Alice handed him a mug and he sat down on the sofa after asking, ‘May I sit here?’ politely. Bear sat beside him, his new pal.
‘Okay, thank you, that would be very nice,’ Alice agreed, already wondering how early she could come back here. Marco seemed very nice, and she wanted to get to know him, but a whole group of ski instructors? It just seemed like it might be a party crowd and she really hoped her quiet mountain retreat wasn’t going to end up as loud as London.
And then he said, with warmth and genuineness, ‘It’s so nice to meet people from other countries. Thank you for choosing Switzerland!’ and she felt like the biggest party pooper for thinking such grumpy-old-woman thoughts.
‘Thank you for having me,’ she said, laughing.
‘What do you do in England? Or are you working out here? If you don’t mind me asking.’
‘I’m a cartoonist, mainly. I draw political, satirical, feminist or just funny illustrations for magazines and online publications and stuff.’
‘Wow, that’s a good job! Have you published in anything I would know over here in Switzerland?’
‘I did have a cartoon printed in theNew Yorkeronce, that was probably my crowning glory.’ She felt the little surge of pride for herself that always came with that memory.
Marco whooped. ‘TheNew Yorker, that is incredible, that is such a big deal, your mum and dad must have been like, wow, everybody look at our daughter.’ He said all of this without a hint of sarcasm or effort to play cool his enthusiasm.
‘They were pretty pleased. My dad carried a copy around with him and kept showing people for a while.’
‘Do you have a copy here?’
‘No.’ Well, actually, she did, but it was among all her other art supplies, tucked away on the shelf. She glanced at it. Maybe at some point she would show him.
‘I hope I can see some of your cartoons while you’re here,’ Marco continued. ‘Do you ever draw your dog?’
‘I haven’t yet, actually, but he would make a good subject!’
‘In the snow you would only need three colours – white, black and orange.’
Alice laughed, and Marco ruffled Bear’s ears again, causing him to loll his head back appreciatively. ‘You know, my brother and I used to have these dogs when we were growing up. I remember most a big lady Berner we had called Martha.’
‘Good name!’
‘Oh yes, she used to follow us around every room but if we tried to follow her anywhere she would stop dead and refuse to move. Like, don’t follow me, go away! We loved Martha . . . Did you know these white spots on the back of their necks are called “Swiss Kisses”?’ he looked at Alice.
‘No I didn’t, but that’s cute. I’m always burying my face into that bit and kissing it, whether he likes it or not.’
‘I bet he loves it.’ Marco scrunched softly behind Bear’s ears for a moment, who closed his eyes in bliss. ‘I know you were all cosy and relaxed over here, but can we pop next door so I can show my brother your dog? Please?’ Marco looked so hopeful, and Bear wasn’t about to leave his side, so Alice agreed and they stepped out into the snow and trudged the few steps further up the hill.
‘Everybody, look!’ Marco called to the house as he flung open his chalet’s door and pushed Bear’s bottom inside. Bear took off, excited by the squeals of delight from within, his paws slip-sliding on the wood and his ears bouncing. And just as thrilled as he was to meet these new people, they seemed equally thrilled to meet him. Three people of a similar age to Alice descended into the living space like moths to a flame. In no time, Bear was in the middle of the circle, waggy-tailed, making sure everyone got a heavy lean here and a paw to hold there, and a big shining smile for each of them.
‘Come in, come in, it’s your turn next.’ Marco grinned at Alice. He held her mittened hand for her as she balanced just inside the front door, tapping her heels against the frame to try and remove the bulk of the snow from her boots before she came inside. This simple gesture of help, where nothing was meant but kindness, saw another optical fibre flicker to life.
When Alice was fully inside, the sound of the chalet door closing caused Bear to break free from the group and bound back to her, squashing his head into her legs for a moment, before hurling himself around and back to the others.Look at all my new friends!he seemed to be saying.
‘Hello,’ Alice waved, unsure whether to attempt any Swiss German, but her mind going blank. ‘Sorry about my crazy dog, he’s still a puppy and he loves meeting people.’
There was a chorus of ‘hellos’ and ‘this dog is so cool!’s and then Marco said, ‘This is Alice and Bear; they have done in Vanessa and stolen her home.’
Alice laughed and explained, ‘We’re living in Vanessa’s house for the winter – she’s an old friend of mine – because she’s just got a new job leading people on cheese and chocolate tours of Switzerland.’
‘Sweet job, well done Vanessa!’ said the only woman of the group, with a New Zealand accent and ice-blonde braids, stepping forward with a final ruffle of Bear’s soft head. She stuck out her hand. ‘Hey, I’m Lola. Not a showgirl. Are you an instructor too?’
‘Oh no, I’ve actually never been skiing.’
‘Well, keep it that way, honey, and stick with me. Because boarding is best and skiing is . . . ’ She blew a raspberry and made a thumbs down motion, causing the other housemates to erupt into a volcano of good-natured insults to hurl at each other. Lola’s laugh was contagious, and Alice was mesmerised by how in sync this whole group was. Were they all family?
‘Anyway, anyway,’ Lola continued, shushing the group. Bear sat in front of her and looked up, causing her to laugh. ‘It’s nice to meet you. You’re living here for the whole season?’
