Stories

In his later years, Ilmari Wirkkala looked back on his life in the Kraatari house. He carries in his mind the warmth of the fireplace, at which his mother used to cook milk soup or rice porridge, the siblings fighting for every last bit. Womenfolk used to dry their skirts at the fireplace in wintertime.

Ilmari also believed in ghosts, one of which lived in the attic. The ghost, it was said, would become angry if people failed to take care of their shoes, and it might make a lot of noise in the night when throwing the shoes in anger.