Klara and the Sun

by Kazuo Ishiguro

When she pulled away, she was smiling, but I could see also some sadness.

‘I guess you may not be here when I get back. You’ve been just great, Klara. You really have.’ ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘Thank you for choosing me.’ ‘No-brainer.’ Then she gave me a second hug, this one more brief, and stood back again. ‘Bye, Klara. You be good now.’ ‘Goodbye, Josie.’ She waved cheerfully once more as she was getting into the car

Over the last few days, some of my memories have started to overlap in curious ways.

hear his unkind words

Were they unkind?

I remain conscious of their rough borders – such as might have been created by an impatient child tearing with her fingers instead of cutting with scissors

Even so, such composite memories have sometimes filled my mind so vividly, I’ve forgotten for long moments that I am, in reality, sitting here in the Yard, on this hard ground.

The wide sky means I’m able to watch the Sun’s journeys unimpeded, and even on cloudy days, I’m always aware of where he is above me.

I thought when I first came here that the Yard was untidy, but I’ve now come to appreciate its good order.

due to many of the objects here having in themselves an untidy identity – with the remains of severed cables protrud...

so that a visitor walking down the long passages that have been created in this way – even if that visitor must be careful not to trip on a rod or wire – will be able to take in the objects one by one.

and I thought for a moment they might be Rick’s birds sent to observe me. Of course they weren’t Rick’s birds, but natural ones, and they remained calmly perched on the machinery for some time, not moving at all, even as the wind ruffled their coats.

a kind yardman stopped in front of me and told me there were three AFs on the South Side, and two in the Ring. If I wished, he said, he could transport me to one or the other of these

I told him I was content with my special spot, and he nodded ...

I can turn my head easily to see everything around me. So I’d been aware for some time of the long-coated visitor moving behind me.

Then I heard a sound and the long-coated visitor was standing there before me. And even before she crouched down to look at my face, I recognized Manager, and happiness filled my mind.

‘Klara. It is Klara, isn’t it?’

‘Klara. How wonderful. Just a moment. Let me bring something to sit on.’

Once, oh, almost a year ago now, I found something here in this yard, and I thought for a moment it was you, Klara. But it wasn’t. But this time it’s definitely you. I’m so glad.’

She went on smiling at me. Then she said: ‘I wonder what you can be thinking just now. To see me again after all this time. It must be so confusing.’

‘I feel only happiness to see Man...

Have you all this time – until you came here, I mean – have you all this time been with the peopl...

but I no longer have easy access to such...

I was with Josie all the time. Until she we...

‘So it was successful. A succe...

‘Yes. I believe I gave good service and prevented Josie fro...

I’m sure she barely knew the meaning of loneliness...

Of all the AFs I looked after, you were certainly one of the most remarkable. You had such unusual insight. And observational abilities. I noticed it right away. I’m so glad to hear it all went well. Because you...

Manager still look after AFs?’ ‘No. Oh, no. That finished some time ago.’ She glanced around the Yard, then smiled at me again. ‘That’s why I like to come here from time to time. I sometimes go to the ya...

Manager come … just to look for AFs fr...

I like to collect little souvenirs.’ She indicated her pouch bag. ‘They don’t allow us to take anything substantial. But smaller things, they don’t mind. The workers here know me. But you’re right. Whenever...

‘Did you ever come across Rosa?’ ‘Rosa? Yes, actually I did. I found her here, oh, it must be at least two years ago. Things didn’t go as well for Rosa as they did for you.’ ‘So she didn’t like her teenager?’ ‘It wasn’t so much th...

I hope your child came to app...

Everyone in the house was very kind to me. I was able to lea...

The lady testing you first, asking you to walk like the daughter. It made me worry. After you lef...

It was the best home for me. And Josie was the...

Manager, for a moment, remained silent, gazing at...

‘I did all I could to do what was best for Josie. I’ve thought about it many times now. And if it had become necessary, I’m sure I could have continued Josie. But it’s much better the way it tur...

But what do you mean, “continue Josie”? Wha...

I’m glad you feel things worked out for the best.’

That’s why I think now Mr Capaldi was wrong and I wouldn’t have succeeded. So I’m glad I decided as I did.’

‘I’m sure that’s right, Klara. It’s what I always want to hear when I come across my AFs again. That you’re glad about how it all went. That you have no regrets.