Klara and the Sun

Rick, sitting beside Josie, was also looking at her with concern. ‘Hey, Josie, do you fancy finishing this for me?’ He said this quietly, almost into her ear, as he slid the remainder of his carrot cake towards her. ‘It might give you energy.’

‘I don’t need energy, Ricky. I’m fine. I just want to sit here, that’s all.’

The Father looked carefully at Josie, then turned back to Rick’s notebook.

‘These are really interesting, Rick.’

‘Ricky, darling,’ Miss Helen said, ‘it just occurs to me. It was an excellent idea to bring your diagrams along. But perhaps it’s best you don’t offer them to Vance unless he specifically asks you.’

‘Mum, we’ve been over this.’

‘It’s just that it might look inappropriate. Too eager. This is supposed to be just a social meeting after all. A spontaneous encounter.’

‘Mum, how can this be spontaneous when it’s been so carefully set up and we’ve come in specially for it?’

‘I just mean, darling, you must try and behave as though it’s spontaneous. That’s what will work best with Vance. Only if he asks specifically to see some of your work…’

‘I understand, Mum. It’s all under control.’

Rick looked tense, and I wished to do something to give him reassurance, but I was across the table from him and couldn’t reach over to touch his arm or shoulder. The Father was again looking at Josie, but she didn’t seem to me unwell so much as simply lost in her own thoughts.

‘Drones were never my area,’ the Father said after a while. ‘But this, Rick, is truly impressive and exciting.’ Then to Miss Helen: ‘Lifted or not, genuine ability has to get noticed. Unless this world’s completely crazy now.’

‘You were always encouraging me, Mr Arthur,’ Rick said. ‘Right from when I first started getting into all this. So much of what you showed me back then forms the foundations of what you see there.’

‘That’s kind, Rick, but I’m sure it’s entirely unwarranted. Drone technology was never my area, and I doubt if I was ever of much help to you. But I appreciate you saying that.’

Through the window I could now see the Sun’s last patterns of the day falling across the black-suit women with bow ties, the theater’s waistcoat officials handing out leaflets, the bright costume couples, and the musicians with small guitars moving amidst the crowd, snatches of their music coming through the glass.

‘Hey, animal. Did your mother happen to say something to upset you? This isn’t like you, sitting there so quiet.’

‘I’m fine, Dad. I’m just not like a show, okay? I can’t sparkle and entertain all day. Sometimes I just want to sit and chill out.’

‘You know we do miss you, Paul,’ Miss Helen said. ‘Is it four years already? Oh look, even more people arriving. I wonder when they’ll let them go inside. It’s just as well there’s no traffic allowed through here. Where’s Chrissie now? Is she still out there?’

‘I see her, Mum. She’s still on her phone.’

‘I’m so glad she’s with us today. So reassuring. She’s such a good friend to me. And I do appreciate all of you too, being here like this, extending your support to Rick and to me.’ She looked around the table, appearing to make a special point of including me in her gaze. ‘I won’t pretend I’m not getting nervous. The hour being almost upon us. And not just on Rick’s account, if I’m honest. Did I ever tell you, Paul? The man we’re about to meet, he and I were once passionate. Not just for a weekend or a few months, but for years…’

‘Mum, please…’

‘Should you get a chance to talk with him, Paul, I think you’ll find you have certain things in common. For instance, he too has fascistic leanings. He always has done though I always tried not to notice…’

‘Mum, for God’s sake…’

‘Now, Helen, easy there,’ the Father said. ‘Are you implying that I…’

‘It’s only because of what you were saying a moment ago, Paul. About your community.’

‘No, Helen, I can’t have this. And in front of the kids too. What I was saying earlier has nothing to do with fascism. We have no aggressive agenda beyond defending ourselves should the need arise. Where you live, Helen, maybe you don’t have to worry yet, and I sincerely hope it’ll be that way for a long time. Where I am, it’s different.’

‘Then why, Dad, don’t you move out of there? Why keep living in a place with gangs and guns?’

The Father seemed pleased Josie had finally participated. ‘Because that’s my community, Josie. It’s not nearly as bad as this makes it sound. I like it there. I’m sharing my life with some very fine people, and most of them came down the same road I did. It’s become clear to all of us now, there are many different ways to lead a decent and full life.’

‘Are you saying, Dad, you’re glad you lost your job?’

‘In many ways, Josie, yes. And it’s not like I really lost my job. It’s all been part of the changes. Everyone’s had to find new ways to live their lives.’