Page 31 of The Time of My Afterlife

I rub my shoulder, and that nagging thought about Mary’s book comes back to me. ‘Well, Pearl has been asking me to read Mary’s book, and I keep putting it off.’

She writes ‘Mary’s book’ under my name. ‘That’s an easy one for you.’

I stare at the board, and my mind leaps into action. ‘Reading a book doesn’t sound like much of a test – does it? That’s not going to change much.’

Florence glances at me. ‘What do you mean?’

I remember Iris sounding like a teacher who took joy in giving out extra-hard homework. In school, Mr Beaver was happiest when assigning us the most challenging maths problems he could find. ‘We need to do the hard or difficult things. That’s the change they want to see.’

Florence lets out a groan and shakes her head. ‘Really?’

‘That’s how we pass,’ I say. ‘We must choose something we don’t want to do because we think it will be too much of a challenge.’

‘There is something I’ve been putting off,’ she says, fiddling with the top of her marker.

‘Which is?’

‘I need to make friends with Jane next door and find out why she’s emotional and always hiding in her car. I’ve been avoiding that.’

I nod as she writes ‘Jane’ in her column.

‘I can’t believe you don’t know your next-door neighbour.’

She scowls at me. ‘We’re not all like you.’

‘What do you mean – friendly?’

She shakes her head with disapproval and taps at my column. ‘What thing do you not want to do other than read that book?’

I think back to my conversation with Pearl. ‘Tracking down Pearl’s mysterious true love. She hated her husband and has always said that she married the wrong man.’

Florence takes a step back and admires the board. ‘Tracking down her true love sounds to me like the right direction – reuniting two lost souls.’

I feel a flurry of excitement, mingled with optimism, in my chest. ‘Florence, that makes total sense. That sort of task does sound celestial. I’ve been avoiding helping Pearl as I fear what I might find.’

She casts me a worried look. ‘Her mystery true love could be dead.’

‘Or seriously ill?’

‘Or living on the other side of the world?’

Florence writes ‘Pearl’s true love’ under my name. ‘Do you think you can find out who this long-lost love of Pearl’s is?’

I shrug. ‘I don’t have a choice. We need to get this stupid task done. Frustratingly, I’ve asked her before, but she refused to share his details, despite my suggestions to search for him online – she seems to hope he will find her.’

‘Tracking down this mystery man doesn’t feel like a quick test,’ Florence muses. ‘I mean, it doesn’t feel like something you could do in twenty-four hours.’

‘You’re right. But we don’t have any more options. I will also have to read the book tonight as a backup.’

She nods. ‘Tomorrow after work, I’ll see if I can speak with Jane.’

‘You could invite her in for a coffee?’

My suggestion makes her roll her eyes. ‘Clark, if I want your help in making friends with my next-door neighbour, I will ask you.’

I shrug. ‘I see Jack in the street. If you must know, Jane loves coffee.’

‘I can sort out my own task,’ she snaps. ‘Close the door on your way out.’