BooksBarbecue
Back Loop
Chapters (33)
  1. Loop
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. A note on the text
  33. Copyright

A swallow’s nest is shaped like a cup, I read on the internet. I go and get my cup of coffee so I can carry on reading: ‘The swallow’s song is a cheerful warble which often ends in a su-seer, with the second note higher than the first. The calls include a witt or a witt-witt, or a loud splee-plink when they’re overexcited or when they attempt to scare predators away from the area around their nests.’

When Jonás comes back, I don’t know if he’ll sing a witt-witt or a loud splee-plink. It depends how threatened he thinks the nest is. And that’s the thing: for now, as Jonás sees it, the nest is with his mother. Or with the idea of his mother. Not here, with me, in this apartment which is also his. That’s why he’s away.

It continues: ‘The common swallow was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his work Systema Naturae using the scientific name of Hirundo rustica. Hirundo means swallow in Latin; rusticus, from the countryside.’ I love you, Jonás. I’m rustic. The swallow is a small bird, and migratory. If you want to stay in Spain, I can go there. If you want us to be apart for a while, that’s fine too.

I read that swallows sing individually and in unison. Common swallows generally reproduce between May and August, but we can make an exception now it’s December, Jonás. And look at this: ‘Reproductive success is related to the length of the male bird’s tail.’ I’m telling a long tale for you now, Jonás.

‘The swallow symbolises the coming of spring and love in Pervigilium Veneris.’ Oh, I just love Wikipedia. Such a shame I had to study in the library when I was a student, surrounded by photocopies and books, index cards and highlighters. The kind of information I like is right here, in every colour at once. The internet is like a chewing-gum machine and a blue piece has just popped out, my favourite colour: ‘The common swallow is the national bird of Estonia.’

If this apartment we live in is the size of a small island, we could have a regional bird. I read that swallows are a symbol of loyalty, that they choose a partner for life.

12

12

A long phone conversation with Jonás. It’s Friday night, my slippers are on and I’ve just watered the plants. I’m curled up in the armchair. The cat’s curled up here too, purring, like a miniature soul in slippers as well. Oh, I love spending Friday nights like this so much. I’d put some music on, but the cat’s just dozed off. I don’t dare wake him. A sleeping cat, that domestic dictatorship.