Ghosts

by Dolly Alderton

‘I’m fiscally conservative but socially liberal,’ he said within the first two minutes of me asking him about his job. I wouldn’t be surprised if right-leaning thirty-somethings received a script in the post to prepare them for social situations. ‘I’m not sure if I believe that really exists,’ I replied. ‘I know what you’re trying to say. But “I love the gays but don’t care about the poor” can’t be described as liberal in any sense.’ ‘I do care about the poor.’ Katherine looked across the table at us. She hated anyone talking about politics. ‘I just think that politics can’t be governed by emotion, progression happens when effective economic systems are in place.’ ‘You’re lucky,’ I said. ‘Why?’ ‘To feel unemotional about politics.’ My eyes were distracted by Katherine, who picked up her glass and put it under the table, next to her chair, and nodded at Mark. He filled it with white wine. ‘That’s a luxury.’