If you see Freddik can you ask him to give this back to Suzy?
She handed him something that looked like a bundle of olive-green canvas.
What is it?
She tsks. Kneelers; for the garden. I borrowed them. Have a good time she said, patting his large, freckled hand and turning to go.
And then, stopping: Wanna plant tulips, Max?
Sure, Barb.
Sure, Barb, Helmand mimicked from inside the vehicle, with as much schoolyard effeminacy as he could muster. He watched them disappear from the rear-view mirror: the black so black that it glistened, in the sun. The crook of elbow held out for his wife. Which she took.
When the car had backed out of the driveway, and was about 2 blocks down Haverstock Road, it received something from the ether. Told him he had a new reminder queued, and would he like to review it.
Play, said Helmand.
Message from, Maximus: “You know, I heard that.” End of reminder. Would you like to, hear the message again; change plans, or, re-route?
Helmand thought for a moment, his aged mind in a temporary fog. He’d been expecting a list of groceries or a reminder to pick up milk. At last he latched on to the meaning:
Sure, Barb.
Oh.
Yeah well, he grumbled to no one in particular, I said it loud enough.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand you. Would you like to, hear the message again; change plans, or, re–
No! Christ. No.
Okay. We will arrive at our destination in, 7 minutes.
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