You see I heard you slept over at dad’s. Lucky you didn’t get lost in the blizzard she said without looking at me.

Just one of those things I replied. And you are his daughter I asked just to be polite but she was already busy with another customer.

Finn had stopped his johndeere at the diesel pump. Returning to the village was like being back inside the truman show. Everything 21revolved in the same cycle. People moved from place to place at exactly the same time. Reality was looped like an infinity sign. As were the routines of finn and his tractor.

Cool colour I said as I passed and he startled as if I had intruded on his meditations.

Our jana he said now that wasn’t yesterday. His face had softened when he recognised me. He took a step or two towards me as if wanting to hug me but stopped in his tracks and pushed his hands into overall pockets. Malicious gossip had it he was daft but finn was just a bit of a loner. He kept himself to himself.

I bought it last year he said. You can have a go driving it if you like or just come along for a nice run. I’m going over to olofsson’s to clear out the tank he added and nodded at the gully sucker coupled to the tractor.

Not today I said. But another day would suit me fine.

So you’re staying here for a while.

We’ll see I said and walked over to the car worrying that bror wouldn’t keep upright for much longer. He was propped up against the car door and smoking. I put my arm round his back and talked him into his seat. We’ve got to get to the dump in time too I said.

You mean the recycling centre said bror as he opened the window a crack and lit another cigarette. Yes whatever.

It’s been moved bror told me. Nowadays it’s tucked away next to the sewage treatment plant. Open Mondays and Thursdays seven to twelve. When the week has an even number.

And uneven weeks.

Closed he said.

So we set out homewards instead. 22

Remember shooting dump rats with air rifles I said to lighten the atmosphere.

Yeah that was great he replied. Until you happened to shoot rogergran in the leg. Who did I said. Not me. Wasn’t that you.

You me you me who cares he said. One of us anyway.

Sure I said. The cowberrygirls gave us a lift home. Roger sat next to you. He was crying and his calf was bleeding. He cried all the way back.

Roger always has been a crybaby bror said.

Once back home we helped each other put away the things we had bought in the food store part of the cellar. It seemed I still thought of the kippofarm as home.