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about his visits to Stockholm, but now he was acting as if this was the first time he’d ever been there. When they came to the big station concourse, Samuel had no idea which way to go. Joel had become so hot and bothered by the masses of people that he started shouting and tugging at Samuel’s overcoat. There was so much to see, so much to hear.
    Samuel pointed at a bench.
    ‘Let’s sit down,’ he said. ‘There are so many people rushing around, you can’t see where you’re going.’
    They sat down. Samuel was still holding tightly on to his suitcase.
    Joel started to get annoyed. Or was he afraid, perhaps? Because Samuel seemed to have no control over the situation.
    ‘Where are we going to go?’ he asked.
    Samuel pulled a face.
    ‘There are some cheap hotels near the station.’
    Joel felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach. It was as if he were seeing Samuel, his father, for the first time. Small and with drooping shoulders. Wearing old, worn-out clothes. Despite the fact that they were the best he had. And then that accursed suitcase. With the broken handle.
    He’d never felt like this before. Not even when Samuel had been drunk and Joel had to drag him home.
    But now it happened. Joel was ashamed of him.
    He was ashamed of having a father like Samuel.
    ‘Where are those bloody hotels, then?’ he snarled.
    Samuel looked at him in surprise.
    ‘Yes, I swore,’ said Joel. ‘I’ll swear as much as I like.’
    Samuel seemed to notice that his son was angry. He seemed to shrink even more.
    ‘Maybe we can help each other to find our way,’ he said tentatively.
    Joel was still upset.
    ‘I’ve never been to Stockholm before. How should I know where the exit is?’
    Samuel didn’t answer. He looked round hesitantly, and then he suddenly seemed to make up his mind. Joel could see it coming. Samuel straightened his back with a little jerk, as if it was fitted with a clockwork mechanism that somebody had just wound up.
    ‘Anyway, I need a pee,’ he said, gesturing towards a notice that said ‘Toilets’. ‘You can keep an eye on my suitcase while I’m gone.’
    Samuel stood up and walked away. Joel watched him. Noticed how he kept stopping to let people in a hurry pass by him. Joel pulled the suitcase towards him and put his hand over the broken handle. He was still ashamed. Had anybody seen him? Sitting there covering up the broken suitcase handle with his hand? Joel tried to look relaxed, but it was as if he was surrounded by a halo of light announcing that he didn’t belong here.
    Samuel seemed to be away for a long time. Joel became more and more irritated. He wondered if he ought to go away and leave the suitcase to look after itself. In order to punish Samuel. But what exactly was it that Joel wanted to punish him for?
    Thoughts were buzzing round and round inside his head. At the same time he was trying to take in everything that was happening all around him. A voice blared out from a loudspeaker, and there was a wheezing and screeching from a locomotive somewhere.
    Somebody sat down beside him on the bench. It was a boy not much older than Joel. But he was wearing a suit, and a tie, and shiny black shoes. And his hair was not cut short. His hair was combed and gelled to form stiff black waves. The Black Wave , Joel thought. He shuffled slightly away from the boy. I hope he doesn’t say anything.
    But he did, of course.
    ‘Hi!’ said The Black Wave.
    ‘Er, hello,’ said Joel.
    The Black Wave eyed him curiously. Joel glanced towards the toilets. What he wanted least of all just now was for Samuel to come back.
    Only a few seconds ago it would have been too late. Now, it had suddenly become too soon.
    ‘Are you going off somewhere?’ asked The Black Wave, running his hand over his hair.
    ‘I’ve just arrived,’ Joel mumbled.
    The Black Wave didn’t say anything. He just kept on eyeing Joel. Then he produced a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket.
    ‘Do you smoke?’ he