KOTIMIES
by Alli Nissinen · from Hopeakauha: Satuja ja kertomuksia
Adapted Version
Johanna was all alone in her little house. Mom and Dad were gone. Baby Samuli was with Mom. They went to get coffee. It was a long, long walk. Johanna was the helper at home.
Johanna sat on the step. She watched the swallows fly. They flew over the water. Their wings went fast. The cat walked by. "Meow," said the cat. Johanna petted the cat. The cat purred a happy sound. Its fur was soft.
Where was Mom now? Was she walking far? Was Samuli happy? Johanna missed her mom. She missed her warm hug. She missed her dad's smile.
She walked to the pond. A fish splashed in the water. The splash was big. The cow's bell rang far away. It made a soft sound. Johanna waded in the water. It was cool on her feet. Mom said, "Do not go in." Johanna felt sad. She knew it was wrong. She would be good. She would listen next time.
She went back to the house. A bird sang a song. The song was pretty. A bee buzzed in the flowers. The sun was very warm. It felt nice on her skin.
Johanna made rings from grass. She made many rings. She made a big pile. She broke them all. It was fun to break them. She dreamed of giving gifts. She would give rings to Samuli. She would give one to Mom. She would build a new house. It would be a big house. She would paint it red.
Johanna was thirsty. Her mouth was dry. She drank from the spring. The water was cold and good. The cat drank too. They lapped the water. They ran back home. Their feet made sounds on the path.
Johanna felt tired. Her eyes felt heavy. She missed her mom. The house was warm. It smelled like leaves. It smelled like home.
She looked out the window. The trees were green. Tears came to her eyes. They were sad tears. She went to her bed. The bed was soft. She hugged the hay pillow. It smelled like summer.
Johanna fell asleep. Her breathing was slow. The cat came inside. It was quiet. It lay down by her. It curled into a ball. The house was quiet. The only sound was breathing.
Outside, the sun shone. The day was peaceful. The wind was gentle. Johanna and the cat slept. They were warm together. It was a quiet, happy day. It was a good day.
Original Story
KOTIMIES
Kaukana Suomen sydänmaalla, siellä minne vaan kaitaset jalkapolut ohjaavat, oli pikkunen mökki. Tuuhea kuusimetsä seisoi mökin vieressä sitä pohjatuulilta varjelemassa, mutta etelän puolella oli aukeata lammikon rantaan asti. Peltoa oli vähän ja sekin kivikkoa. Laidunta oli laajalta, mutta mökin ainoa lehmä, Omenankukka, kierteli parhaastaan vaan mehevillä lammen rannikoilla.
Oli kesäinen aamu. Ilma oli kuultavan kirkas. Luonnossa oli hiljaisuus.
Ei liikahtanut tuuli.
Pikku Johanna istui pirtin kynnyksellä ja katseli pääskysiä, jotka lentelivät lammen pinnalla kuvaansa katselemassa. Joskus ne suikkasivat siivillään niin lähelle tyyntä vettä, että aaltoja syntyi. Joskus ne kohosivat korkealle taivaalle ja ylistivät ääneen kaunista luontoa ja Jumalan kirkasta päivää.
Pikku Johanna oli kotimiehenä. Isä oli työssä ja äiti oli Samulin kanssa mennyt taloon kahvia hakemaan. Taloon oli pitkä matka: ensin metsän läpi, sitte niityn poikki, sitte mäen yli, sitte suon vierustaa, sitte peltojen poikki — ja siinä oli talo järven rannalla. Johanna muisti hyvin koko tien, muisti kivetkin tien varrella ja kaikki hyvät mustikkamaat. Ja sen talon Johanna muisti: korkean kaivon vintin ja punaisen kartanon — ja sen suuren järven siinä vieressä. Johanna oli monta kertaa ollut isän ja äidin kanssa siellä — jo silloin, kun ei Samulia vielä ollut. Nyt oli Samuli äidin mukana ja hän oli kotimiehenä.
Johanna oli jo kuuden vuoden vanha.
Kas, noita pääskysiä. Nyt ne kissaa härnäävät! Kissa kellii pihamaalla ja pääskyset kieppuvat ilmassa aivan lähellä ja huutavat: jo viep! jo viep!
Missähän asti äiti nyt lienee? Jokohan on mäen päällä? Onkohan Samuli yhä äidin sylissä?
"Kiss, kiss, kiss! Tuli tänne, tuli tänne, kiss, kiss, kiss!"
Johanna juoksee kissan luo ja heittäytyy nurmelle sen viereen.
"Kissi, kissi, kissi!"
Kissa puskee häntä kylkeen ja otsaan. Johanna ottaa sitä jalasta. Kissa sylkäsee ja lähtee laukkaamaan.
Missähän äiti nyt lie? Jokohan on suon reunassa? Onkohan Samulilla lysti?
Johanna juoksee rantaan. Siellä hauki posahtaa ruohikossa pelosta.
Toisella puolen lampea kilahtelee Omenankukan kello.
"Omenankukka, minkä näköinen se lienee. Isä on sen nähnyt. Se oli isompi kuin mesikan kukka, sanoi isä. Omenankukka, omenankukka — kunpa joskus saisin nähdä omenankukan!"
Johanna kahlaa syvälle veteen. Ranta on liejukkoa. Äiti on kieltänyt kahlaamasta. "Vielä hukut", on äiti sanonut.
Mitä jos hukkuisi? Äiti silloin itkisi ja isä. Ja mitä sanoisi Jumala?
Jumala varmaan kieltäisi.
Ei Johanna tahdo tehdä Jumalata vastaan. Kotona on nyt Jumala ja
Johanna yksin. Jumala kyllä suojelee.
Äitiäkin Jumala suojelee — ja isää ja Samulia.
Jokohan äiti on talossa? Saakohan Samuli sokeria emännältä?
Johanna juoksee ylös rannasta; kissa siellä nyt tuvan portaalla venyttelee. Pääskynen sirkuttaa räystäällä: "minä pesin hansikkaat, panin saunan lasille kuivaan, sieltä vietiin, varastettiin, itse Kiesus herra tietää!"
Laulun, pääskysten laulun on äiti Johannalle opettanut. Ja Johanna kuulee, että ne niin laulavat.
Miksi ne panivat hansikkaansa saunan lasille?
Tuossa mehiläinen keltakukissa pörisee. Kukat taivuttavat päitään sen painon alla. Prr, prr!
Aurinko paahtaa niin mahdottomasti. Johanna menee saunan kynnykselle, jossa on varjoa.
Jos äiti kohta tulisi! Jokohan äiti on puhunut emännän kanssa?
Johanna tekee heinästä itselleen sormuksen — äidilläkin on sormus. Hän tekee kaksi sormusta, kolme sormusta ja kaikki sormet täyteen sormuksia. Sitte hän rikkoo ne kaikki.
Jos olisi rikas ja saisi monta sormusta! Silloin Johanna antaisi
Samulillekin yhden — tai kaksi.
Johanna alkaa hyppiä ilosta. Kolmekin voisi hän Samulille antaa.
Ja sitte hän rakentaisi äidille ja isälle uuden talon ja kirkkorattaat ja hevosen.
Johannata janottaa. Hän juoksee lähteelle juomaan. Kissa juoksee jälestä.
"Kissi, kissi, kissi! Tuossa on, juo nyt!"
Kissa pistää turpansa veteen ja päristää, siristää käpäliään ja karkaa puuhun.
Johanna taputtaa puun runkoa ja häristää kissaa. Sitte lähtee hän juoksemaan tupaa kohti.
Johannata väsyttää. Kunhan äiti tulisi!
Hän menee tupaan. Tupa on kuuma. Orrella on lehtikerppuja kuivamassa ja niistä levenee tupaan voimakas kevätmetsän tuoksu.
Johanna katselee ulos ikkunasta. Hän rummuttaa lasiin ja hyräilee hiljaa. Hänen on äitiä ikävä. Kyyneleet pyrkivät silmiin.
Hän juoksee sänkyyn ja painautuu heinätyynyn sisään. Hänen on niin lämmin ja ikävä. Hän vaipuu uneen.
Kissa hiipii avonaisesta ovesta sisälle, katselee ympärilleen, hyppää pöydälle, kävelee penkkiä pitkin, menee sänkyyn, nuuskii Johannata — ja paneutuu nukkumaan Johannan viereen.
Tuvassa on hiljaista. Seinällä vaan vanha kello raksuttaa.
Ulkona paistaa päivä, kärpäset surisevat ja pääskyset raukeina virsiään visertelevät.
Lammin rannalta kilahtelee Omenankukan vaskinen kello ja rannan ruohikossa kalat joskus posahtelevat.
Kuusikko seisoo vakavana taustalla ja metsämökissä on ihanan kesäisen päivän raukaiseva rauha.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Six-year-old Johanna is left as 'kotimies' in a remote Finnish cottage while her parents and baby brother go on a long journey. She spends the day observing nature, playing with the cat, and imagining her family's travels. Despite a brief moment of disobedience by wading in the pond, she reflects on God's protection and her longing for her mother. As the day progresses, she creates imaginary treasures, dreams of generosity, and eventually, overcome by warmth and loneliness, falls asleep in the cottage, joined by the family cat, as the peaceful summer day continues around them.
Themes
Emotional Arc
peaceful longing to peaceful comfort
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a common experience in rural Finland where children were given responsibility for the home at a young age, and life was closely tied to nature and simple necessities.
Plot Beats (12)
- Johanna is introduced as the 'kotimies' in a remote Finnish cottage, left alone while her parents and baby brother Samuli go to a distant house.
- She sits on the threshold, observing swallows flying over the pond and playing with the family cat.
- Johanna mentally traces her parents' long journey, recalling landmarks and memories.
- She wonders about her mother and Samuli's progress, expressing her longing.
- Johanna wades into the pond, despite her mother's warnings, then reflects on the consequences and God's disapproval, deciding not to go against God.
- She returns to the cottage, listening to a swallow's song and observing a bee.
- Johanna makes and breaks rings from hay, imagining being rich and giving rings to Samuli, then building a new house and carriage for her parents.
- Feeling thirsty, she drinks from a spring with the cat, then runs back to the cottage.
- Overcome with tiredness and longing for her mother, Johanna goes inside the hot cottage, filled with the scent of drying leaves.
- She looks out the window, feeling tears well up, and then buries herself in a hay pillow on the bed.
- Johanna falls asleep, and the cat quietly joins her, settling down beside her.
- The story concludes with a description of the peaceful, quiet summer day continuing around the sleeping child and cat.
Characters
Johanna
A small, active girl of six years old, likely with a slender build from an active life in the Finnish countryside. Her movements are quick and playful, often running and jumping.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing suitable for a child in rural Finland during summer. Likely a linen or cotton dress, possibly with an apron, in muted colors like cream, blue, or grey, allowing for ease of movement and play.
Wants: To fulfill her role as 'kotimies' (caretaker of the home) while her parents are away, and to alleviate her loneliness and longing for her mother's return.
Flaw: Her young age and loneliness make her prone to daydreaming and a bit of mischief (wading in the forbidden water), and she easily succumbs to weariness and sadness when left alone.
Starts as a playful and curious child, transitions to feeling lonely and missing her mother, and eventually falls asleep, finding comfort in her cat's presence. Her arc is one of enduring a period of solitude and longing.
Curious, imaginative, playful, observant, and a little lonely. She is responsible (being 'kotimies') but also prone to childish whims and daydreams. She deeply misses her mother.
Kissa
A domestic cat, agile and playful, with typical feline grace. Its fur color is not specified, but it's likely a common color for a farm cat, perhaps tabby, black, or ginger, well-groomed from outdoor life.
Attire: None, as it is an animal.
Wants: To play, explore, and seek comfort, particularly from Johanna.
Flaw: Its feline instincts, such as being easily startled or distracted.
Remains a consistent companion to Johanna throughout her day, eventually joining her in sleep.
Playful, independent, affectionate towards Johanna, and a bit mischievous (hissing and running away). It provides comfort and companionship.
Omenankukka
A single cow, likely a dairy breed common in Finland, such as an Ayrshire or Finncattle, known for their hardiness. Its size is significant enough for Johanna to compare it to a flower, suggesting it's a substantial animal. Its coat color is not specified, but Finncattle are typically white with colored markings.
Attire: None, other than a bell.
Wants: To graze and live peacefully.
Flaw: None apparent in the story.
Remains a constant, distant presence, symbolizing the family's livelihood and the peaceful rural setting.
Peaceful and docile, as implied by its quiet grazing.
Locations
Small Cottage and Yard
A small, simple Finnish cottage (mökki) nestled deep in the heartland, accessible by narrow footpaths. A dense spruce forest (kuusimetsä) protects it from northern winds, while the southern side opens up to a pond. The yard has a small, stony field and extensive pastureland. A cat roams the yard, and swallows fly around the eaves and over the pond.
Mood: Peaceful, quiet, slightly lonely, warm, natural.
Johanna sits on the doorstep, observes swallows and the cat, plays with the cat, and feels the quiet of being home alone.
Pond Shore
The open shore of the pond, where the cottage's only cow, Omenankukka, grazes. The water's edge is muddy (liejukkoa), and fish occasionally splash in the reedy grass. Johanna wades into the shallow, muddy water.
Mood: Natural, serene, a bit wild, with a sense of forbidden adventure.
Johanna goes to the pond, hears the cow's bell, wades into the water despite being forbidden, and contemplates the idea of drowning.
Sauna Threshold and Spring
The threshold of a sauna building, offering shade from the intense sun. Nearby, yellow flowers buzz with bees, and a natural spring provides cool drinking water. A tree trunk is also present, where the cat climbs.
Mood: Cooling, refreshing, playful, simple.
Johanna seeks shade at the sauna, makes rings from hay, drinks from the spring with the cat, and plays with the cat around a tree.
Cottage Interior (Pirtti)
The main room of the cottage (pirtti), which is hot. Leaf bundles (lehtikerppuja) are drying on a perch (orsi), filling the room with the strong scent of a spring forest. There's a window looking out, a bed with a hay pillow, and an old clock ticking on the wall. The open door allows the cat to enter.
Mood: Warm, sleepy, nostalgic, quiet, slightly melancholic.
Johanna goes inside, feels tired and lonely, looks out the window, cries, and falls asleep on the hay pillow, joined by the cat.