Read Online Fair Play by Tove Jansson - Free Book Online Page A

if she does this in all the rooms, and is it to cheer up the hotel guests or herself? How does she have the time? Is she just teasing the other chambermaids?”
    â€œWe’ll see,” said Jonna.
    They met Verity in the corridor. She was large, with red cheeks and a lot of black hair. She laughed out loud and said, “I’m Verity. Were you surprised?”
    â€œVery much,” replied Jonna politely. “We wondered what made you so playful?”
    â€œI thought you looked like fun,” Verity said.
    And so, quite naturally, they began to be friends with Verity. Every day she was interested to know if Jonna’s films had come back. No, they hadn’t. It would take a whole week before Jonna and Mari could travel on to Tucson.
    Verity was amazed. “Why Tucson, of all places? It’s just another town, except it’s the closest city on the map. Why do you have to keep traveling, here or there or somewhere else? Is there such a big difference? You’ve got your health and each other’s company. Moreover, now you’ve got me. For that matter, you should meet the residents. They can be very interesting if you take them the right way.”
    â€œThe residents?”
    â€œPensioners, of course. Aren’t you pensioners yourselves? Why else would you have come to the Majestic?”
    â€œNonsense,” said Jonna, somewhat sharply, and headed for the stairs.
    Verity said, “But aren’t you going to take the elevator? Albert likes people to take his elevator. I’m going down myself.”
    Albert stood up and pressed the button for the ground floor.
    â€œHi, Albert,” said Verity. “How are the legs?”
    â€œThe left one’s working better,” Albert said.
    â€œAnd how’s the birthday coming?”
    â€œI don’t know yet. But it’s all I think about, all the time.” In the lobby, Verity explained. “Albert’s going to be eighty, and he’s terribly anxious about his birthday. Should he invite all the residents or just the ones he likes and then the others will be hurt? By the way, would you like to have some fun this evening? Of course everyone goes to bed early at the Majestic ...”
    â€œNot us,” Jonna said. “But this city is empty and quiet in the evenings. You know that.”
    Verity looked at her for a moment, almost sternly. “Don’t talk like a tourist. I’ll take you to Annie’s bar. I’ll come and get you when I’ve finished work.”
    It was a very small bar, long and narrow with a pool table in the back. Annie herself tended the bar, the jukebox played constantly, and people came in steadily and greeted one another in passing as if they’d seen each other an hour ago, which perhaps they had. No ladies among the clientele.
    Verity said, “Now you’re going to have Annie’s banana drink, an Annie Special, her treat. Tell her you like it, then you can get a real drink to chase it. Annie’s my friend. She’s got two kids and she’s a single mother.”
    â€œOn the house,” Annie said. “And where do you come from? Finland? Oh, I didn’t think you were allowed to travel to other countries ...” She turned her smile toward new customers, but after a while she came back and wanted to give them another Banana Special. They had to toast Finland.
    â€œIn that case, Annie, I think we’ll need some vodka,” Verity said. “Am I right?”
    Somebody played the current hit, “A Horse with No Name,” and Annie poured vodka into three small glasses, raised a quick, invisible glass of her own, and disappeared to take care of other customers. Jonna opened her tape recorder, and a Stetson to their right hollered, “Hey, Annie! They’re stealing our music!”
    â€œThey like it!” Annie hollered back. “How did it go with that job?”
    â€œNothing came of it. How are the