What a pile of shit this was. “Happy New Year, Karl Ove!” said Lene. She smiled at me, and I leaned forward and gave her a hug. “Happy New Year,” I said. “You’re so beautiful.” Her face, which seconds before had floated around and been part of everything else that was happening, froze. “What did you say?” she asked. “Nothing,” I said. “Thank you for the old year.” She smiled. “I heard what you said,” she said. “Happy New Year, too.” As she moved away, I had a stiffy.
