The Graphologist's Apprentice by Whiti Hereaka

Author:Whiti Hereaka
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781869694593
Publisher: Huia (NZ) Ltd
Published: 2012-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Alice’s head appears at January’s shoulder.

‘I think the word you are looking for is “salmonella”.’

With a jolt, January minimises her screen. Her work pops up.

‘Hard at work, I see?’

‘I was just taking a break, Alice.’

‘You seem to have been on a break for the past week. All you do is read the paper …’

‘I like to be well informed.’

‘Well, here’s some information for you. I won’t cover for you any more, January.’

‘Cover?’

‘Yes, cover. People have noticed …’

‘What people? It’s just you and me, Alice.’

Alice walks back to her desk and leans on the cubicle divide.

‘You need to stop thinking just of yourself.’

January opens her list again as Alice lowers herself into her chair. If she knew how January’s thoughts had been occupied by other people recently would she still criticise? It is all that January has thought of since Mae threw her out. It seems like a lifetime ago: actually, precisely twenty lifetimes, according to her list. Of course there have been more – many more than the handful January has settled on – but these were the lives prominent enough that a card from a stranger would not seem out of place; prominent enough for a letter of thanks to be sent to those kind enough to send their sympathy.

She really needs to send the cards today: the names she collected earlier in the week will soon be interred; a card received then would seem a little odd. She folds her list of names and places them in her bag.

She peers over the divide. Alice has gone. Her absence makes January straighten up like an exclamation mark; if she is quick enough, perhaps Alice won’t even notice she’s gone. She is almost at the lifts when Alice appears, holding a fresh cup of coffee. The acrid smell makes January’s nose wrinkle into a sneeze.

‘Where are you off to?’

January speaks to the static image of Chairman Meow. ‘I have a few things to do.’

‘None of which are work, I guess.’

Chairman Meow’s eyes are slits, awaiting a response that she knows will be met with disapproval.

‘I won’t be long.’

‘Take as long as long as you like. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway.’

Alice’s voice is as hard as the porcelain mug that disappears from January’s view, and January is left with the same queasy feeling as drinking coffee on an empty stomach.

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