9. A friend needs help
January 24th
It was a cold evening in January. The wind was quite strong and the temperature was close to minus twenty. A happy couple was walking quickly from the car park to the bar. They wanted to listen to some live music and have a drink before to go to the cinema. Janne Happonen gave his coat and the coat of his girlfriend to the cloakroom. At the bar he ordered a gin tonic and a beer. The rock band was already playing. He saw that his girlfriend was waiting for him a bit in the back of the room. A tall man stood where he wanted to walk and had to take another way. The bar was almost crowded. The song was finished and everybody applauded. He was careful to don’t spill the drinks on the floor or on his clothes. While he waited he recognized the man alone to his table with an empty glass of beer and three little ones of strong alcohol. He came closer and sat. “Hey Matti, what’s up?” He shook his shoulders and stayed mute. “Nice music, isn’t it?” “What do you want?” Matti asked. His skin was grayish and his eyes had some difficulties to stay opened. “You should stop drinking. You’re already drunk.” “You’re not my mother. Go away,” Matti said, trying to keep his head up. “No, I will drive you home. Where do you live?” Havu asked. “In Herttoniemi,” he articulated with difficulties.
Suddenly the girlfriend of Havu arrived. “What are you doing? I’m waiting for you since a while,” she complained. “I will drive Matti home and I come back. I promise.” “No, you don’t need to come back. The evening is over,” she said disappointed that her boyfriend preferred to be with a drunken friend than with her. “But please. Henna! I promise that we will have another cinema evening together.” She didn’t listen and left the bar almost crying. “Sorry. I ruined your evening.” “Shut up,” Havu said while he forced Matti to get up. “Let’s finish your drinks.” “No, you are already drunk,” Havu said pissed off.
Herttoniemi was not far from the centre. The problem was to find the building where Matti lived. He was unable to remember his address. Finally at half past one in the morning they were in the right flat, frozen. Matti lay on the sofa while Havu went to the kitchen to make some tea. His fingers were so cold that at that moment they were burning. The kitchen was as messy as the rest of the flat. There were many dishes in the sink waiting to be washed probably for days. Some of them looked pretty sticky. From sugar and fat. He opened the cupboard to find clean cups, tea bags and spoons. Matti had no logic. Everything was mixed. He finally found the tea bag… in the fridge.
“You will feel better. Drink a bit of tea,” Havu said while he sat on the sofa. “I can’t…” Matti murmured, almost sleeping. “Okay. Then it’s time for you to go to bed.” Matti tried to protest but stayed on the sofa. Havu opened another door and discovered two cats on the bed. They were both looking at him like accusing to have woken them up. “Sorry guys. Matti is going to sleep now,” Havu said while he prepared the bed. He went back to the sofa and carried Matti who was almost sleeping. He was tall and quite heavy for Havu. But as policeman he had some good training and was able to carry someone much heavier than him. He put down Matti on his bed, took off his shoes and his shirt. His eyes were closed. He was probably already sleeping. Havu was looking at his arms. He was sad to notice that he didn’t change. He was still using drugs. How could he destroy his body that way? He unfastened his belt and took of his trouser. He covered his body and opened a little bit the window. “Good night,” Havu said while he closed the door.
The two cats were looking at him, unhappy. “Sorry guys,” Havu said while he sat on the sofa. Should he stay or should he go home? He really wanted to help Matti but in a way he wanted to go home to sleep in his bed. He looked around and noticed that his friend was living in a new and very nice apartment. The only problem was that it was a huge mess. He turned off the light and slept on the sofa.
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