartment immediately. Our first home.

Mary and me

Rendez-vous

I hope this is a short story which will never end. It was one Tuesday morning at Helsinki Café, when Jim felt something new. Sometimes it is better not to try to explain one's feelings afterwards, but I hope this is not one of those times.

Well, back to the story. Jim did not know what it was; was it the warmth of the moment, a ray of bright light of morning sunshine or just an illusion in his head. Half a year ago it would have been an angel in paradise. One and a half years ago just a devil in disguise.

All the same there she was, Mary, sitting in the same room with him. To tell you the truth Jim still, at this very moment, does not know what his feelings for her were. Maybe that could be called one in a billion chance moment. Sorry, I apologize, that would not make her justice. But I am trying to tell you, what truly happened.

Anyway it was just one of those moments, when you are kind of afraid you will break the illusion, which will probably not come true anyway. Will illusions come true sometimes? Hopes do, don´t they - sometimes. Hey, hey... but this is no illusion: there she was alright. This is what I am trying to explain myself. I mean he was. And still is. Jim, I mean...

Excuse me, I needed a cigarette break. Oh well, it is six am. Another cup of coffee. See you next time.

Tonight at ten past twelve I went to the balcony for a cigarette. Out there I heard a nightingale sing. Another answered. It was beautiful. And I thought of you. Now I am writing this with shaking hands... 

2 pm

I am listening to Radio Helsinki. A man is singing: "Don't walk away in silence." She will be here, at my place in about two hours, I hope. We've been seeing each other almost every day for some time now.

I've met her mother and she's met my father. Still I don't think we exactly know where we are going right now. Anyway I am more than happy, that I have a good friend now. Who knows what the future will be like?

2 am

Nice day, yesterday. We watched a movie called "Lost in translation". Had some pastries with lots of coffee.

While lying on the bed, I wanted to hold her hand, hug her real tight and kiss her. But I didn´t make a pass yet.

Well, next Saturday will be my 36th birthday and she will be the only guest. Who knows what will happen?

Yesterday I asked her permission to use these texts for my blog. I don't have any idea, how readers would feel about it. Thanks to her we might find it out.

I really do hope these stories will never end...

It is 3 am and I would like to be in touch with her. Maybe I'll just make some coffee and stay up the rest of the night.

Tomorrow will be another Helsinki Café day for me. I think I'll take these texts with me. Let's see what happens. Today, I mean. 

Birthday

Now I am ready to tell you about my 36th birthday. At Windows Live Space I had a virtual birthday for some of my closest. My godson Walter and my best friend Aura were invited.

Half a year earlier I had made a plan that before the end of the year I want to have a good relationship. In summer I had met Mary, but I wasn't sure if she would take me.

By the end of November I had been in touch with her that much that I could invite her as the only guest at my place on my birthday. Earlier I had bought some roses. First yellow one, the white and finally a red one.

We were good friends, but we didn't know if it would be something more. On my birthday I prepared a meal for Mary. We had some spaghetti with creamy sauce of chicken. For dessert I baked lots of peach-vanilla-pastries, which were served with coffee.

While we were standing in my living room after the dessert, she said: "I need some tenderness." I asked if she would come to my sofa to sit with me. There we were sitting and holding each other's hands, when I asked if she will be my partner. She said yes and made me the happiest man of the world.

And then we kissed...

With love,

Jim