Blue Notes by Anne Cathrine Bomann

Author:Anne Cathrine Bomann [Bomann, Anne Cathrine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Book*hug Press
Published: 2024-01-15T18:24:21+00:00

Thorsten

“So, how’s the writing going?” Thorsten asks.

He’d prefer not to beat around the bush, really, but Shadi was even more silent and timorous than usual during the few minutes they had to wait for Anna, so it seems like a good idea to start soft. Again, he tries to catch her eye, but her gaze is fixed on the floor, and Anna is the one who answers.

“It’s going fine,” she says. “I’m reading about the grief test. Isn’t that demanding a lot from people’s insight into themselves?”

It sounds like the classic objection to introspection, and as she keeps talking Thorsten’s mind wanders back to the favour he was planning to ask Shadi. He was taken aback, he must admit, by her sudden offer to help with the stats. He’d been quietly thinking she was the one who’d benefit from collaborating with Anna, but perhaps he underestimated her. The thing is, though, that so far, he’s marked two of her essays, and each one has been missing something. She always backs up her claims and has an unimpeachable grasp of the material, but her writing is too controlled for Thorsten’s taste. There’s a lack of reflection, of skin in the game—of life, frankly. Anna is the other way around, of course, flinging herself into her writing with a wildness that sometimes threatens to tip over. Her style is still untutored, and she would always rather speak than write. But she’s inspired. Thorsten likes to think she has the ability, like the best blues musicians, to play the scale aslant, and that’s what makes her perspective so interesting.

“Thorsten?”

He blinks and focuses sharply on the hand Anna is waving in front of his face.

“Were you even listening? You’re miles away.”

“Yes, I think I was,” he confesses, glancing sidelong at Shadi, who is fiddling with a slender golden ring. He hopes he isn’t making a mistake here. There’s nothing wrong with sharing background material or the more superficial gloss that’s in Anton’s handout, but to give his students access to the personal data underneath it is, after all, a different and more serious matter.

“Shadi,” he says, “do you remember what we talked about last time you were here? About the statistics?”

Finally she looks up.

“Do you still want to help? I know it’s outside the remit of your dissertation, but perhaps some of it could prove useful for you two as well.”

“I’d love to.”

It’s worth a study in itself, observing the transformation taking place. Her body straightens in her seat, and her eyes, which until now have been glassy, grow animated.

“Sorry,” Anna says, putting up her hand, “but is anybody going to explain to me what’s going on?”

Thorsten smiles at Shadi. It’s never been easy for Anna not to be the centre of attention. “There’s something about our grief project that’s baffled me,” he explains. “And Shadi offered to take a quick look for me. Tech stuff isn’t exactly my strong suit, you know.”

At that remark Anna gives a shout of laughter that’s a bit too loud for Thorsten’s liking.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.