Nissefolk

by Jon Veiberg

I forgot to tell you about an experience we had the day before Christmas Eve. 

All the food for dinner was on the table in warm serving dishes: the 'lutefisk', flatbread, nice dry potatoes, vegetables, and melted margarine. Unexpectedly, there was a scraping at the glass door; these two little people, 'nissefolk', wished to come in. Both Josephine and I were able to act as if this occurrence were natural.

Their compass had failed, they said; and fortunately, they could smell the 'lutefisk' and though they could find some help. We seated them before the glowing fireplace and gave them some of our food in a saucer on a little piece of board. Jo found two thimbles; and pretty soon, they were enjoying a glass of light beer. They praised the food, and even said they were glad we didn't serve aquavit and the rich cream porridge!

After a while, they admitted that their compass really was in working order. They had been sent here, they said, to find out about this "Harding". I had been recorded as an "out-Harding" at Litlos in 1970 when the two nissefolk had to seek shelter there because of the snowstorm we encountered on the leg on our cross-country ski trek from Sandhaug to Litlos--I'll never for get those seven hours!! They continued that they were blown off course on their trip to Haarteigen where they generally stayed after Easter.

They permitted me to take their picture as part of the decoration of the Christmas tree. They felt 'ordinary people' would not believe my story, anyway. They asked me to open the damper in the fireplace all the way before I went to bed.

The next morning Josephine told me she had had a dream about two little 'nissemen' that seemed almost real. I was afraid to try to explain--she likely would have told Nora, Linda, and Randi that Dad was going through childhood again--believes in UFO's...

I feel the picture is good enough proof (?). Perhaps we ought to keep it in the family, though--expect you would not like people to believe you have a 'strange' relative over in the USA.