Elisa K Page #2

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and some of it runs over

the earth's surface

forming water courses

which we call rivers.

Rivers are currents of fresh water

which flow

into the sea,

into another river or into a lake.

If there's something wrong,

you can talk to me.

Dad's friend said he would

give me a silver bracelet.

Mum!

It's the second time

she's said that in a week.

Her mother thinks it strange that

Elisa thinks about it so much.

But then the little sister calls her

from the lounge,

and she goes inside

and forgets what she was thinking.

But on Monday she remembers,

and goes to see Mr S,

Elisa's teacher,

to tell him that she's

acting a little strangely.

He says that he will

keep an eye on her,

and they will speak again soon.

No idea whatsoever?

But you did study?

Hello?

Ah, yes.

Mr S tells her that Elisa

has failed her science exam.

And have you told her?

He says that her daughter

didn't react to having failed

and that she seems a bit withered.

Withered?

That was the word he used.

It seems

an unusual word to use,

as ifthe teacher

were translating as he spoke.

But that was what he said.

Does she seem strange to you?

She's almost eleven. She probably

just had an argument with her mates.

- Did she mention anything?

- No, we hardly talk.

I don't think she's well.

Let me do my homework,

and stop worrying.

- Are you sure there's nothing wrong?

- Sure.

- You don't want to tell me?

- I'm okay, Mum.

I've got loads of books

to read for school,

that's why I'm always awake

in the mornings.

Okay, Elisa...

I'll finish this.

You go and study.

Since last weekend

when she came to see you.

Do you know what it could be?

No, I don't know him.

Yes, she hasn't stopped

telling me,

he's supposed to give her

a silver bracelet.

Are you seeing him again?

Then ask him.

The following weekend,

the father makes a decision.

He takes Elisa by the hand and they

go to his friends jewellery shop.

But the girl starts to cry,

and says she doesn't want to go in.

She asks herfather to go alone

and bring her the bracelet

But the father says

she has to choose her favourite

and thank his friend personally.

- Let me go.

- Elisa, listen.

Please.

Don't make me go in, Dad.

- I'm scared.

- It's all right.

Thank you.

Hello.

The father had to force her

to go to their usual restaurant.

She really didn't want to.

When they finish lunch,

the four of them will go

to the station in the father's car.

They'll buy a tin of biscuits,

the fatherwill clown around

on the platform,

and the kids will laugh until

the train starts. Just like always.

Then they'll sit down

and eat the biscuits,

and no one will look at them,

as if it were not so uncommon

for three kids to travel alone.

Yes, I asked her again

but she just started crying.

No, I'd preferto wait.

I don't want to upset her.

Yes, let's wait a few days

and see what happens.

Yes, I'll give you a call

if there's any news.

Okay.

Yes, yes.

Bye.

I didn't mention it because...

you're a family friend,

and it didn't seem right.

And where did you meet?

And when was it?

Afew months ago.

I didn't think

I'd ever meet anyone else.

And what about the kids?

They'll stay with their mum.

A few months later,

at one of their regular meetings,

the friend tells Elisa's father

that he's leaving his wife

and moving abroad

with a younger woman.

I haven't decided where,

somewhere far away.

I never would have thought it.

The father will never again

go to the friend's house.

And, after a while,

he won't even talk about him,

or his wife or his children,

ever again.

It will be as if

he has forgotten them all,

as if that family never existed.

The father will move

to a smaller apartment,

he'll make new friends,

many of whom won't have children,

and they'll never return

to the amusement park.

Elisa decides she never wants

to wear that dress again,

because it's a dress

for little girls.

She finds it corny,

and she's sure none of her

classmates would wear it either.

Elisa wants to be

like her friends now.

"The terrible emotions

of the last four weeks

began to have an effect on her.

She was a bag of nerves,

and the slightest noise

would make her jump.

She stayed locked in her room

for five days,

and in the end she decided

she would stop worrying about

the blood stain

on the floor of the library.

The Otis family didn't want her.

They clearly

didn't deserve her either. "

Over the next few days,

things returned to

how they were before,

the mother began thinking about

other things and so did Elisa.

And on theirfree afternoons,

Elisa and her friend

went to the stables

to learn how to ride horses.

Elisa liked village life

because she enjoyed little things

and she had a good time.

Elisa failed all her exams

and it feels strange

to go back to school.

Her brother and sister

are pleased,

because she had always got

the highestmarks,

and thought

she was the cleverest

But she doesn't talk about it.

She just failed all her exams.

We should explain to her.

Yes, I'll bring her in.

Elisa.

Sit down.

You know that you've failed?

But I've spoken with your mother,

and I've decided to keep your marks

so that you pass the year.

I want you to go to university,

but you'll have to work hard,

I don't want you to let me down.

"I've decided to keep your marks

so that you pass the year.

I want you to go to university. "

Elisa didn't understand at the time

why Mr S said that.

Many years would go by

before she could understood why.

What's the main course?

Macaroni.

Elisa got an eight out of ten.

She's going to study in Barcelona.

It's lucky you didn't study,

isn't it, Elisa?

Mum, did you

collect the car today?

I forgot. Can you go?

Yes, I'll go tomorrow morning.

- Where will you live?

- Under a bridge.

At your father's flat.

I've spoken to him,

it's no problem.

Pass me the bread, please.

Thanks.

Elisa tells her mother that she'd

rather live in a hall of residence

than in herfather's old flat

Lots of my friends do.

The mother doesn't understand

and asks her why.

Elisa says she's afraid

of the swing on the terrace.

I don't like that swing.

Which swing?

The one on the terrace.

It scares me.

Elisa, sweetie.

Anyway, the flat is empty.

Your father sold the furniture

and threw everything else out.

You'll have the whole place

to yourself.

You'll be much better off there.

- You've packed everything.

- Well...

Listen, you be good,

and take care in the city.

Have fun!

- Help yourself to my clothes.

- Okay.

We'll come and see you,

you can count on it.

- Bye.

- Bye.

The day Elisa leaves the village

to go to study in the city

she sees her school teacher

and she suddenly understands

why he's there.

It took many years for her to see

everything he had done for her.

As soon as you arrive, okay?

Bye.

Elisa Kiseljak is all grown up

and she shares many things

with her university friends.

She also talks about

her favourite books

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