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Tales of (In)ToleranceLoading...
Students of Espoon yhteislyseo
"The Swimming Pool" by Peppi Hyvönen ... 5 *
"Things Change" by Sanas Rekani ... 9 *
"Baby or No Baby, That Is the Question" by Elli Johansson ... 19 *
"Lies Don't End the Relationship, the Truth Does" by Iiris Ylä-Kaarre ... 21
"Paper-Thin Love" by Ellen Rindell ... 28 *
"The Box" by Matias Akiala ... 38
"The It Girl" by Lonita Statovci ... 43
"Dear Mother" by Elias Vaara ... 47
"Hooyo Macaan" by Yaaquub Jama ... 51 *
"On My Way Home" by Aamos Johansson ... 54
"The Unexpected" by Malaz Koko ... 56 *
"Goodbyes" by Elias Kaukonen ... 59 *
"Leo And Adhri" by Blerta Misimi ... 62 *
"A Beginning" by Joonatan Sirkka ... 67
"A Conversation in the Park" by Markus Heino ... 75
"True Courage" by Mikko Heldan ... 78
"The End of Greed" by Jani Kosonen ... 83
"The Painting That Changed Everything" by Joel Paasi ... 88
"Secrets and Confessions" by Sara Mangström ... 91 *
"Mahjeb" by Lauri Tuominen ... 111*
"A Blessing or a Curse" by Salima Mohamed ... 115 *
"Bullied" by Jasper Virkki ... 120
"Things Change" by Sanas Rekani ... 9 *
"Baby or No Baby, That Is the Question" by Elli Johansson ... 19 *
"Lies Don't End the Relationship, the Truth Does" by Iiris Ylä-Kaarre ... 21
"Paper-Thin Love" by Ellen Rindell ... 28 *
"The Box" by Matias Akiala ... 38
"The It Girl" by Lonita Statovci ... 43
"Dear Mother" by Elias Vaara ... 47
"Hooyo Macaan" by Yaaquub Jama ... 51 *
"On My Way Home" by Aamos Johansson ... 54
"The Unexpected" by Malaz Koko ... 56 *
"Goodbyes" by Elias Kaukonen ... 59 *
"Leo And Adhri" by Blerta Misimi ... 62 *
"A Beginning" by Joonatan Sirkka ... 67
"A Conversation in the Park" by Markus Heino ... 75
"True Courage" by Mikko Heldan ... 78
"The End of Greed" by Jani Kosonen ... 83
"The Painting That Changed Everything" by Joel Paasi ... 88
"Secrets and Confessions" by Sara Mangström ... 91 *
"Mahjeb" by Lauri Tuominen ... 111*
"A Blessing or a Curse" by Salima Mohamed ... 115 *
"Bullied" by Jasper Virkki ... 120
The stars were awarded to the best short stories and each talented young writer received a book prize.
Table of Contents
"The Swimming Pool" by Peppi Hyvönen ... 5 *
"Things Change" by Sanas Rekani ... 9 *
"Baby or No Baby, That Is the Question" by Elli Johansson ... 19 *
"Lies Don't End the Relationship, the Truth Does" by Iiris Ylä-Kaarre ... 21
"Paper-Thin Love" by Ellen Rindell ... 28 *
"The Box" by Matias Akiala ... 38
"The It Girl" by Lonita Statovci ... 43
"Dear Mother" by Elias Vaara ... 47
"Hooyo Macaan" by Yaaquub Jama ... 51 *
"On My Way Home" by Aamos Johansson ... 54
"The Unexpected" by Malaz Koko ... 56 *
"Goodbyes" by Elias Kaukonen ... 59 *
"Leo And Adhri" by Blerta Misimi ... 62 *
"A Beginning" by Joonatan Sirkka ... 67
"A Conversation in the Park" by Markus Heino ... 75
"True Courage" by Mikko Heldan ... 78
"The End of Greed" by Jani Kosonen ... 83
"The Painting That Changed Everything" by Joel Paasi ... 88
"Secrets and Confessions" by Sara Mangström ... 91 *
"Mahjeb" by Lauri Tuominen ... 111*
"A Blessing or a Curse" by Salima Mohamed ... 115 *
"Bullied" by Jasper Virkki ... 120
"Things Change" by Sanas Rekani ... 9 *
"Baby or No Baby, That Is the Question" by Elli Johansson ... 19 *
"Lies Don't End the Relationship, the Truth Does" by Iiris Ylä-Kaarre ... 21
"Paper-Thin Love" by Ellen Rindell ... 28 *
"The Box" by Matias Akiala ... 38
"The It Girl" by Lonita Statovci ... 43
"Dear Mother" by Elias Vaara ... 47
"Hooyo Macaan" by Yaaquub Jama ... 51 *
"On My Way Home" by Aamos Johansson ... 54
"The Unexpected" by Malaz Koko ... 56 *
"Goodbyes" by Elias Kaukonen ... 59 *
"Leo And Adhri" by Blerta Misimi ... 62 *
"A Beginning" by Joonatan Sirkka ... 67
"A Conversation in the Park" by Markus Heino ... 75
"True Courage" by Mikko Heldan ... 78
"The End of Greed" by Jani Kosonen ... 83
"The Painting That Changed Everything" by Joel Paasi ... 88
"Secrets and Confessions" by Sara Mangström ... 91 *
"Mahjeb" by Lauri Tuominen ... 111*
"A Blessing or a Curse" by Salima Mohamed ... 115 *
"Bullied" by Jasper Virkki ... 120
The stars were awarded to the best short stories and each talented young writer received a book prize.
The Swimming Pool
Peppi Hyvönen
I always take the same bus. Every day at the same time I arrive at the public swimming pool. I open the door and smell the most amazing smell of chlorine. It makes me feel calm. All of my pain is suddenly gone. Pain is just one part of my daily schedule. But every day, within these concrete walls, I am almost numb.
I take the rightmost elevator and go to the third floor. I step into the locker room and fold my clothes neatly into the closet always in the same order. I start by putting my shoes at the bottom of the locker, tucking the socks in so I don’t lose them. I take off the rest of my clothes and fold them carefully starting with my trousers. I even fold my Nirvana t-shirt on top. I put it next to the pile of clothes. I wash in the shower closest to the front door and step into the pool area. I repeat these steps every morning without exception. Like my life depends on it. If I’m being honest, I guess it actually does. Attending physiotherapy consistently is the only reason why I have been able to regain access to my mobility.
Leaning on the wall at the doorway looking out to the four individual pools, I take notice of the unusually large number of people that have taken over my safe haven. Willing myself to move in order to shake the growing dread caused by this alarming change, I glance at the kids pool, which always fills my heart with sadness. Sad, but grounding.
I take the rightmost elevator and go to the third floor. I step into the locker room and fold my clothes neatly into the closet always in the same order. I start by putting my shoes at the bottom of the locker, tucking the socks in so I don’t lose them. I take off the rest of my clothes and fold them carefully starting with my trousers. I even fold my Nirvana t-shirt on top. I put it next to the pile of clothes. I wash in the shower closest to the front door and step into the pool area. I repeat these steps every morning without exception. Like my life depends on it. If I’m being honest, I guess it actually does. Attending physiotherapy consistently is the only reason why I have been able to regain access to my mobility.
Leaning on the wall at the doorway looking out to the four individual pools, I take notice of the unusually large number of people that have taken over my safe haven. Willing myself to move in order to shake the growing dread caused by this alarming change, I glance at the kids pool, which always fills my heart with sadness. Sad, but grounding.
They run and jump around without a care in the world and it makes me wish I could be as carefree. But instead I am constantly aware of being incomplete.
Finally reaching the edge of my pool. Always the same lane in the rightmost corner. I take a deep breath in and enter the freezing cold water. I start stroking the water with my hands one after the other and for a second I feel complete. When I finally rise to the surface, I notice something from behind my goggles.
It’s a face I have never seen before. I know this place like the back of my own hand but now I feel like an intruder in someone else's house. She is new at the pool. I don’t like new things. I can’t predict new things. The pool starts to smell different and I get anxious. The familiar smell of chlorine changes into something pungent. The familiarity of it all vanishes. The feeling of wholeness vanishes, and I feel a tidal wave of panic rise within me. I fear I won’t be able to contain it this time.
Frozen by fear, I can do nothing but watch her glide through the water. The water makes her skin glow with the force of a thousand suns but even that is nothing compared to the glow of her dazzling smile. It’s a smile I have never seen before. Even from afar I can tell she radiates. She seems so sure. Like nothing could ever phase her. Where I am damaged, she seems to be intact. I wonder if that could have been me if I had just kept my eyes on the road.
Finally reaching the edge of my pool. Always the same lane in the rightmost corner. I take a deep breath in and enter the freezing cold water. I start stroking the water with my hands one after the other and for a second I feel complete. When I finally rise to the surface, I notice something from behind my goggles.
It’s a face I have never seen before. I know this place like the back of my own hand but now I feel like an intruder in someone else's house. She is new at the pool. I don’t like new things. I can’t predict new things. The pool starts to smell different and I get anxious. The familiar smell of chlorine changes into something pungent. The familiarity of it all vanishes. The feeling of wholeness vanishes, and I feel a tidal wave of panic rise within me. I fear I won’t be able to contain it this time.
Frozen by fear, I can do nothing but watch her glide through the water. The water makes her skin glow with the force of a thousand suns but even that is nothing compared to the glow of her dazzling smile. It’s a smile I have never seen before. Even from afar I can tell she radiates. She seems so sure. Like nothing could ever phase her. Where I am damaged, she seems to be intact. I wonder if that could have been me if I had just kept my eyes on the road.