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“They’re eleven years old.”
“In that case, no.”
She gives me a wry look. “I mean, you’d have to pitch it pretty low. It’s not like a careers day at high school. It’s more about the field you work in, you know, um, what it’s like to work with computers, and, um…”
“So you don’t want me to give a detailed comparison between Java and Python coding then?”
“Oh yeah,” Finn says.
Missie narrows her eyes at me. “I just can’t see you being all cutesy with primary school kids, that’s all.”
“What do you mean? I’m very cute,” I say, and Finn giggles.
She purses her lips. “Well… if you’re sure…”
I look at Finn, whose eyes beg me to say yes. I’m sure he was probably a popular kid at the school, and now he’s been redefined as the boy in the wheelchair. I’m touched that he’s talked to his mates about me. And that’s when I get a lightbulb moment.
“I’ve got an idea,” I say to Finn. “How would you like me to bring THOR into your classroom, and you can give a demonstration of how it works?”
Finn’s jaw drops, and Missie’s eyebrows rise.
“Would that be embarrassing?” I ask him. “Or do you think it would be cool?”
“It would becool as,” he says breathlessly. “Do you mean it?”
“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t. But it’s up to Miss Macbeth here.”
She’s too astounded to smile at my use of her name. “Alex, you can’t possibly bring your valuable equipment into school.” That makes me laugh, and her lips curve up. “You know what I mean,” she scolds. “I’m glad I made you laugh, though.”
I give her an amused look. “We actually have six THOR units. They’re easily transportable, because we knew we’d need to be able to take them into the hospital.”
“But you know what kids are like—I’d hate for it to get damaged.”
“I’ll bring Henry. He can stand guard. It’ll be cool for the kids to see what Finn has to go through. And maybe give them an understanding into disability and the advances we’re making with technology.”
She hesitates. “Well… if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay. So we’ll say eight-thirty next Thursday, ready for a nine a.m. start?”
“Yep, sounds good.”
She helps Finn into his wheelchair, and I pick up Zelda and watch the two of them leave and go down the corridor. I lean back in my chair with the pup on my chest, and let her clamber up and lick my chin, her tiny tongue rasping on my stubble.
“Good girl,” I murmur, ruffling her floppy ears. “Am I crazy, Zelda?” She sneezes, and I sigh. “Yeah, I thought so.”
*
The following Thursday, I pull up in the van outside the front of Missie’s primary school, and Henry and I go into the lobby. We’re just signing the visitor’s book at reception and getting our stickers when Missie comes out, looking a tad flustered.
“Hello,” she says. I know she normally wears trousers to work because she’s often sitting on the carpet with the kids or out doing PE with them, but today she’s wearing a pretty light-blue dress with a daisy pattern. It’s early November and the weather is very spring-like, but she brings a touch of summer to the bright day.
“Where’s Zelda?” she asks.
“I’ve left her with James. Are you okay?” She looks anxious.
“Change of plan,” she says nervously.
