Page 126 of The Sleepwalker
‘I’m just trying to understand what’s going on in your life, Hugo,’ Bernard explains, placing one hand on top of the other in an attempt to stop them from trembling.
‘You can’t.’
‘Not if you won’t tell me anything, no.’
Hugo gets up and walks over to the fridge. He takes out a can of Red Bull, cracks it open and takes a sip, then burps and drinks some more.
‘You’ve been sleepwalking a lot lately, and you seem to behaving one of your worst episodes yet,’ Bernard continues.
‘Yup,’ Hugo says with a sigh, shaking the last few drops into his mouth.
‘Don’t you think that’s something you should consider?’ Agneta asks, conscious that her breathing is quick and shallow.
‘I don’t care.’
‘That’s rather immature.’
Hugo tosses the empty can into the sink and looks straight at her.
‘I’m talking to my dad.’
‘I know that, and I—’
‘So maybe you should go and do something else while—’
‘Hugo,’ Bernard snaps. ‘This attitude of yours is not OK. Agneta is as much a part of this family as you or I.’
‘More, seems like.’
‘More?’ Agneta repeats.
‘Come on, Dad. You’ve got to agree that I have the least say round here.’
‘Oh, stop.’ Agneta smiles, but her heart is racing.
‘I wasn’t talking to you!’
‘But maybe you should—’
‘Everything in this house, it’s all on your terms.Everything,’ Hugo shouts. ‘I have to tiptoe around just so I don’t end up being kicked out of my own home.’
Agneta attempts to laugh, but she quickly stops when she realises there is a risk he might take it the wrong way.
‘OK,’ says Bernard, holding up both hands. ‘Can’t we just try to act like normal people and talk about the things we need to talk about?’
‘Gotta do what you gotta do,’ Hugo mutters, biting his thumbnail.
‘We saw your interview inAftonbladet,’ Bernard begins.
‘Yeah, sorry if I spoiled your book,’ Hugo says as he takes aseat at the table again.
‘Is that what you think this is about?’
‘Yeah, I do, because the books always come first.’
‘Oh, you’re beingtoochildish right now,’ Bernard tells him, raising his voice.
‘I’m leaving if you’re just going to shout at me,’ says Hugo.
