A Year and a Day: Book Four: Autumn

by Jamie P. Barker

Am I in control? I’m flying high across the sea and I’m happier than I’ve ever been. Am I in control? Well, let's see. I dive. I wanted to do that. I’m rocketing down towards the sea. I’ll crash if I don't level out, but that wouldn't be so bad. I level out inches above the tallest waves. I knew I was moving fast when at altitude, but from down here… wow, it’s clearly supersonic. I want to look behind me and see the gigantic wake I’m leaving but rearing up ahead are the cliffs at Grosnez. Up. I’m high over St Ouen and I gently come to a halt. I’m floating just below the cloud canopy. I can spin around. I can see the vehicles on the roads below me moving ever so slowly. I can see the sea surrounding the island, the white caps appearing and disappearing. I know up close the sea’s a boiling and violent soup, but from here it appears gentle. I look around. I spot St Ouen's Church. A landmark. I follow the main road until I find the car park. I find the Cadillac and not looking away I dive down through the door. Inside I’m staring at the office door. I seem to be getting closer to the door although I’m no longer moving. The door is moving towards me. The door is pulsing, vibrating. I stare harder. I can hear music. The door is vibrating to the beat. The beat is growing and I’m at the door when it bursts open and Enrique is there wearing his 3D glasses and singing in foreign. He's doing a dance which was a bit like drumming, a bit like riding a horse, a bit like lassoing. He’s up on his toes and moving towards me. Always towards me. I move back. I’m pushed back by the intensity of Enrique's singing and dancing. I’m in the car park. Enrique is somehow on the roof, still singing and dancing at me with maximum gusto. I run back into the shop and he’s there dancing and Paula is next to him and dancing in a similar fashion. They come towards me. I summon wind, a hurricane, and it blows in their faces but still they advance.

314 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2020