I can't help laughing, because...

[katka]

scenes between Agnes and Elin are so incredibly cute

[DMt.]

<whispers> They do it themselves, really...

[DMt.]

*

They are cheered, on the road to the school, by meeting Malin and Sara, who like themselves are walking arm-in-arm and talking. The other two are at first a little shy with Agnes, embarrassed at not having been more friendly before, but soon they are all talking animatedly.

“Elin told me what your Mama said”, Agnes says quietly to Malin, when she sees a chance, “thanks; and will you thank her for me?” Malin smiles at her, and nods. “It'll be OK at school”, she says reassuringly, “I rang around a bit, last night, we're all with you and Elin. Well, all of us except Camilla, anyway.”

“That's OK”, grins Elin, “not everybody is gonna love us, are they? Only the coolest ones.”

“If anyone wants to get snotty with you two, they can deal with us”, adds Sara firmly, “it's nearly the twenty-first century, for God's sake, that old crap is so stale now.”

Agnes smiles a little at the notion of the younger girls protecting her, but forbears to point out that they can't help in the matter of her own class. She is still going to be sitting next to Victoria, for example, who certainly has no reason to be nice to her now.

[...Perhaps bridges can be built, we'll just have to see...]

Elin catches her thoughtful mood and says, “What's up?”

“Victoria”, says Agnes, “I wasn't very nice to her, on my birthday, and when I went round to apologise, she blew me out. I'm still sitting next to her. ”

“She's been stirring it as hard as she can, ever since”, says Malin a little grimly, “like Camilla. Everyone's sick of hearing it, even the boys. Well, most of them.”

“Well, I'm going to give them both a big kiss, if they don't watch out”, says Elin, “and then they'll catch the Dreaded Lesbo Disease, and they won't be able to tut about us any more.” She makes her eyes bug, pouts, and wiggles her fingers like tentacles, and they all laugh.

Jenny and Sabina call to the four from across the road, and hurry over to meet them. They too are initially a little shy, but they soon realise that it is pretty much business as usual, and they smile at Agnes and Elin, who are now holding hands.

“You two are so damn cute together”, says Sabina eventually, “they should make dolls of you.”

“What, you mean, like, inflatables?”, teases Jenny, to groans and catcalls from the others, and she claps a hand over her mouth, and blushes.

“Sorry”, she mumbles to Agnes and Elin, “I didn't mean...I mean, I didn't think you...”

“That's OK,” says Agnes drily, one eyebrow raised, “who needs blow-up dolls, anyway, when you've got the real thing?”

“Much better”, agrees Elin solemnly, “all that pumping up, it's such a drag.”

“They always start leaking, too”, muses Agnes, “just like camping mattresses...

"...and always at exactly the wrong moment”, sighs Elin.

“Arrrgh! Enough!”, says Jenny, hands over her ears, “I said I was sorry...!”

Elin does a little song-and-dance, modifying a popular tune of the day to, “You never have to say you're sorry / to your inflatable dolly...”, so that they are all still laughing, perhaps just a little hysterically, as they go through the school gates, to the evident consternation of a sullen-looking group of about a dozen who are hanging around outside. Victoria is with them, hovering near the back, glowering at Agnes.

"What the fuck's this?", calls an ill-favoured youth, "Dykes Anonymous?". Agnes recognises him as one of those who put the porn shot on her locker; the others smirk, as if he has said something witty and clever.

"Have you put another of your cheesy magazine pictures on my locker?", she says coldly, "I'm sure you have plenty more of them, for masturbating over." He flushes bright red, and scowls as the others around him snigger at his discomfiture. "Fucking dykes", he mumbles.

"And there's nothing anonymous about Agnes OR me, Sverker, you shithead", adds Elin, as the rest of the girls urge them through into the school, practically pulling them away.

"So", says Elin thoughtfully, "it's starting already, then."

"We'll see", says Malin mysteriously, and smiles at them. Then it is time for assembly, Agnes has to go and join her own class. They will meet at lunch.

[katka]

Elisabeth ? rather Victoria not ?

[DMt.]

Shit! Thanks, Kat!

[Who's Elisabeth? ]

[DMt.]

*

Agnes goes to her locker, which does indeed have another porn shot stuck on it, of a constipated-looking model with a gaping shaved vulva, huge pendulous breasts and an expression of tired disgust. She tears it off, crumples it, and drops it on the floor, looking around. The few others in the locker room have the grace to look a little embarrassed, but none of them will meet her eye.

[...At least there's no-one asking if I like her pussy...I wonder if it's worth reporting it...? Probably not...]

As she enters the assembly hall Agnes suddenly feels very alone, exposed, even though Elin and the girls are all smiling at her encouragingly; it seems to her that all eyes are flickering between her and Elin, some with curiosity, some with amusement, some with plain malice, some smiling encouragingly like Elin and the others. She feels that her own class is annoyed with the attention their section is receiving, but nobody says anything to her, or slyly elbows her, and she does her best to stand her ground.

After the day's proceedings, the principal gives a short homily on Sweden's proud traditions of tolerance and humanitarianism, with a careful avoidance of the subject of sexuality; both Agnes and Elin are unsurprised to note that, in the final announcements, it is politely requested that Agnes Ahlberg and Elin Olsson report to the offices for a meeting with the Principal and counsellor.

There is a muffled hooting from various quarters at this, which is quickly quelled by the Principal slamming a hand on his desk, a deafening sound through the PA, and shouting, 'Silence! Any further discourtesy will be treated with the greatest severity!” He stares fiercely around, daring anybody to make another sound; then completes the announcements, and dismisses the assembly.

There is a great murmuring as the school disperses for class, as is usual; but Agnes does not feel anything like the unbridled hostility she lived with daily in Mariefred, and she begins to feel hopeful that this time it can be different. She tries to speak to Victoria, but the girl scoots away as fast as possible, swerving through the clumps of students, and she sighs, holding her books close to her chest in their plastic wallet, as she makes her way to the offices.

[...One step at a time, Agnes, one step at a time...]

[katka]

Shit! Thanks, Kat!

[Who's Elisabeth? ]

not at all I don't know actualy.... i think that nobody... However...Elisabeth is in ''Kyss mig''

[DMt.]

*

Elin arrives at the offices a few minutes after her, they sit side by side and hold hands, a little nervously. The secretary looks at them from her desk, over the tops of her spectacles, disapprovingly, then flushes as they stare her down. The counsellor arrives, smiling vaguely, and she sits down across from them; they are all waiting for the principal.

“Why do you want to see us?”, says Elin suddenly. “We don't have a problem. These morons have a problem.” She indicates the entire school, with a toss of her head. Agnes squeezes her hand, and gives a tiny shake of her own head, and a smile.

“The school has a problem”, says the counsellor smoothly, eyeing their clasped hands, “with pupils having...assignations in the toilets. It may be a disciplinary matter, I don't know. We don't necess-”

Agnes stares at her darkly. “Assignations?”, she interrupts, indignantly, “how dare you? Elin wanted to speak to me alone, on a private matter, which we won't be discussing with you, you can be quite sure of that. The toilet is about the only place around here you can get any privacy! And then we get mobbed, in there! Just what is all this about, anyway?”

Elin is squeezing her hand, hard, and she becomes aware that the counsellor is looking up at the Principal, who has entered quietly, and has been listening to her.

She turns to him, not releasing Elin's hand. “Why have you called us in here, in front of the whole school?”, she says, in a cold fury, “are you actually trying to humiliate us?” Elin is goggling at her, delighted, but Agnes only registers this from the corner of her eye. “What business is this of anyone else's?”, she demands.

The Principal is unused to being addressed in this way, he is taken aback; the counsellor is rolling her eyes, the secretary is typing loudly, her eyes fixed on the screen. He takes a deep breath.

“Agnes”, he says gently, “I think you may have the wrong end of the stick, here. This is not a punishment, OK? Although it may very well become a disciplinary matter, if you can't control yourself, and remain civil. The school has a clear non-discrimination policy, which I intend to abide by; we have called you here to see if we can help you in any way, with the issues around your...relationship.”

He is looking at their hands, rather thoughtfully, and then he smiles. “Love is love”, he says, “and young love is the sweetest. Actually you're quite right, it is none of our business. But I think we still need to have a talk. Will you come into my office?”

“We will talk to you”, says Agnes, only a little less coldly, “but we don't require counselling, thank you very much. We don't see our...relationship as an illness.”

“The counsellor's presence is as much for my protection as it is yours, Agnes”, he says, with a grinding patience, passing a hand over his forehead, “but I do accept there is no need for medical intervention here. Now, can we proceed on that basis? I have a very full day, as do you.” He raises his eyebrows at the counsellor, who nods stiffly, looking displeased, and they all go into his office, the girls still holding hands.

[katka]

“Love is love”.....this way was film named by us

[fish]

I like what the girls are telling you to write and I'm looking forward more.

[Ian]

Fiery Agnes.

[DMt.]

“Love is love”.....this way was film named by us

That's the title, in Czech? Cooooooollllll...

It's true, too.

[DMt.]

I like what the girls are telling you to write and I'm looking forward more.

...and backward less? This has to be a good thing. Gives you a pain in the neck, y'know

Seriously, though, thanks.

[DMt.]

Fiery Agnes.

I was thinking of when she tore a strip off her Mama for prying into her 'datur'...

Hey, there must still be [a fair few] lurkers here...360 views?

Yoo - Hoo!! Hello-o-o!!



*

[DMt.]

*

They make short work of the interview. The notion of them having sex in the toilets is quickly disposed of, apparently to the counsellor's slight disappointment; Agnes reports the pictures on her locker and the concomitant harassment, including the incident at the gates that morning, and it's decided that the janitor will immediately remove any further postings, and keep an eye out for the perpetrators. There is a brief discussion of Agnes' experiences in Mariefred, in which the counsellor takes a keen interest, and the Principal, with a look of disgust, assures them both that nothing similar will be tolerated at this school.

The girls decline to name Camilla and Victoria, but mention that two parties at least, to their certain knowledge, are agitating against them, one in each of their classes; this is noted for investigation and monitoring, and finally, the Principal is embarrassedly forced to personally advise, and to request rather than order, that they refrain from public displays of affection in school time, to which they reluctantly agree.

As they are about to depart for classes, Agnes extends a hand to the Principal, which he takes, with evident surprise; she shakes it and says, "Thank you, Sir, this has been a much better result than I had hoped for."

He smiles, ruefully, releasing her hand to rub his thinning grey head, and replies, "I hope we don't disappoint you, Agnes. You are extraordinary persons, both of you; this has been a very interesting...encounter." The door closes behind them, and he sits back in his chair, with a loud sigh. "What do you think?", he says.

"I think Ahlberg is a little traumatised by her experiences in Mariefred", says the counsellor, "which would account for her slight depression, and not-so-slight hostility...but that's quite natural, of course. Hopefully her evidently happier relationship with the Olsson girl, who is popular and well-liked, will improve matters."

She looks at him for a moment, then adds, "They're a very pretty couple, aren't they?"

"Very", says the Principal, rolling his eyes. "Tell me...is there any likelihood of the school falling foul, in this matter, of regulations to do with sexual relations with minors? The Olsson girl is still only, what, fourteen, is it?"

"She's nearly fifteen", says the counsellor, "and I think it unlikely that schoolgirl crushes can be legislated away, in any case, don't you? Certainly that is the position I would take in your shoes, Principal."

He has a thoughtful expression, now. "I won't have them witch-hunted, in my school", he says grimly, "this is not the Victorian Era."

*

"You were amazing, Agnes", murmurs Elin in the corridor, as they head for classes, "the look on their faces!"

"You didn't do so badly with the other one, the counsellor, yourself", smiles Agnes. "Anyway, I think he's nice...and I do feel a bit more hopeful now. But we're not out of the woods yet, they can't look out for us all the time, you know that. You're probably still going to get some shit for this, Elin; I'm sorry..."

Elin glances around, mindful of their promise, then quickly hugs her, and steals a kiss. "You're worth all of it, and more, Agnes", she whispers, "and anyway, no-one's really even giving me a hard time yet. We'll see... Come to our table at lunch, right?"

Agnes nods, and smiles at her as she enters her classroom, to a cheer, whistles, clapping and the annoyed shouts for order of her teacher, and she hopes she can get into her own class a little more quietly. When she gets there and opens the door, she almost wishes they would respond like Elin's class; there is a frozen, embarrassed silence, and nobody will look at her except the teacher, who greets her politely and points her to a new desk, near the back and by a window.

Victoria is still in her old place, staring rigidly at her books, her face red. Another girl is sitting next to her, she glances at Agnes curiously but without hostility. Agnes is not unhappy with the move, or to be by a window; and the next desk is occupied by a studious-looking young man with glasses, who nods and exchanges with her a brief smile as she sits down.

[...Could be worse...could be a lot worse.]