Part 9

Outside, the clouds gave way to the sun once again, and light came in through the frosted window and over Harper’s face. Lee looked back and put his hand on the translucent plastic.

“She looks peaceful.”

“Yes,” said the custodian. “We do the best we can. This is hard on people.”

Lee’s lips quivered as he wanted to take the death back like we take back the cruelties we tell those we love, their secrets turned against them, the poisoned wishes, the undeserved curses from the spawn of frustration and anger. Here he stood like a heartless mongrel unable to reverse the moment.

“Do you think you can add nail polish?”

“Of course. We will. We are ready for tomorrow.”

Suddenly the green tiles felt oppressive. The emerald colour pressed against him.

“Okay. Thank you. I think we are done here.”

The custodian nodded and they walked outside.

***

Andy was smoking by the cab. They got in, and the cab took them to Lee’s in silence.

In the cul-de-sac, the naked trees bowed over the road, and then a modern house in its grey-and-black colour and geometric glory appeared with vast windows and grey, concrete walls surrounded by angular rocks with river stones in between and patches of elephant grass now dry, broken, and dead. A cold wind blew.

They walked to the large front door, and the house opened into a vast space with grey granite floors and grey concrete walls. On the other side of the vast room stood a fireplace and a black staircase. Black steel beams crossed the ceiling, and a large glass wall showed a garden with more angular rocks and more elephant grass.

“How very ‘angular,’” said Andy.

“Yes, it is.”

“You bought this house?”

“I built this house.”

“Wow! Really? Are you an architect?”

“Engineer.”

“That is very, very cool.”

“Thank you. Make yourself comfortable. There is some food in the fridge. I’m going to get my suit for the funeral.”

Andy looked at Lee.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“To get the suit? Yes. Otherwise? No.”

“I’ll be here if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Andy.”

Andy walked under the steel crossbeams into the vast white kitchen. In the fruit tray, someone built a red-green-and-white Rubik’s Cube from cubes of glazed ceramic fruit. Andy opened the fridge and saw its contents immaculately organized: all jars from the same manufacturer, all aligned one behind the next, transparent containers of same size, aligned; vegetables cleaned, cut, and stored in matching containers, aligned; sodas and juice in cartons, aligned. They grabbed a Fanta and a container of clumpy white mush that turned out to be a chicken salad. They pulled a drawer open: napkins and napkin rings and small bowls, aligned. They opened the next: spoons, forks, knives, teaspoons, and chopsticks laid out one next to the next and the drawer lining moulded specifically for the set. They pulled a pair of chopsticks. Before they left the kitchen, they ran their finger over the ceramic fruits and turned the corner piece to a 45-degree angle.

Sitting on the low grey couch, they opened the container, ate the salad and drank the soda while outside, the elephant grass bleached by frost bent under the wind.

Lee returned with a small suitcase. He pushed a wall tile by the fireplace and a bar opened.

“Did I say how very cool this house is?”

“Yes, you have. What would you like to drink?”

“Peachy Keen.”

“That does sound like a girl’s drink.” Lee smiled. “And I don’t know what that is. How about a grown-up drink?”

“Like what?”

“A whisky.”

“Yuck!”

“You’ll get used to it – once you grow up.” smiled Lee. He poured two glasses, handed one to Andy, and sat next to him. They lit cigarettes and stared into the garden.

“Why is everything here so angular, so organized?”

“Harper’s obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.”

“Is that like organizing everything?”

“Yes. Everything needs to be perfect, organized, controlled. Otherwise, you might lose your mind.”

“Did she work?”

“Adjunct Professor of Geometry.”

Andy laughed. Lee laughed. They laughed. Lee drank. Andy sniffed the drink.

“This smells like a wet bonfire.”

Lee sniffed the drink. “You have a good nose. This is what grown men drink. You’ll learn to like it.”

“I’m a girl.”

“I forgot. This is what adults drink, then.”

Lee sipped his drink. Andy followed.