The next morning Ruth was excited to see the new neighbours, and she was hoping someone would bring a little girl neighbour. When she asked me for a best friend, she never said she wanted it to be a neighbour, nor she say if she wanted it to be a boy or a girl, which is why humans should learn to specify wishes.

Finally, it was the weekend, and her mother would stay with her. The only thing was that she was too tired from work, that all she wanted was to stay in bed or at least to stay home, the kind of actions that children don't understand. Ruth stood up early thinking that maybe she could visit the neighbours, she got her mother up too, who was really homesick for her bed. They took a small jelly that they had in their fridge, and with their pyjamas on, they went to the neighbour's house.

-It seems like there is nobody there -said her mother, ringing the bell desperately.

Ruth looked through the windows, everything was dark, only a couple of expensive pieces of furniture were visible inside and it was a mess.

-Let's go home, Ruth, there's no one here. The neighbours will probably not come for a long time, perhaps it's only their holiday home or I don't know -she said sleepily.

-So, can I visit Lauri?

-You're going to stay home with me, little one. - her mother said taking her on her back and guiding her home- We don't spend much time together, and I want to enjoy your company on the weekends at least.

The truth is that Ruth was so used to being without her mother at this point, that she hadn't even thought about it. In fact, she felt that her mother was starting to become a nuisance in a way a little. She wanted to go out to meet Lauri, so that he could continue teaching her Finnish, as it seemed that there wouldn't be a new neighbour.

And again, the snow started to fall and they both, Ruth and her mother, came home. Her mom made her a hot chocolate. Every day was closer to Christmas and they hadn't put up their tree yet, sometimes she wondered if they had one, since Mum looked tired enough from work to go and get one... and she couldn't go and do it either. Guinness, on the other hand, seemed to be getting bigger fastly, she was always ready for adventure and action. Ruth waited for Mum to go back to sleep, while she plays a children's film on their TV. She took Guinness and her leash, and they left there in silence, and hurried to Lauri's house.

Once they got there, they waited outside to see either Lauri go out or get in to it. And at the end, what happened was that they saw him going out there...

-What are you doing here? I don't teach on the weekends -exclaimed Lauri when he saw her.

-I want to keep learning -she answered shyly.

-I said no, my grandfather woke up very sick and I have to take care of him.

-What happened to him?

-It seems he has pneumonia, these snows are not good for anyone, -he said as he watched the snow falling- but well, I've to go home.

-Hey Lauri, looks like I'll have a new neighbours. Wouldn't you like to see their house?

Lauri opened his eyes; he didn't expect such a proposal. He was a very curious child and really wanted to know what could be in the neighbor's house. So finally, after a difficult decision, both walked hand in hand to the new neighbor's house, accompanied by Guinness.

Looking through windows seeing cardboard boxes entirely full of objects that seemed very valuable. There were no visible signs of they being a couple with children, in fact, neither could they deduce that it was a couple. I decided to go through the wall along with Lauri's Universe, and we both found signs that the boxes did contain objects of a couple and a child.

-Is she going to change Lauri now that she has a new neighbours?

-She wouldn't have to, in fact, now the three of them could be friends.

-You're right, you're very optimistic, this boy looks rich, and his family looks happy -he said, taking a picture of the family.

-That's how Ruth's family used to be; I don't let myself be guided by people's easy smiles anymore -I answered.

As we left, the engine of an incoming car started to sound. The family wore elegant, heavy, expensive coats. The mother had the longest, bleached blonde hair I could ever see. Her father wore a padlocked beard and golden blond hair with airs, and he had a cool look with sky blue eyes combination. Both of them, saw them near their home somewhat uncomfortable, and then they turned their gazes to the back seat and moved their mouths not very happily. Lauri and Ruth turned to look excited, smiling, clutching their hands tightly.

And then the familystarted to get out of the car little by little. His mother was the one whoopened the door for her son to get out. Lauri and Ruth came over to see whatthe new neighbor would look like. Indeed, it was a boy, about his age or olderperhaps, thin with dark brown hair, snow-white skin and green eyes. He was wearing red scarf and warm clothes, actually, from my point of view, he was a rather gloomy child.

The Universes of the family were quite curious. We Universes can accessorize at will, that is because we are molded to the personality and life of our human. However, and as a curious fact, we do not change color at will, the only ones who can change our color are humans.

The mother's Universe was navy blue, it carried a bag that said "Imprada", the father's Universe was blue, it had a beard. and the child's Universe, was the strangest Universe I ever saw in my short universal life. It was white, had enormously tender eyes, and his mouth was covered with a black scarf that said "Imchannel".

-Risto, say hello to the children, -said his mother with a fake smile- they probably want to be your friends.

-In the morning we brought a jelly, mom and I, but no one was here -said Ruth.

-We were a little late, it's easier to come here by train but we are moving from Helsinki -answered Risto's father.

So that's the northern light? -said the boy, completely amazed at the sight of the sky- and from what I see here, it is getting dark even earlier, in Helsinki we have a little more sunshine.

Ruth couldn't understand everything they were saying. I could because we Universes understand all languages, by nature, not by knowledge. And well, the truth is that I couldn't stop looking at the child's Universe, I wondered how it was able to change its appearance in that way. It did not even speak to us, even if we spoke to him, perhaps it was because his mouth was covered with a scarf.

-We are really very tired right now, but if you like to come tomorrow, maybe we can put the Christmas tree together -exclaimed his father.

Lauri and Ruth were excited. Neither of them had a Christmas tree at home, and knowing that they could soon decorate one made them happy. That new child must definitely be part of the gang, he seemed to be the only child from a stable family though.

Just at that moment, Ruth's mother left the house to look for Ruth. She had finally managed to wake up completely. Ruth just raised her hand and ran home, holding Lauri's hand. Risto, just watched them with his cold gaze and proceeded to go into the house, he and his parents had a lot of unpacking to do after all.

-Hey mom, -exclaimed Ruth- tomorrow we've been invited to decorate the neighbor's Christmas tree, and since I see that we won't have one this year, I was wondering if I could go... with Lauri.

-You and Grandma's neighbor are already very close, aren't you?

-Y-yes -answered Lauri after a nervous smile.

The truth is that my destiny as a Universe, was quite complex. The greater Universe is supposed to get people together when they have similar vibration, but Risto was nothing like Ruth, and neither did he seem to have things in common with Lauri. They say we shouldn't have judgments being Universes, but not having judgments is almost impossible. Even when Ruth buys herself a chocolate, I can make the judgment that she will like it or not, it's that simple to make a judgment.

That night I went to visit that child's room. His Universe welcomed me into a small office that he had created at the side of his human bed. He stared at me and I finally spoke.

-Normally, I do not waste my beautiful voice to talk, but there are matters that I have to attend to with you directly -said that Universe- Risto's family and I have come to this city but soon we will be only Risto and his mother. Risto's father will go to work in Nokia city, and he will only come to visit us for a few days.

-I see, -I thought, "that explains everything"- so he comes from a difficult home too.

-Yes, well, the truth is there are few stable homes nowadays. Actually, I want to talk to you about more important matters than that. Risto wants to be famous when he grows up and his parents support him from now on, taking him to music and singing lessons, he's very good, the thing is that, I noticed something special in your human. She has a strange glow in her throat, have you seen it?

-Does she have it?

-Yes, how clumsy of you, having a human with singing talent. How could you not notice?

-She's my first human, -I said with ashamed- Are you afraid she's better than Risto? -I asked with my arms crossed.

-Actually, Risto has no a singing talent, although if he sings very well, he has talent in his fingers. He is possibly good at music and writing. And here comes the most important thing... I want Risto and Ruth to be friends from now on. I want you to help me to make that happen, because both of them could have a great future together. It would be a waste of talent if Ruth didn't go into music after all...

-What?! It's not possible, you don't even know if she'll go into music...

-I know Risto. Once he gets an idea, he doesn't change it. And just in case, I want you to help me make them good friends from now on -he concluded with a wicked look.

I was speechless and left there. I had to think if that kind of company was good for Ruth, because of the kind of Universe that Risto had, it was obvious that he would grow up to be an ambitious boy. I think Ruth, had no interest in being a professional singer as such. That night, as I watched Ruth sleeping. I cuddle her long, beautiful and wavy hair and then I could see her dreams.

She was dreaming of the hugest Christmas tree in the neighbors' house. She dreamt that she was decorating it next to Lauri and Risto. She dreamt that her whole family, would get together and have a big celebration, with music and a big feast. And right in the middle of the dream, stones throwed to her window began to sound. Lauri's Universe came through the window, telling me to wake her up, which worried me, but I listened to it. When Ruth woke up, she opened the window to find Lauri outside...

-Come with me, please...... -he shouted at her.

-What's going on?

-My grandfather is very ill, and maybe if you sing to him, like you did that day going to the village, he can get better.

-What? No, I don't heal people... -she said confusedly- that's only done by doctors...

-Listen, I know that your singing is magical, I know that, come with me, there's nothing to lose by trying.

Ruth again took Guinness on her leash, and discreetly left the place, it was late at night and the city was totally dark, that much than it seemed that the moon was not shining at all on that place. Rovaniemi must have been, the darkest, coldest place on the whole planet.

Guinness took her role as guardian very seriously, holding her ears and tail while they walked, always alert and always faithful to attack anyone who hurt her little friends, barking at any alert... even though she was still a puppy.

When they arrived at Lauri's house, they tied Guinness up on the small terrace and went inside. Lauri ran to the room where his grandfather was, where his anguished grandmother was waiting. When she saw them arrive, some tears began to come to her eyes, because she was vulnerable to her grandson's innocence. His grandmother seemed to be the only one in the house who understood that Lauri was still an innocent child, but part of her was still struggling with the memory of Lauri's mother, and with her desire that Lauri would not be the same as her.

Lauri pushed Ruth over her shoulders, pushing her from behind when she saw her grief to enter.

-Sing to him... -he begged Ruth, as he saw his grandfather lying in bed with difficulty in breathing.

-But what song shall I sing?

-Whatever, just do it.

Ruth ran out of the room and sat down on the piano. It was dusty, but she didn't mind. She started playing the keys in tune and then she started playing note after note. Lauri's house was so small that anyone could hear the sound of every note throughout his house. And then, once she was ready, she started playing the song "Let it be" from The beatles. Her tender melody and sweet voice invaded Lauri's house. His grandmother, upon hearing the melody, began to cry in silence, shedding only tears. Lauri also began to do it so, he approached to his grandfather to hug him in bed. His grandma noticed in him a big smile while listening to that melody.

Ruth sang with all her strength and passion, as if that song had always been waiting for her and I noticed in it that splendour that Risto's Universe had told me about. That made me wonder if it was really a wasted talent. Her mother has sign her through so many courses that she could become a professional singer in the future. Maybe, and only maybe, the idea of her being friends with Risto wasn't so bad after all. So much was Ruth's commitment to singing that she shed some tears too.

When she finished her song, Lauri's grandmother ordered Lauri to take her home. It was already early in the morning, it seemed incredible to me how carefree old people in Finland were, they thought they would be fine no matter what time their children left home, and the truth is that it was such a quiet town that the Guinness job suddenly seemed to be easier than mine.

When she got home and untied Guinness to be loose in the yard, Lauri approached her holding her hands.

-I want to pay you for what you've done for my grandfather, but I don't have any money -he said with a strange look on his face.

-I don't want you to pay me, -she said, trying to run away-just let me sleep, that's enough.

Lauri went over to kiss her on the cheek, softly and slowly. Ruth made a surprised expression as it happened. When he parted from her his cheeks were red, a little more than Ruth's. He just bent his hat and ran away, leaving Ruth alone on her terrace, who only watched him leave and then thoughtfully entered the house.

I don't blame her, I never really thought Lauri would kiss her. What's next? And after all, we went back into the house.

-God, if you listen to me, -she said praying in his bed- I ask that Lauri's grandfather gets better, please...

-He and I will do what we can... -I answered.