in absentia

– what did we end up getting?
– um – well everything i suppose, there are nine of us
– i was thinking penne with duck
– for mains?
– entrée
– hmmm – that would be good
– what about mains?
– small things
– small things?
– nine people, young ones, i think it’s a small things kind of evening
– i think you’re right, Durban
– small things it is
– i’ll get some of that antipasto ready for everyone
– i think i’ll start on the duck then – was it organic?
– no they didn’t have them, but it should be alright, considering what we paid for it
Vitoria speaks to them from the other side of the bar
– anything i can do?
– aah – i think we’ll be alright for now
Moscow replies
– although…
Durban adds, and the two men look at each-other
– did you get me everything?
Vitoria asks
they smile at her
– can i use the bar then?
– yeah we should be alright with the centre bench here, it’s big enough
the three of them move about the kitchen gathering food items, implements and dishes
– did you remember my strawberries?
Vitoria asks
– yeah yeah, it’s all there
the kitchen is stocked with cookery and crockery, as are the linen cupboards with bed-sheets, blankets and doonas
it’s the kind of apartment where everything is chosen and supplied from the beginning
– small pot
no-one responds
– small pot?
– um
– small pot…
– um um – crap – no here they are
they work themselves up to their normal pace
at first there is hesitance in their actions
like an itch, they wish to speak about other things
eventually they settle into the rhythm of preparing and cooking food
Moscow takes a large platter and begins laying out the antipasto
Durban pauses for a moment, leans backwards and looks at the platter
– looks good
– thanks

Riyadh doesn’t know how it’s happened
but somehow the remaining six people are engaged in conversation, herself included
there had been slight flurry of activity, sorting out clothing and personal item storage
some vague plan for sleeping arrangements
then eventually they had ended up gravitating to the large main living-room
though they all sat roughly in the same area, the couches closest to the kitchen, Riyadh noticed that there were two main conversation groups
Seoul, Cardiff and Cairo spoke together, while Melbourne, Auckland and herself formed the second group
reflecting back over the room sorting that had taken place, Cairo and Auckland had subtly kept them moving and talking
they are distracting us, she thinks
it feels in no way patronising, but it is disorienting
she knows that they haven’t seen each-other in a long time, but thoughts of their present situation linger in her own mind
it’s so natural though, she ponders, they are enjoying this time
they want us to enjoy it
perhaps there was something in the way of their last opportunity for joy
– but this is often the case,
Auckland says to them
– it isn’t just something limited to younger people – people in general perform countless actions that are a part of cultural behavioural patterns…
and it’s so strange
so strange to hear someone speaking their language
she and Melbourne listen intently and respond when they want to
being in school had taught them to keep their articulation to themselves, learning to speak like school kids as their peers and the adults around them expected
but Auckland doesn’t hold back
he seems so much older than them, yet he doesn’t treat them like children
he doesn’t even treat them like teenagers, or how others had treated them as teenagers
yet at the same time he uses certain language forms that are almost native to them
– exactly – that’s why it’s particularly shithouse on the people’s side
Melbourne had seemed quite fragile earlier
perhaps that is why she welcomes the distraction so openly
– but isn’t it something everyone would do, regardless of their awareness? i mean in school there are always pro-active philosophies among the student-body…
– and those active in the teaching body too remember
Riyadh adds
– yeah, so here are all of these structures of social behaviour contributing to the overall dynamic of the school as a whole…
and they don’t fear understanding the discussion in their own context
they might have thought the subject of school life to provide only a minimal basis for discussion, but Auckland takes it seriously
then at times he transposes their thoughts into areas of life that he himself has experienced
– in Naples the entire business and political cultures have formed in much the same way…
in-between whatever it is Vitoria does, she comes over to listen in, often speaking to Seoul
Seoul doesn’t smile often, but she always seems slightly happier when Vitoria is there
– that’s the thing though,
Riyadh says, again catching the discussion Auckland and Melbourne are having
– the illusion is that generational differences enact change by default, when that is rarely if ever the case
and Auckland smiles
– i couldn’t have said it better myself
his subtle delight is genuine
and for some reason, it makes Riyadh feel proud

– antipasto!
Moscow shouts from the kitchen and brings out platter he had worked on, placing it on one of the coffee tables between the couches
– gees – presentation Moscow
Auckland says as he takes some prosciutto
– you know we’re only going to destroy it
Cairo adds
– it doesn’t matter – as long as i get to see it once before it goes, i’m happy
he takes an olive and returns to the kitchen
outside as the evening grows darker, it begins to rain

Cardiff speaks with confidence, but there is still an air of caution about his manner
– well no, i was already in a foster home then
both of the women nod
some of the group must have had similar experiences
– i was twelve when i was placed with a foster family
Cairo says
– i’d worked on their bank accounts to accelerate transactions – i didn’t like clearing periods then as i knew there was no reason for them
– so they yanked you?
– well, there were other things. the work i did back then was fairly low level, but it left an impression on the banks
– yeah i bet – and the feds too
Cairo nods
– my parents i think felt ashamed of the attention, it was too much for them. of-course the federal police are more than happy to accommodate placing talented children where they can be watched
it’s strange hearing someone so much older than him talking about life as a coder
Cardiff had always figured it was something young people did, that the ice really was too tight, and that there wasn’t much worth doing in there
these people though at some point or other had made a living out of it – it’s all still unclear
– did you have foster parents?
Cardiff looks at Seoul
– no i lived with my parents until they died. they were very understanding though
– hey you know how people say they’re sorry? like, sorry i brought it up and stuff? i mean, it’s not a good thing that your parent’s died but i hate it when people say that
– that’s perfectly fine, Cardiff. i wouldn’t want you to be anything less than yourself. i imagine like Cairo, you’ve been through several homes?
– just left the sixth because of all of this. they weren’t bad i suppose, best out of them all so far anyway
– hmm,
Seoul muses
– we all seem to grow up without our parents
– it’s like that though isn’t it? i mean, we hang around those places you know, where some of the lamers buzz around the consoles and systems – all of them were in foster homes or out living with other guys
– i think that’s pretty much the case here,
Cairo responds
– though i think Moscow was close to his mother. he used to call her once in a while
she turns her head to look at him in the kitchen
– do you still keep in touch with your ma, Moscow?
he answers without stopping what he’s doing
– yeah of-course – last time i spoke to her was um… three weeks ago. she’s well, says hi.
Vitoria asks him a question about it, Durban joins the conversation
– doesn’t that sort-of present some kind of… risk or something?
Cardiff asks
– not really
Seoul replies
– if you wanted to, could you make a call and make sure it couldn’t be logged?
– yeah i suppose, but i mean someone savvy enough could probably find it
– it’s a little different for us. we’re very good at what we do. sometimes i doubt we’d be able to find any trace at all of some of the things we’ve done
Cairo smiles again
Cardiff has never had much in the way of parents, or been exposed to other people’s parents, but he feels something motherly about the way Cairo carries herself
it’s all at once comforting and disconcerting at the same time
all of the people her age he’d ever met were either teachers, welfare reps or federal police
while he’d had kind teachers before, he’d never felt the kind of warmth Cairo seemed to have for everyone around her
these people are hard to read
they seem to be so genuinely nice to each-other
what they do have though, is great taste in food
he is happy to let the aromas coming from the kitchen erase his concerns
at least until after dinner

by now the rain falls steadily outside
striking the windows quietly and returning to the city a watery glow wherever it is lit by street-lamps and ad-screens
Auckland joins Vitoria to lay out the table and the two girls join Cardiff
they speak briefly until everything is ready, then everyone sits down at the table bar Durban and Moscow who stand at the end closest to the kitchen
Durban takes his wine-glass and fork and strikes them together lightly
– i would like to dedicate this meal to those who can’t be with us
Cardiff looks around the table, as do Melbourne and Riyadh
aside from each-other, everyone else closes their eyes
– it’s great that we’re together, i don’t think i’ve felt this happy in years – let’s hope that wherever they are, they share in this happiness
in their minds, each person present silently mourns the absence of their friends
but their hearts warm to Durban’s optimistic words
– well said
Moscow compliments him
– reds and whites on the table – entrée is pasta, you might want to start with white
they pour the wine into their glasses, including the children
when all glasses are filled, they stand

Durban lifts his glass and stares at it for a moment
the children’s eyes move about, shifting from person to person
Seoul looks down at the table
Moscow stares down at his own glass
Vitoria relaxes her focus and takes in the sight of everyone
Cairo and Auckland stare at each-other
the sound of rain

inhale
– to Kyoto
pause
– to Venice
pause
exhale