Chapter 1A1
Hei, mummi
Hello, Grandma
Before you read
Being and naming
Finnish uses olla for to be. The forms here are on, is; olen, I am; and olet, you are. A name can follow the verb: Leena on keittiössä means Leena is in the kitchen.
Where things are
The ending in -ssa or -ssä often means in. Keittiössä means in the kitchen and kuvassa means in the picture. Lukossa is a related form that means locked.
Object forms
Finnish often changes a noun when an action affects it. Ovi becomes oven when Maya opens the door, and leipä becomes leivän when Maya tastes the bread.
This is Porvoo.
Maya is here.
This is a small old café.
The door is locked.
Maya circles the café.
Maya opens the door with the old key.
Maya steps inside.
Three tables wait.
Cups wait on the counter.
Grandma is in the photo.
"Hello, Grandma. I am here now," Maya says.
A sound from downstairs wakes Maya.
Maya goes downstairs.
A stranger is in the kitchen.
She kneads dough.
Fresh bread waits on the counter.
"Who are you?" Maya asks.
"Good morning," the stranger says.
"What is this?" Maya asks.
"Leena," the stranger says and points to herself.
Leena looks at Maya.
Maya looks at Leena.
Leena takes a cup.
She sets coffee in front of Maya.
She sets down warm bread too.
"Eat," Leena says.
Maya tastes the bread.
"Good," Maya says.
Leena almost smiles.
Leena points to herself, then to the photo.
"Thirty years," Leena says.
Leena and Grandma spent the mornings together.
The café belongs to Maya, but Leena belongs in the café.
Chapter 1 complete
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