A Man from the North

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Abstract

nk that we are a slightly different couple, she and I, but it has become a habit. Most things that last often become a habit. We have disagreed several times, and we have had serious quarrels. But then we also got together again, reconciled and then we have many times had it okay — yes even very nice, for a long time afterwards.It helps well that she is very much away, on business trips to the capital and other places, and in that way, we do not really see much to each other.When she comes home after a trip, she is usually quite walkable, in the sense sociable, and not very annoyed. But when she has been home for a few weeks, it can be a bit challenging. But I live well with her and the way we have it. The fact that she does not want children fits in pretty well for most as well.I actually enjoy my life the way it is at present. Gunvor and I, we have become accustomed to it as it is. But I really do not have a bad conscience for what I do now when I meet Eira. The reason for that is pretty simple because my partner does exactly what she wants. For example, I am pretty sure that if she is given the opportunity to cheat on me, she will not deny herself anything and she probably also have done it on several occasions.<figure id="a783"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*99iCfy4Sl_n7l766.jpeg"><figcaption>Odda Smelter, Odda. Photo © by the author</figcaption></figure><blockquote id="9172">The story that the novel tells takes place in a small industrial town at the end of a fjord in western Norway. The story being told and the characters are fictional.</blockquote><blockquote id="e795">The photos included in this chapter are taken on location in the Odda Smelter (Odda Smelteverk, 1906–2003), the carbide factory that is mentioned in the story.</blockquote><h1 id="f980">The Love We Had</h1>Part 1 The Longest Night -chapters 1–3, told by Lars Part 2 The Light Inside -chapters 4–17, told by Aslak Part 3 Save Our Secret Love -chapters 18 — XX, told by Eira<h1 id="04f0">Links to earlier and later chapters:</h1><h2 id="2909">Part 1</h2><p

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id="c2b8"><a href="https://readmedium.com/i-love-it-when-things-are-normal-chapter-1-97e7be0296bd">Chapter 1 I Love It When Things Are Normal</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-81950d8d55da">Chapter 2 I Came Home as Usual</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-a-novel-43521a6a3cf5">Chapter 3 I Believe in What I See</a><h2 id="0ba1">Part 2</h2><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-cf879b41bc4b">Chapter 4 I Am Going to Write</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-5244078f65d6">Chapter 5 All we have is — ourselves!</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-196e6ae490e3">Chapter 6 Coming together — escaping loneliness</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-3653e63c6e08">Chapter 7 When I first met her</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-267e20cfa8b3">Chapter 8 An unskilled factory worker</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-a3836d76a636">Chapter 9 That Sunday morning we met at the parking lot</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-c5ab3bbc9478">Chapter 10 At some point they gradually stopped listening to one another</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-8d28f2aef80b">Chapter 11 Going into the furnace hall to dig out shit from the smelter furnace</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-6c4824758234">Chapter 12 In a small boat far out on the high seas</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-happiest-town-in-the-world-56aac7dd3230">Chapter 13 The ugliest city can be the happiest city in the world</a><a href="https://readmedium.com/the-old-factory-on-the-river-plain-505397f7a4ae">Chapter 15 The Old Factory on the River Plain</a></article></body>

Chapter 14 A Man from the North

I work in a factory, and it’s not very satisfying really. But I have gotten used to it. At the end of the evening shift, I stand in the shower and let the warm water filter down my body and drain off the residues of carbide dust that have stuck to my pores.

Today Gunvor traveled again. I think it’s good. I feel it’s okay, as it is with the two of us now. No bad conscience. I feel excited when I think that I will soon meet Eira.

At the start of the shift, I sent her a message, in the short, almost laconic style, as they sometimes are, the messages that we send between us. At the end of the shift, as I dry myself after the shower, I pick up the phone, turn it on, and wait to get up a new message notification. I am a little surprised because it’s not like her. She always uses to answer, at least after a few hours, but not today. I send a new message to her, a brief reminder: «Are you there?»

I’m a man from the north of the country, and some people have wondered why I landed here, in this small, worn down, dirty, and almost claustrophobic industrial town.

It happened in the way that I started working here many years ago, and later it has become like that. It became like that, among other things, because I did not educate myself. I was at sea for several years in my youth, and later I came here and then it was natural to take the job I got here, and just now I am very happy with it. I did not want to travel north again. It was better to be here, I thought. And then there was a lady at the time as well.

I never thought it would go the way it did. When it was over with my ex, I got along with Gunvor, the partner I have now. It was perhaps a bit coincidental, and many people probably think that we are a slightly different couple, she and I, but it has become a habit. Most things that last often become a habit. We have disagreed several times, and we have had serious quarrels. But then we also got together again, reconciled and then we have many times had it okay — yes even very nice, for a long time afterwards.

It helps well that she is very much away, on business trips to the capital and other places, and in that way, we do not really see much to each other.

When she comes home after a trip, she is usually quite walkable, in the sense sociable, and not very annoyed. But when she has been home for a few weeks, it can be a bit challenging. But I live well with her and the way we have it. The fact that she does not want children fits in pretty well for most as well.

I actually enjoy my life the way it is at present. Gunvor and I, we have become accustomed to it as it is. But I really do not have a bad conscience for what I do now when I meet Eira. The reason for that is pretty simple because my partner does exactly what she wants. For example, I am pretty sure that if she is given the opportunity to cheat on me, she will not deny herself anything and she probably also have done it on several occasions.

The story that the novel tells takes place in a small industrial town at the end of a fjord in western Norway. The story being told and the characters are fictional.

The photos included in this chapter are taken on location in the Odda Smelter (Odda Smelteverk, 1906–2003), the carbide factory that is mentioned in the story.

NOVEL

A Man from the North

The Love We Had, Chapter 14

Chapter 14 A Man from the North

The Love We Had

Links to earlier and later chapters:

Part 1

Part 2