Page 26 of The Winter We Met
Alf scoffed. ‘I keep telling you, Jess, this climate change guff is all rubbish. Your red fingers prove that – this winter is as cold as any other. Anyone with half a brain can work out global warming is just one big made up conspiracy, so that leaders and worldwide organisations can exert control.’
‘Over what?’ I asked.
‘Now don’t get Alf started,’ said Oliver amiably.
‘Where we can fly. How often. What we do with our rubbish. Which light bulbs we use. What sort of bags we use to go shopping. Which countries we should buy our food from. I tell you – it’s got bugger all to do with our planet and more to do with politicians staying in power.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Talk about a nanny state.’
‘And what do you reckon to the bush fires, back where I live,’ said Nik, cheeks as red as my fingers. I hadn’t noticed him come in. Betty was hovering behind him. He hugged me, nodded at Oliver and shook Alf’s hand.
‘I read about the truth behind that,’ said Alf. ‘Many reckon it was a government conspiracy to clear land so that they could expand the high-speed rail system.’
‘I agree, sometimes there’s a story in between the lines,’ said Nik.
‘Exactly,’ said Alf.
‘Although the death of over one billion animals… that’s quite a price to pay for faster travel.’
‘Well, some say… I mean…’ Alf shrugged. ‘Yep. I agree. I saw those poor koala blighters on the box. Not sure even the most hard-hearted of politicians could take action to cause that. I, well, I didn’t mean to offend, lad… I just believe in not taking things at face value.’
‘That’s very wise.’ Nik held out his fist for a fist bump. Alf had no idea what to do so I showed him. ‘Right,’ said Nik, ‘let me get you a fresh cuppa, Alf, whilst I get myself one.’
Oliver’s jaw dropped and I was just as surprised that someone had actually made Alf stand back from one of his eccentric theories.
‘Quite something, isn’t he, our Australian guest?’ said Alf, staring after him. ‘He gets on with everyone.’
‘Too good to be true,’ said Oliver brightly.
‘He’s all the residents can talk about at the moment,’ said Alf. ‘It’s almost… not natural.’
‘Let’s not start a theory saying Nik is a robot. Or a vampire like… who was it you were talking about last week?’ I said.
‘The actor in that dark future film I liked –The Matrix.’
‘Yes. Keanu Reeves – because he never looks any older, right?’
‘It’s not just me who thinks that, you Buddhist missy.’
I pulled a chair over and sat down. Alf and I grinned at each other. Any observer might think I was constantly giving him a hard time over his theories, or laughing at him, but the two of us knew the truth. I’d learnt a lot about Buddhism in my twenties and it really helped. I’d gone through a rough patch – it was my twenty-first. Mum had hardly visited during the teen years and slowly, as I got older, contact petered out. I’d got it into my head she would at least reach out for my big birthday. It didn’t happen and that’s when my interest in Buddhism began. Alf couldn’t get his head around the philosophy I’d discuss, like thoughts not being who you were and how important meditation was. We respected each other’s right to a different view – that didn’t mean we couldn’t tease each other about our beliefs.
‘How was work today?’ asked Oliver as he lined up his domino pieces. ‘Is the Christmas madness well and truly underway? I’m practically out of our organic clementines this week already and festive tunes are all anyone is playing on Misty’s jukebox. I swear, if I hear “Last Christmas” one more time…’
‘I feel for you. I already know every Bing Crosby song off by heart and this afternoon we sold our last Lego gingerbread house and can’t get hold of anymore.’ I should have made the initial order bigger. I occasionally wished Angela was a little more hands-on, but then she believed in throwing people in at the deep end and I rapidly learnt so much when I started working for her. I’d never forget my first day, it still made me smile. She insisted I go on the till and I ended up charging ninety-nine pounds instead of ninety-nine pence for a packet of fruit-shaped erasers.
We turned towards the hatch. Gran was knocking a teaspoon against the side of a glass. She beckoned to me. Nik stood next to her. I headed over and she pointed to my cup on counter. I collected it.
‘Do you want to sit down, Gran,’ I said, ‘whilst Nik and I share our notes?’
She nodded and went back to her chair.
‘Although first,’ said Nik, ‘we could listen to ideas anyone else has had, since we decided on the theme a couple of days ago?’
Of course. Why didn’t I think of that? He had his notebook at the ready. I bit into a shortbread round. Nik was just so thoughtful. It was strange to think I’d never have met him if I hadn’t changed seats on that aeroplane. The residents went quiet and glanced at each other. Finally Nancy adjusted the cushion behind her back in her wheelchair and moved forward a little.
‘I’ve got my old record player – still use it,’ she said.
‘I know. I regularly hear Tom Jones,’ said Glenda with a grimace.
‘I found an old Duke Ellington’s Orchestra album,’ continued Nancy, blushing. ‘I could bring my player down here.’
