“Johansson, are you sure I can’t drive you home?” William asked after they were finished unloading their tools at William’s carriage house.
“No, no. I need to stretch and relax. Walking home will help. Thank you, William. I will see you and Elsa on Sunday.”
Olof waved as he walked away.
It had been a good work week for Olof. While he walked along he decided he would stop in at the grocery on Berwyn Avenue for a pint and a bite to eat. The grocery was just around the corner from where Olof had rented a room over a storefront. Mr. Lundberg, the grocer, (*) always had a story to tell about the neighborhood. Olof didn’t have much time outside of work to socialize. He enjoyed the banter with Lundberg as he picked up his evening meal. He looked forward to this Sunday since he would see Ester then. This made him think, maybe I should get something to bring to the Carlson’s dinner.
As Olof entered the grocery, Mr. Lundberg was sitting behind the counter reading the newspaper and laughing at whatever he was reading when he looked up to greet Olof. “Hei, Johansson, what can I do for you today?” He asked in Swedish recognizing Olof as a regular customer.
Olof answered, “Mr. Lundberg, I’ve come for my dinner. Do you have any herring today?”
“Yaj, I will wrap you up the herring with some cheese and potato. Did you want a pint, also? Lindberg asked.
“Yaj, Tack.” Olof answered. Then he asked, “What is the news today?” knowing a good story would follow while Lundberg while wrapped his dinner.
“Well, have you ever read any of George Ade’s stories about Chicago?” The grocer asked.
Waving his hands, Lundberg continued without waiting for Olof to answer.
“No, no, you probably haven’t. You’re too new to our town.”
Then Lundberg begins to tell the story to Olof.
“This fellow Ade writes funny stories about the immigrants who come to Chicago and how they get on here. I was just reading about this Old Norwegian who worked day after day as a cabinetmaker, never leaving his work bench but to go home or go to Church.”
Lundberg paused to wipe his hands on his apron before he wrapped Olof’s herring.
“Then one day, out of the blue, The Old Norwegian decides to go fishing. He gets up on Sunday morning way before dawn to go down to the lake. His wife is shocked as he starts to leave and reminds him he better be home for church.”
By this time Olof was sitting down on a stool next to the counter while Lundberg continues.
“But this doesn’t stop the Old guy. He’s out the door with his fishing pole and bait heading down to Oak Street Beach.”
Then Lindberg put his hand on Olof’s shoulder and says, “But you don’t know this since you haven’t been here that long. This was way before the land was cleaned up for the beach. Then it was piles of garbage and squatters. So the old guy sits down along the shoreline and builds himself a fire from the surrounding trash. He even piles up some bricks to sit on while he puts his line in the lake. Now mind you, it’s still dark, but he’s sure the fish will be biting soon. He hears the church bells but doesn’t budge although he was a feeling a bit guilty about missing church but just as the sky is starting to get lighter and lighter he feels a pull on his line. He catches a small perch which makes his excitement rise.”
Lindberg hands Olof the wrapped dinner and goes to pour a pint for Olof.
“Well, the old guy continues to catch more fish so he stays out on the garbage piles and in the heat all morning. When he finally runs out of bait he takes his catch and climbs over the piles of ashes and garbage, eventually passing all the well-dressed church goers on his way home.
Olof watches Lundberg put the pint on the counter when Lundberg says to him, “Your probably wondering how this story ends? Huh?”
But before Olof can answer, Lundberg continues.
“Well, then the old guy gets home and his wife scolds him for missing church and his catch didn’t even settle her down. The Old Norwegian exasperated says, ‘Can’t a man have some time to himself?’
Lundberg laughs saying, “Those Norwegians!” slapping his hand on the counter. (**)
Olof laughed, mostly at Lundberg’s excitement about the story and said, “That was a good story, Lundberg.”
Olof paid the grocer for his dinner but as he was about to leave he remembered that he wanted to get something to bring to the Carlson’s dinner. He asked the grocer if he could recommend a food to bring for a fish boil.
“Yaj,” Lundberg answered. “Here is a pickled sauce to add flavor to the boiled fish. Your friends will like this. And it’s only 50 cents for the jar.”
Olof was a bit taken back by the cost but then thought he owed William and Elsa a gift for inviting him and Ester to their home. He paid the grocer and took his packages saying “God Kvall” (Good Evening) to the friendly grocer. Then he made his way home to enjoy his dinner and his thoughts of Sunday’s coming activities.
“Miss Elsa,” Yungdahl called. “The fire is ready. I have the big metal pot ready, too.”
“Coming Mr. Yungdahl.” Elsa called back, bringing the water bucket.
It was a warm, sunny, Sunday afternoon as the Carlson’s readied for their visitors arrival. Ester and Olof were coming for an afternoon of Bunco (***) and a fishboil.(****)
“William, will you please set up the workshop table outside in the yard.” Elsa said as she carried the first bucket of water to the bonfire.
William was pulling on his overalls strap as he ran out the back door. “Elsa, wait let me carry the water bucket. You don’t need to do such heavy work in your condition. Just tend to the food and make yourself pretty for our guests. Yungdahl and I will help you get everything ready.”
Elsa stopped hauling the bucket and set it down where she stood. Walking up toward her husband she kissed him and said. “I’m not as fragile as you think, my dear but I will let you haul the water.”
William held her close and kissed her sweetly.
Yungdahl seeing the couple hug called, “Alright you two. We need to get the water boiling if we’re to have a supper tonight.”
“Coming right up, Yungdahl.” William said.
“Just pour it in the pot. We need lots more. I’ll get my bucket, too.” Yungdahl said.
Mr. Yungdahl had been out fishing early this morning to get the catch for the boil. He caught some good lake whitefish which he prepared for boiling and put on ice until the fire was ready. He enjoyed the company of the Carlson’s and their friends since he was alone now with his wife gone. It was good to hear their conversations in Swedish. Like home. William came back with another bucket to fill the pot.
“Alright that should be enough with this bucket.” Yungdahl said as he poured in his bucket. “Tell Miss Elsa to get the potatoes ready and I will add my special ingredients.” He said to William.
“Yaj, she’s all ready to bring them out.” William said as he went off to the carriage house to bring out the work table for their supper.
“Come back to watch the fire while I get the fish.” Yungdahl asked. “Do you need help with the table?”
“No, be right back.”
They heard a loud “Hej” coming from the side yard then saw Olof and Ester walking around the house to the back yard.
William called back, “Hej, Johansson you can help me get the work table out of the carriage house.”
Ester saw Elsa coming out the back door and walked over to help her carry the dishes out to the yard.
“Ester, I’ve got the dishes,” Elsa said. “Can you get the potatoes from the kitchen table?”
“Yaj.” She opened the backdoor and walked in.
The men put the table in the yard and sat down as Elsa walked up. “How are you Mr. Johansson? Elsa asked. “Did you pick Ester up at Church?”
William laughed. “Women always have a question about what you’re doing, don’t they?” he said teasing his wife. “I’ll get us some beer. You want a pint, Yungdahl?” he called.
Yungdahl waved while he stood by the fire added something to the pot.
Olof nodded ‘yes’ to William and said to Elsa, “We did meet after her church service. Ester wanted to talk with her friend Anya before we came here, so I waited outside until she was ready to leave. It is a fine day for a boil.”
Elsa said, “Yes, Mr. Yungdahl caught some good lake whitefish and he’s at his best running the boil for everyone.”
“I brought this pickle sauce.” he said handing it to Elsa. “The grocer, Mr. Lundberg, said it would be good with the fish.”
“Olof, can you take these potatoes?” Ester said as she walked up to the table. “I brought bread and a tin of cookies I baked at the Petters.”
William came back with a big bucket of beer for everyone. He poured the beer into mugs while Elsa and Ester arranged the table.
“Mr. Yungdahl called, “The water is boiling. We’re ready for the potatoes first.”
Once they got the potatoes cooking, they all sat down to enjoy their beer.
Elsa asked, “Does everyone play Bunco?”
Ester said, “No, I’ve never played but Olof tells me I would enjoy it.”
“Good then, we will have a practice game while we wait for the potatoes to cook so you can learn the game.”
First, Elsa shook a cup with dice and spilled them on the table then she explained the game to Ester. They decided not to play teams since Mr. Yungdahl said he wanted to play after the fish was cooked.
Elsa collected the dice in a cup again and rolled the dice to start the game.
She explained, “The object of the game is to get more points than your opponent. You always roll all the dice. You start with trying to get the die with one on it. If 1 of the die is a 1 you get 1 point. If 2 dice is a 1 you get 2 points. If you roll 3 dice with the same number you are currently rolling you get BUNCO which is 21 points. Everyone keeps rolling for 1 until you’ve gone around the table. If you don’t get 1 you pass it on to the next player. You continue going round to all the players from 1-6. Got it?” She asked. “So let me show you.”
I roll the dice and see I got 1 die with 1. So I roll gain.”
Ester said, “That’s 1 point. Right?”
Elsa rolled again and no die came up with a 1. So she said to Ester. “Now you try.”
Ester rolled the dice.
“Oh, two dice with one! That’s two points. Do I keep going?”
“Yes, roll again until you don’t get any dice with 1.”
Ester rolled again and this time she got 1 dice with 1 on it. She kept rolling and got three dice with one. Elsa yelled “Bunco”. And they both clapped. Ester rolled again but didn’t get any dice with 1.
“Now it’s your turn.” Ester said handing Elsa the dice. “I have 24 points and now you have to roll to get ‘two’. Is that right?”
Elsa nodded “yes” and rolled her dice. This time she got three dice with two. And both women yelled “Bunco” at the same time laughing.
At the same time, Mr. Yungdahl called, “It’s time for the fish.”
William brought the fish platter over to Mr. Yungdahl and they all gathered around the fire.
“Now, watch how the water foams when the fish is put in the pot.” Yungdahl said.
He placed each piece of fish in the water quickly and stepped back. The water foamed up like a giant cloud on the brim of the pot. There was a definite “Ahhhh” from the group.
“Now we wait until the fish plumps up and comes to the surface. Then it’s done.” Yungdahl said.
They all drank from their mugs and watch in anticipation for the fish rising. Suddenly, Yungdahl threw kerosene on the fire which caused a huge boil over. Everyone cheer in their surprise at seeing the pot boil over. It meant the fish was cooked and dinner was ready.
William held the platter while Yungdahl dug out the fish and potatoes. He had added onions to the pot so those came out too. Elsa poured melted butter over the fish when William placed it on the table. He served everyone a plate and filled their mugs for a toast.
“Skol.” They all raised their glasses. William said, “To our Viking ancestors, who drank from the skull of their fallen enemies to honor them, as we honor our fish!”
Everyone laughed and drank up. The rest of the afternoon and into the evening they dined and played Bunco. Mr. Yungdahl and Olof put out the fire and cleaned up the pot. Yungdahl said goodnight to the couples early and left them to another game of Bunco. William would not admit defeat to the ladies even though they had the most points. He had enjoyed his beer that night.
“William, I think it’s time we said goodnight to our friends you seem to be ready for sleep.” Elsa said.
“Oh, I am feeling something my dear.” As he grabbed his wife around the waist and embraced her.
Olof and Ester said, “Good Night.” and thanked their new friends for an enjoyable day as they walk hand in hand toward the street.