“Watch for the flashing light. All you have to do is open the door and shove them through the passage, quick. Stop worrying. I’ll deal with everything else.”
People flooded in. Diane took control. She held up a hand to ask for quiet, and then waved the other arm. Immediately, a holo-speaker began talking about the deceased. The tinny tonesof seventies music played.
Diane slid across and tweaked my nose. “You’re doing great.”
The flashing light stilled. The sheen door swung open. A young woman wearing a stretchy silver suit stepped out of the time-sheen.
“Good morning, madam, if you’d like to come with me,” I said shakily.
“Did you remember the fireworks?” she demanded, with hands on her hips. “I specifically requested bangers.”
“Coming up,” Diane assured. “Once you get to the viewing place.”
I led the woman through the passageway. During the short walk, she complained about the bill. I had no idea what to say.
By the time I got back to the show, fireworks were exploding, and people were fighting.
Diane held my hand tightly. “Don’t worry,” she shouted, “it’s all part of the day. She wanted to go out with a bang and a fight.”
I counted how many hours were left before I could go home.
* * * *
The customer chewed lava gum violently. “You said an hour of fireworks.”
Diane shook her head again. “No, I didn’t. You’re only allowed fifteen minutes. It’s the law. Regulations, madam. The morning went well. Everyone was devastated to say goodbye. You’re going to be very much missed. Do come again after your next death.”
The woman grumbled but eventually paid the bill andleft.
Diane locked the front doors behind her with a flourish. “Thank God, that’s over. Can we go to your favourite place? I know you’re starving.”
“Yes,” I replied weakly.
Favourite place? I wondered how she knew about my sofa at home? I was so exhausted by the morning’s events that I would’ve been happy with a nap, but my day wasn’t done until five.
“You’re doing well,” Diane kept insisting. “This afternoon, we have a free slot, so we can spend the time going over procedures.”
“Okay,” I wheezed, trying to appear suave instead of crushed. My heart was up for it, but my body wasn’t. “You’re the boss.”
“Let’s get some lunch,” Diane said.
Something I could not name hovered in the air between us. Fully expecting to ride the cables to McPortals, I hurried after her lithe form, but instead of going to the doors, she led us back to the sheen.
“In,” she nodded.
“What? We’re time-zooming?”
“Course we are. Your fav place is back in 2020.”
It was news to me.
Despite the sheen being roomy, Diane moved close and then placed an arm on either side of my head. “How’s your first day going?”
I tried to answer but had no words to explain my confusion.
“You don’t remember, do you? I was sure you’d be back by now.” She sounded disappointed. “You normally do.”
The last few minutes of the journey passed as Diane stroked my hair. I thought about the word confusion and howunsatisfactory an explanation it was for so many life events.
