Asle, the woman says then
I think Daddy has something for you, because you’re seven years old today, it’s your seventh birthday, November 17, she says
November 17, 1897, that’s today’s date, just like Brita says, Kristoffer says
and Asle looks at the two of them, so eager, so shy
It certainly is, yes, just like Brita says, Kristoffer says
and Kristoffer puts his free arm around Brita’s shoulder and then Kristoffer suddenly takes his other hand out from behind his back and in his hand there’s a boat, a little rowboat, one or two feet long, and with seats and oars and bailers and everything a boat should have, and he holds out the boat to Asle
Happy birthday, Asle, you’re seven, Kristoffer says
A big boy like you needs his own boat, a good boy like you, Asle, he says
Yes you’re such a good boy Asle, Brita says
and Asle goes over to Kristoffer, who is holding the boat out to him, and Asle takes the boat, and he stands there and looks at it, and then Kristoffer puts out his hand and Asle takes his hand and then Kristoffer shakes hands with Asle in a slow movement up and down and Asle just stands there and looks and looks at the boat
That’s a nice boat, Kristoffer says
You can see it has seats and floorboards and oars and bailers and everything, he says
And it’s so white and such nice woodwork, and the boat smells a little of tar, just like a brand new boat should smell, Brita says
That’s a nice boat Kristoffer built for you, she says
It’s because you are such a handsome little man Asle, Kristoffer says