Mindslip by Tony Harmsworth

Author:Tony Harmsworth [Harmsworth, Tony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Geoff receives welcome news and a strange visitor

We got home. Sandra shot upstairs in a flash with her books and panda, left them in the safety of her room and came down again to watch television while I put away the shopping. I checked the fridge for something to make for dinner.

‘Minced beef, Sands?’ I shouted through to the lounge. I wanted to cook early in case of power cuts.

‘Yes, Mummy,’ she replied then quickly, ‘Zorry, Daddy. I meant Daddy.’

‘It’s okay, Sandra.’

Where were Caroline and Wilson? It was the not knowing which was so hard.

As the onions sizzled, the news came on. It was worse than ever. The deaths for the United Kingdom alone were now close to five million. Many had taken their own lives, presumably finding themselves in bodies within which they were not prepared to learn to live. The number of animals corralled with human transferees was also more than two million, and there were television debates about it. Would it be possible to rehabilitate someone who was now a sheep, cow, fox, or dog? It seemed hopeless.

Trade and commerce showed signs of returning to normal and there was optimism that most industries would be virtually unaffected in the long run, although we were warned there could be lean times and shortages ahead.

The Home Secretary had announced special classes for those who’d had sex change transfers to better understand their bodies, how to dress and care for themselves. It was not a secret this was primarily for the men who’d become women as most women had adapted to their new day-to-day behaviour more easily than men.

Sandra laid the table and we ate together. I always liked to have family evening meals at the table, and now it also gave me a chance to get my daughter to behave in a more adult manner. Elbows off the table; don’t talk with your mouth full; don’t bolt your food; mind you don’t spill it; use your knife and your fork; mind you don’t spill your drink; put your drink on the right, not the left; sit up straight; stop fidgeting. All the corrections seemed unim-portant individually, but they made up part of being an adult. Gosh, this was going to be difficult!

The telephone rang.

‘Can you stack the dishwasher, Sandra, please?’ She nodded as I grabbed the handset.

‘Arnold,’ I said.

‘Ah, is it Mrs Arnold of Walnut Tree Close? ’

‘Yes.’ What was the point of telling him I was male?

‘Good. Do you have a son called Wilson Arnold?’

‘Yes, yes. Have you found him?’ I asked excitedly.

‘We have. He is in the embassy in Kigali, and we’re arranging his return to the UK.’

‘Kigali? Excuse my ignorance. I know the name, but remind me where is it?’

‘Rwanda.’

‘ Rwanda! Is he okay?’

‘Yes. It seems so.’

‘He’s nine. Is he the same age and sex?’

‘Yes, well, almost. He’s a boy, and he’s about eleven as far as we know, but we can’t be certain about his age.’

‘Wonderful news. He was nine so not too bad from the age point of view.

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