Bergfors Family Forces

       Johanna was furious since lunchtime when she didn’t win all-school voting for Lucia for St. Lucy's Day. Again. Why? She studied ok (and would have top grades, but no grades were given in the second year). She was helping teachers, fighting for justice even with seniors bullying juniors. She was singing louder than anyone in the school choir, running faster than even boys of her grade. Well, she knew why. Those useless, stupid brothers. She had more brothers than anyone at school, and just one was voting for her. Her twin, Johannes. The oldest, Jonne, had voted for his classmate girl. (Who wasn’t even his girlfriend!) Hannu never took part in any school events. Jussi had asked Johanna to wash dishes and wipe dust at home in his place as payment for his vote. She had refused, and he voted for some senior who had given him two euros. And kind, helpful Jukka had said he had read St. Lucia’s story and wouldn’t wish his dear sister to be like that martyr. Aargh! But why had silly, quiet, invisible Bikka from grade five won? She didn’t even have blonde hair like Johanna! And that quiet Bikka had been going through the school in a white dress and a candle crown, and everyone greeted her… You’d think any girl can be a Lucia at home. But no. No one bought her a crown with tiny pretty electric candles. And she did not have enough pocket money. And she didn’t have a white gown. Her pyjamas were stupid blue. What’s the worst, those stupid boys didn’t even notice that she was furious. Even Johannes had said the Lucia parade was boring and had gone to the backyard to train snowball aim. Of course, Johanna had gone with him to prove her aim was better. She slipped out of her bed, put on her socks, and pulled the bedsheet quietly off the mattress. Johannes was snuffling in his bed. She tiptoed downstairs. Everything was prepared and hidden in the kitchen for a small one-person parade. Johanna switched a torch on to have some light, a small light enough to wrap the bedsheet around her, put a ribbon through saucepan handles and tie it on her head, bottom up, then light a single candle from the cupboard with a match, apply a little instant glue to its butt, and mount the candle on the saucepan. Now it was ok to switch the torch off. Flickering yellow light danced on the table and walls and cupboard, making everything unfamiliar, mysterious, and significant. Slowly Johanna set to walk around the table. *** The damage wasn’t large, really. Just a hole in the bedsheet, a burnt spot on the floor, a corner cut off the tablecloth. Okay, the smell was sharper than from firewood in the stove. Nothing worth all the fuss and screaming. “Johanna, darling, I’ve thought you were old enough to understand that fire is not a toy,” Mom said in a heartbreakingly sad and tired voice. She was holding little Joni close and stroking his back to stop his wailings. And he wasn’t even affected and cried merely because it was his default reaction to anything at all! Johanna sulked behind the stove where she tried to hide from everyone. Johannes was criticising the crown design. Jonne was mopping the floor and grumbling. Jussi was calculating how long Johanna must stay without pocket money to compensate for the bedsheet and the tablecloth. Jukka just stared at her in terror as if she grew a second head. Even Hannu, contrary to his custom, joined the commotion and even made some snide remarks. “Lucia, huh? That should be Luciferia. Who else brings so much life to our boring lives, together with fire, chaos, and destruction?” “Hannu! Mind your tongue!” Mom scolded him at once. “You all are my little sunshines, brighter than any candles. Johanna, sweetheart, tomorrow you’ll have a Lucia parade if you want it so much. Now come out of your shelter, and let’s have some honey tea, everyone, to calm down and fall back asleep faster. With cookies.”