Jana she replied. Then you’re our erik’s girl. Isn’t that right.

Yes I said. Maria was too.

I let her think that over in peace while I washed her lunch dishes and wiped the sink and the tap dry.

Old folk looked after by the smalångerhomecare service ate their late meal at exactly four o’clock. Veronicabäckström was a 253vegetarian. It’s a mystery how even the word had got as far as the village. So I asked her.

It’s a wee bittie uncommon for an older person not to eat meat I said.

Dearie me she said. I want the critters no harm.

I grated a carrot and a beetroot. Cracked a few eggs mixed in some flour and made small pancakes. I served them with cowberry jam and a kind of salad with raw grated cabbage, pieces of orange and raisins.

It looked just as yucky as the healthy option in the smalånger-school canteen but veronicabäckström ate the lot with all the signs of enjoying it.

Halfway through the meal there was a knock on the door. A woman entered without waiting for a comein. She said hello but avoided eye contact. Only sat down on the chair next to veronicabäckström.

How are you today she asked inspecting the food as if pancakes with jam was something out of the ordinary.

Maria cooks so nicely veronicabäckström told her. And there’s me thinking she had died. Fancy that.

Something like anger came and went in the woman’s face. It made her look old. I felt a kind of collective familyshame and said perhaps it was time that I.

Has she taken her medication the woman said. Presumably she was addressing me.

No I said and checked the list entry. Looked around for the dispenser.

Some people clearly find this job very difficult the woman said and got up so quickly the chair fell over. She didn’t bother picking it up. Instead she opened the cleaning cupboard and took out a dispenser. 254

Sorry I said stupidly. But I’ve never been here before.

What never been here before dearie veronicabäckström said. You who are coming here oftener than the cat.

She isn’t maria the woman shouted into the old lady’s ear so loudly the hearing aid screeched like a siren.

Take it easy I said. It isn’t your motherinlaw’s fault.

What do you know about whose fault it is she said. Her voice shook a little.

Nothing I said. I know nothing. And I am jana. Not maria. If you have a quarrel that has something to do with maria talk to your husband. Not me. Now if you don’t mind I’m going to make mrsbäckström’s bed ready for the night. So she can have a rest when she wants to. The night carer comes at nine. As you must know.