Klara and the Sun(52)
‘Jesus, that’s so offensive, Rick.’
But there was laughter in her voice, and after a quiet moment, Rick said:
‘At least we’re not cross with each other any more. I’m glad about that.’
There was further quiet, then Josie said: ‘Me too. I’m glad too.’ Then she added: ‘I’m sorry I kept saying stuff, about your mom and all. She’s a good person and I didn’t mean any of that. And I’m sorry about being sick all the time. Making you worry.’
I saw Rick, in the glass, take a step closer to Josie and put an arm around her. Then after a second, he put his other arm around her too. Josie let herself be held, though she didn’t raise her own arms up in return, the way she did to the Mother when they said goodbye.
‘This so you can smell me better?’ she asked after a while.
Rick didn’t reply to this, but he said: ‘Klara? Are you there?’
When I turned, they’d pulled apart slightly and were both looking at me.
‘Yes?’
‘Maybe you should, you know. Give privacy, as you always say.’
‘Oh yes.’
They watched as I came off the Button Couch and went past them. At the door, I turned and said:
‘I always wanted to give privacy. It’s just that there was concern about hanky-panky.’ They both looked puzzled, so I went on: ‘I was instructed to ensure against hanky-panky. That’s why I always remained in the room, even during the bubble game.’
‘Klara,’ Josie said, ‘Rick and I are not about to engage in sex, okay? We’ve got a few things to say to each other, that’s all.’
‘Yes, of course. Then I’ll leave you.’
With that I walked out onto the landing, closing the door behind me.
* * *
—
Over the days that followed, I often thought about the Cootings Machine and how I might be able to find and destroy it. I experimented in my mind with various pretexts on which I could accompany the Mother into the city, and once there, be left to my own devices for a sufficient period, but none of these seemed at all convincing. Josie, noticing my frequent inattentiveness, would say something like: ‘Klara, you’re zoning out again. Maybe you’re low on solar.’ I even considered taking the Mother into my confidence, but rejected this option not only because of the danger of angering the Sun, but also because I felt the Mother would neither understand nor believe in the agreement I’d entered into. But then an opportunity presented itself without any initiative on my part.
One evening, an hour after the Sun had gone to rest, I was standing in the kitchen beside the refrigerator, listening to its comforting sounds. The ceiling lights hadn’t been switched on, so I was there in the semi-light coming from the hallway. The Mother had returned late from her office not long before, and I’d come down to the kitchen to allow her privacy with Josie up in the bedroom. After a time, her footsteps came down the staircase, then towards the kitchen. Her silhouette appeared in the doorway, making the kitchen even darker, and she said:
‘Klara, I wanted to give you a heads up. After all, this involves you.’
‘Yes?’
‘Next Thursday, I’ve taken time off work. I’m going to drive Josie into town and we’ll be staying overnight. We were just talking about it. Josie has an appointment.’
‘An appointment?’
‘As you know, Josie was in the process of getting her portrait done. The times she came by your store, that’s why we were in town. There’s been a long break on account of her health, but she’s stronger now and so I want her to go in for another sitting. Mr Capaldi’s been very patient and kept everything on hold.’
‘I see. So will Josie be required to sit still for a long time?’
‘Mr Capaldi’s good at not tiring her. He’s able to take photographs and work from those. Even so, he needs her to come in from time to time. I’m telling you this because I want you to accompany Josie on this trip. I think she’d like you with her.’
‘Oh yes. I’d like that very much.’
The Mother stepped further into the kitchen and now I could see just one edge of her face illuminated by the hall light.
‘I want you, Klara, to be with her when she goes in to see Mr Capaldi. In fact, Mr Capaldi is keen to meet you. He takes a special interest in AFs. You could call it his passion. That okay with you?’
‘Of course. I’ll look forward to meeting Mr Capaldi.’
‘He may have a few questions for you. To do with his research. Because as I say, he’s fascinated by AFs. You won’t mind that?’
‘No, of course not. And I believe a trip into the city would be good for Josie now she’s a little stronger.’
‘Good. Oh and we may well have passengers. In the car I mean. Our neighbors are needing a ride.’
‘Rick and Miss Helen?’
‘They have some business of their own in town and she doesn’t drive any more. Don’t worry, there’s room enough for us all. You won’t have to travel in the trunk.’
I heard more about this trip the following Sunday when not only Rick but his mother visited the house during the early part of the afternoon. I’d once more stepped onto the landing to give Rick and Josie privacy in the bedroom. Standing beside the banister rail, gazing down onto the hallway, I could hear the Mother’s and Miss Helen’s laughter coming from the kitchen. I couldn’t hear their words well, except when one or the other exclaimed something loudly. Once, Miss Helen called out, ‘Oh Chrissie, that’s quite outrageous!’ and laughed. A little later, I heard the Mother, also with laughter, say loudly: ‘It’s true, it’s true, it’s absolutely true!’