After Charles, Edna moved along to the next face. “Walter”, she nodded, smiling. At the next, she grinned as she stood, before gleefully blurting out “Gordon!” and continuing along the line, clapping her hands. “Luke” was the next name she uttered and then, she came to Edward.
Edward seemed to confuse her. Whereas with the other men, Edna had seemed pleased to identify them, Ed got the distinct impression that his face was not so welcome. After a few awkward seconds, Edna patted Ed formally on the shoulder, and moved on to the women.
“The girls!” she declared, as she bobbed about on the spot excitedly. “My girls!” The old lady suddenly lost her prickliness, and bustled to the place in the line where the two women visitors stood, nervously edging together for support, feeling united in this strange circumstance, despite never having met before.
“Loveday.” The name, unusual as it was, glided off Edna’s tongue with ease, yet fell harshly on the ears of the woman in receipt of it. Loveday was not the name this woman went by.
“Er, no, sorry, er, Mrs…. Er,. That’s not my name”. The woman began.
“It most certainly is,” was the retort, as Edna’s prickliness returned now her guest dared to contradict her. “Loveday is the name I gave you. Loveday is your name.”
“Er, no. My name is Daisy.” Meekly but stoically came the response.
Edna’s face contorted with disgust. “Daisy? What are you? Are cow? Pah!” Edna turned and returned to her chair, sat down and steamed for a bit. She was visibly cross and upset. Soon, though, she regained her composure and returned to Daisy, who was now trembling.
The old lady struggled for a moment to get her words out – it seemed she felt bad about being so harsh just then. She sucked her tongue a few times, licked her lips and hovered sheepishly in front of Daisy, unsure how she should proceed. Eventually, Edna tentatively reached out an arm, and awkwardly patted Daisy on the shoulder.
“Please excuse me,” she began. “I am just so pleased to see you – all of you” she gestured at the line-up. “But you must realise – all these years, I have known you as I left you. Names and all. “Edna stood as straight as her crooked back would allow, and shut her eyes.
Edward.
Walter.
Charles.
Luke.
Gordon.
Loveday.
Hope.
The seven people in the room shivered in unison as the old lady spoke their names. By calling them out, one by one, it was almost as if a direct electrical connection had been made. All at once, years of absence, hurt, confusion, longing and mystery surged into the room, buried deep for decades. Edna, however, seemed to gain nothing but strength from this encounter, and appeared to stand taller by the second. When she opened her eyes, her green piercing eyes, she saw a challenge in each and every matching set that gazed back at her. Tell us, the eyes said. Tell us why we are here.
So she did.