All That She Can See(38)

‘There’s nothing normal about that shade of yellow!’ Chase said, squinting.

‘Normality pills will restore your residents to their usual state of reality. Whatever their issues and joys were before you two started meddling will be reinstated.’

‘I wouldn’t say we were meddling —’

Happy held her hand up, cutting across Cherry’s voice. ‘Their bodies will be flushed of any feeling that isn’t their own.’

‘So, nothing I did before our… “turf war” broke out… none of that matters?’ Cherry said, palms sweating. Were they really talking about undoing all of her work?

‘I’m afraid not. That’s not how this works, although we have been watching you for some time now, Miss Redgrave.’

‘R-really?’ Cherry wriggled her hands inside her sleeves and crossed her arms.

‘We’re very impressed with all you’ve been doing these past few years and I actually have an offer to make you on behalf of the Guild. It’s not often that those higher up are so impressed that they offer a place to a novice but… we’d love to have you on board.’

‘What? Work for you?’ Cherry asked, incredulous.

‘Mm-hmm, that’s right.’ Happy nodded.

‘Would I have to… give up my feelings?’ Cherry’s palms weren’t the only things sweating now. The room had grown awfully warm all of a sudden. Cherry felt Chase shift closer to her.

‘It’s standard procedure when joining the Guild, but I guarantee you won’t miss them.’

‘How would she even know if she missed them or not?’ Chase said. ‘Taking away someone’s feelings is like – like… taking away a limb!’

‘We’d never forcibly take away anyone’s feelings, Mr Masters. No need to get over-emotional. Only those who willingly take jobs with us will be asked to undergo the procedure. I must warn you though that if you turn down this incredibly generous offer, you’d no longer be able to run your bakery because of what has taken place here today.’

‘What?!’ Chase raised his voice and their bench scooted back as he stood up abruptly. Cherry put a hand on his arm to soothe him and he slowly sat back down.

‘Why wouldn’t I be able to run the bakery?’ Cherry said, blinking hard again.

‘One day I’m sure you’d be able to reopen; however, because of today’s over-dosing on feelings you would be required to go on a two-year training course to learn the correct and proper ways to use your abilities. You’d then be able to pitch a proposal for your bakery to the Guild and explain how you would intend to use your abilities on the unwitting public in the future.’ Happy paused for a moment. ‘I’m pretty confident however that because of today’s misdemeanour,’ she tutted, ‘you’re unlikely to be approved.’

‘Oh, God.’ Cherry couldn’t help it now. A few tears spilled over as she thought of losing her livelihood and everything she’d spent the last seven years building.

‘You can’t do this,’ Chase said, putting his arm around the sobbing Cherry.

‘I’m afraid we can. Don’t think we don’t have prisons of our own for people who misbehave on our territory.’

Cherry sobbed even harder.

‘You really don’t live up to your name do you, love.’ Chase squeezed Cherry into him and she pressed her face into his shoulder.

‘We’ll give you a week to decide,’ Happy said, removing the bottle of pills and placing them on the table. ‘I trust you know what to do with these.’ She closed the briefcase and walked to the door without waiting for an answer.

‘What about me? Don’t I get some kind of impossible offer?’ Chase called after her.

‘We’ve been watching you too, Mr Masters, and we know it was you who started all of this with your brash and reckless behaviour. That reminds me.’ Happy opened the briefcase once more, dug underneath the yellow foam and pulled out a few sheets of paper. ‘Here is your application for the lenses. No doubt your special hatred for the world will bump you up to somewhere near the top of the list. You’ll get your lenses and therefore what you’ve always wanted: to be normal.’ She looked at Cherry then and said, ‘Once you’ve made your decision, we’ll know.’

The door clicked shut and an eerie silence followed. The bakery seemed cold and unfriendly. Something sinister lingered in the air.

Chase turned to Cherry and said, ‘Well, she was a bundle of fun.’





15





Belonging and Honesty





They hadn’t spoken to each other for so long that the silence had become a lullaby. Chase felt that it would be rude to interrupt such a comforting tune so he just listened to the slosh of water and the soft clink of cutlery against ceramic. Cherry was at the sink, scrubbing plates. She squeezed the washing-up liquid bottle and bubbles spurted into the air. She filled each one with a miserable thought and then popped them all, one by one, with a single finger.

Giving up on my shop. POP!

Disgracing the memory of my father. POP!

Going home and admitting defeat to everyone I know. POP!

Saying goodbye to Sally, George, Orla, Bruce, Margie… and Chase. POP!