Her mouth opened and shut, slowly, as the koi lazing through warm water proffer their silent observations to delighted children on a bridge above. Like she was repeating something on the phone, or giving solemn news that she could hardly believe herself. He tried to guess what she was saying.
“–yes, collapsed, crazy I know! Everyone was incredulous, couldn’t understand why–”
A lot of hard consonants. Yet so fragile, so fragile. Her cheeks were flushed with rose, a gorgeous tinge that together with her leaping arms completed his image of a child enjoying the sunshine.
Oh, her brilliant blue eyes were stretched wide in curiosity right at him. He smiled and couldn’t help staring back as she moved around excitedly. But all so slowly. It was like he was watching her in slow motion. Slowly watching her grow more agitated. He thought she was just being silly now, trying to get his attention.
He glanced around. They were in a park. He was sitting on a bench, with the morning paper. The girl was kneeling on a tartan spread, about ten metres away, where she was having a picnic. Her friend had run to find the nearest toilet, and no one else was in sight.
So, yes, she was definitely making motions towards him. She tried to stand up but fell back on her knees; how clumsy. Now time seemed to be speeding up, she seemed to be aging and things were happening faster. The delicate pink cheeks turned to mottled red and purple, her movements were jerkier, spasmodic.
Ridiculous, the old man thought, offended by her uncouth behaviour. Why was she causing such a fuss? He collected the hearing aids from his lap, folded his paper in half to hide the half-finished sudoku, stood up and walked determinedly away.
