2 min readSERIES: Möllan Mingle

I want some fresh air so I open my window which leans right into the street or, to paint it prettily, into Möllan’s heart – and by default, into Malmö’s heart. My new street’s called Kristianstadsgatan. I take my candy and two sweaters, leaning on my elbows looking out. Out of nowhere, I’m melting because the air has the greatest goddamn smell of fresh bread coming from the nearby factory. It’s a chill, delicious evening in Möllan.

As I’m dreaming of bread, my cool neighbor Kim walks out of the building and slides right by my window. As always, he’s hanging out with his black labrador, a dog called Aramis. The few times I’ve bumped into Kim he’s been alone, but his occasional use of “we” got me intrigued to meet his partner. We start talking in some groovy, growly Malmöitisca/Skånska, a southern Swedish accent, but specifically with the grind of Malmö (re-pre-sent!).

-Kim! How’s it going?, I say gesticulating with my shoulders and hands and a cheeky face basically saying “as you can clearly see”. -I’m just here you know, eating candy and really feeling like some fresh air.

-Hi there neighbor. I mean that’s one of the best combinations in life – candy and fresh air. What else would you want?

His hands are jumping in the air, but with these laid back jumps like he’s hyper and relaxed all at once. I love when people are so expressive that you feel like you can see almost all of them, who they really are, just through some tiny gestures of freedom. And he’s happy and open and talking.

-I know, right?, I say, feeling very much in tune with his vibe. He’s already like a real friend. “I don’t have a TV or anything yet so my window is the best screen right now and I love it. Although you know, I’m not even getting one. I’m getting a projector instead

Two months and a fancy projector purchase later, I finally bump into Kim’s wife. She seems sweet and happy to banter, though I can’t help sensing a ticking bomb underneath the façade. She makes me think of volcanoes, all that fire waiting to explode when you least expect it.