”Dad! Dad! Wake up! Dad, wake up!”
Pekka got up and fumbled for his watch. It was quarter to 6 in the morning.
”We'll be late, dad. Can we leave now?”
”It's only quarter to six, we'll have plenty of time. Have you been to the bathroom already?” ”Yeah”
”Take Rex for a walk but don't go too far.” Okay dad.”
Pekka stood up and walked to the kitchen. Despite the early wake-up, Pekka wasn't tired at all. He looked out the window; the sun was rising, casting it's rays to the dewy ground. It seemed like there would be nice weather throughout the weekend. He walked to the mailbox, but it was empty. ”Guess I'll have read yesterdays paper” he thought walking back.
He made some coffee for himself and rye bread with boiled ham and cucumbers for his 4-year old son, Otto. He had just sat down as Otto came in running with Rex, their 6-year old German Shepherd.
”Dad, we saw an elk! It was huge!”
”Where was it?”
”At Nieminen's yard. It just stood there.”
”Well, let Rex off the leash and eat some bread”
As Otto began eating, Pekka skimmed through the paper. ”Koivisto favourite for presidential election” said the headline. Pekka put the paper down and finished his coffee.
”Have you packed already?”
”Yeah! I have three T-shirts, three underpants and 3 pairs of socks”
Pekka laughed a bit. ”What about pants? Or something warm, it can get cold during the nights”
”Oops! I'll pack them now!” Pekka watched his son run to his room.
A few minutes later Otto ran back. ”Now I'm ready! Let's go!”
”There's no rush yet. Here, take the stuff that's ready to the car” he said, handing the car keys to Otto. He went back to the bedroom and started packing.
”Morning” sounded a voice in the bed. ”Are you leaving already?”
”No, not yet. Otto is just a bit enthusiastic. Just keep sleeping, no point in getting up this early.”
”What time is it?”
”20 past 6”
”Good. You keep packing. Oh and don't forget, there's some juice I made in the fridge for you and Otto. And make some sandwiches for the trip too.”
”Sure thing, honey”
A couple of hours went by and they were ready to leave. Pekka went through the things in the car. Tent, sleeping bags, rubber boots and raincoats. All seemed to be there. Otto was playing with Rex. Pekka lighted his cigarette and looked up to the sky; not a cloud in sight. The summer had been quite cold but for this weekend, it shouldn't rain at least. Pekka finished his cigarette.
”Otto, get Rex inside, we're leaving!”
Otto ran to the door and let Rex in and then ran to the car. They got in and soon they were on the highway. Pekka turned the radio on to Radio Suomi, the news were on.
”And next up is sports news. Jyväskylän Suurajot started yesterday with 11 stages and the leader is Hannu Mikkola with his Audi Quattro. In second place is Markku Alen- in his Lancia and in third is Sweden Per Eklund. Leading Group A is Timo Heinonen with his Audi, 6th place overall. No major retirements with the exception of Henri Toivonen. His Lancia suffered a suspension failure on stage 5 in Päijälä and the car rolled violently end over end. Both Toivonen and his co-pilot Sergio Cresto are fine. In todays schedule are 12 stages, the first stage beginning at five past twelve. In other news, Tampereen Ilves beat Valkeakosken Haka...”