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Mother has a habit of leaning against the side of the living room and watching the pond and garden outside. The breeze floats by; her hair would ruffle as would the veldt grasses.
I’m sweeping down the floor. There’s not much point, I’ll concede, given that no more of her students come by, but Mother likes to dream and I like to tell her there is hope. It’s okay if I miss some spots. The townspeople stay away these days and hardly leave behind gifts, but if it gets too messy around here, I’m sure Mother will remember the old days.
Like clockwork, Mother gets to her feet and stretches. I can hear the crack in her back. It’s a different joint than usual. “I’m going to the washroom,” she says, and as she leaves I strain my ears to hear if she is crying.
With the floor mostly done, I return the low table, the cushions, and the rug back to where they belong, in the centre of the room. I leave to make a pot of tea; the kettle hisses, and I take it off the stove. By the time I’m bringing the teapot and some cups back to the living room, Mother has returned and made herself at ease.
“You’re too kind to me,” she says and accepts her cup. We drink in silence, before Mother asks, like she usually does, “How is the woman you’re living with these days?”
“Ahu’az is doing well,” I allow, as always. Mother likes to hear stories, so I tell her, “Recently she got into a fight with an old friend, but it will all work out in due time.”
“An old friend?”
“He was in town for some business, so they thought to catch up,” I tell her. “They had a minor disagreement.”
“It wouldn’t be good for her to lose her friends, I didn't think she had that many.”
“Just five or six, from the old days; growing up and school and the like. But it isn’t hard to make new friends, these days. Ahu’az liked this one family we met the other day.”
“Still,” Mother says, “it wouldn’t do to lose those with whom you already have a deep connection.”
“Of course. I am confident they will work it out.”
Mother smiles. “That’s good. And, Yako, why don’t you bring her over sometime? It would be nice to see an old student after all this time; hardly any one visits these days.”
“I’ll let her know. But—why don’t you come visit us? Surely it will be more lively, and you can meet everyone else as well.”
She turns to look back out the open door. What she sees, I’m not sure; perhaps, Mother too, had found something belonging to only her senses. At last, she says, “I think it would be best if I stay here. I’ll miss it too much.”
“Good visit?” Wauke asks once I am buckled in the passenger seat. I open the glove compartment and take a sip of Kashu.
“Well enough. Mother won’t come to visit.” Technically speaking, Wauke doesn’t need to come pick me up, but I appreciate the effort nonetheless. “Do you need this?”
“You think she’ll survive, is that why?” He takes the proffered bottled water. Sets it down once done, starts the car. The concession of the turn signals turning off on this beaten-down abandoned car has always been rather pleasing to the ear.
“Ahu’az wouldn’t kill my mother.”
“You think?” When I don’t answer, he says, “To be honest, I’ve never understood your relationship with Ahu’az.”
“You don’t need to.”
“Didn't Yon die because she put Alula’s human form above Ahu’az herself? Yet, she comes nowhere near to where you hold your mother. I’m surprised, is all. No need to be defensive.”
“Was I? I see.” It would be bizarre for Ahu’az to claim ownership, I think. If anything, it would be the opposite. “I’m sure she would have gotten here eventually, but as it is now, Ahu’az is only this capable because of what I have done.”
“These creatures follow neither logic nor sentimentalism. Surely, you know that, Yako.” His tone his chiding. It is odd. It has been a long time since anyone has tried to teach me, as well.
“If Ahu’az had my mother, certainly it would be easier for her to count on me. Not that we have any strife now.”
“Isn’t that logic?” Wauke laughs to himself. “Maybe I’m just trying to tell you to be careful.”
“They are thinking creatures,” I say. “It is cute how they try, isn’t it?”