Page 72 of The Secret to Belonging

thinks you should go to Berkeley with her

will it be hard to leave Esp—

you put up your hand

you’re good at denial

it’s the river where you learned to swim

you will not ruin everything by thinking about

the future

the Rotarians grant a free afternoon

for exploring

everyone scatters

but within an hour

you’ve all found your way

to Oslo’s one and only

McDonald’s

everyone gorges on American fat and salt and sugar

it’s fantastic

until

it isn’t

you feel nauseous and have to run to the toilet

what does it mean that ekte amerikanske mat

real American food

makes you vomit?

in Oslo

a glittering evergreen towers in front of the Grand Hotel

white lights twinkle on shops and trees

the outdoor julemarked swells with holiday music

and swirling scents of popcorn and burnt sugar

you browse through the stalls

admire ornaments and husflid textiles

an unfamiliar feeling peeks out