Page 9 of The Wish
‘Well, the marketing guys tells us “Tri” incorporates 3D, suggesting seeing things in a new dimension, “Optics”, light, and together they convey creativity alongside technology.’
The four teenagers all burst out laughing and Kelly looks highly amused.
‘Did you have to learn that in case someone asked about the name?’ Amy asks, still giggling.
Alex allows himself a small smile. ‘Yeah, we did, actually. How did I do?’
‘Gold star!’ Luke says.
The teenagers relax a little bit and their expressions soften. ‘OK, we get the picture. So, what’s your experience with teenagers, girls in particular?’ Amy goes on.
‘Amy,’ Kelly says sternly, ‘that’s not appropriate.’
But Jesse has buried her face in a pillow, stifling laughter.
‘It’s all right,’ Alex says. He can feel his face turning red. ‘Ah, none, I have none, no experience with girls.’
‘What, you’ve never had a girlfriend?’ Amy throws at him.
‘That’s enough, Amy,’ Kelly says. ‘You three are coming with me. Let’s leave Jesse to tell Alex what she needs in peace.’
Kelly, Amy and the boys depart, leaving the door ajar behind them. With their departure, the atmosphere becomes less frantic and a lot more serious. To help compose himself, he wanders over to a pinboard on the wall next to Jesse’s bed.
He feels Jesse’s eyes on him as he studies the photos carefully: Jesse, pretty as a picture, long, light brown hair, building sandcastles on the beach with who he presumes are her parents and a younger brother.A perfect nuclear family, Alex thinks ruefully. Something he’s never known. Jesse racing on an athletic track, out in front, hair streaming behind her. Jesse standing on a small podium with two other girls, a gold medal around her neck. Jesse in a ballet leotard, her hair piled tightly on top of her head. Jesse with her father, cheeks touching, eyesclosed, sharing headphones. Jesse and her brother lying on their stomachs painting on one piece of paper. Jesse with her mother dressed up at a formal event.
‘Your family?’ he asks, turning back to face Jesse.
‘Yep.’
‘You’re an athlete?’
‘I was.’
‘And a dancer?’
‘Was.’
‘Is there anything you can’t do?’
‘Get better. That’s why you’re here.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ Alex’s voice breaks. Are those tears welling up in his eyes? He needs to pull himself together, but he can’t. He takes a step backwards as if to leave.
‘You can come closer, you know; you won’t catch it from me.’
Alex nudges the chair beside her bed a little further away before sitting down.
‘Can you tell me what you want from me, please? No one has filled me in on the wish, on what it actually is.’
‘I don’t think anyone really gets what I want. I’ve talked to Kelly about it, and I think she’s trying to understand, but I can tell she doesn’t reallygetit. I need someone who can not only build my wish but who sees my vision. Does that make sense?’
Alex nods. He’s in safer waters. This is something he comes across in his daily work.
‘You want a proof of concept.’
‘A what of what?’
Alex grins. ‘A proof of concept. It’s like a plan of how to build something. So, in my line of work, someone might come to me saying, “I want a game where all the possums in the world turn into zombies.”’
