Chapter 12
James: I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You
So yes, it’s definitely a séance. Amy and most of her friends from the crematorium are seated at the table, and somehow she must have even convinced her best friend Elle to be there. I need to get onto this app right now.
I see what Daphne meant about this app being less than intuitive.
Okay, so maybe that’s the menu. Yep, that’s given me a drop-down: Audio, Visual, Dream – so these seem to be the different types of message format you can use.
Which one to go with? What on earth does a visual message look like to Amy?
That could be full-on scary for her, I mean, is she going to freak out if it’s some kind of apparition of me?
Or what if that weird animal avatar appears?
Oh, I didn’t mean to press that. Hopefully that didn’t actually send an image.
They’re starting to call out for spirits, oh jeez they’re calling out for a spirit called James to make contact.
That’ll probably be me then. Unlikely to be more than one James for this small group.
Did they just say Harrington? Okay, definitely me.
Shit. I need to respond somehow. I need to let Amy know I’m all right.
I’ll just have to choose something and hope for the best. I’ll try Audio.
So now the options are Message, Tune, Memory.
I’m going for Message. I need to speak a message to send.
But what am I meant to say. Shit. Did I already press record?
Hope not. Okay let’s try this. ‘Amy, please know that I am fine. I love you.’ Hmm, that came out a bit more high-pitched than I’d expected.
I normally have a fairly deep voice, but that was definitely on the squeaky side.
It’s that bloody avatar, it’s putting me off.
Let’s see if the message gets through. I don’t know how hard it is for it to be picked up at the other end.
And does it go straight through to Amy, or does it have to go via the medium, who looks like she’s already knocking on the door of this place?
It doesn’t seem to be reaching Elsie. Okay, maybe I did something wrong. I’ll send it again.
I’m messaging that things are all good here. I’m even going so far as to suggest that it’s time she moved on. Which is painful, for sure. The last thing I feel like doing is watching her get together with another guy. But if I’m honest, isn’t that what she needs?
Right, this seems to be working. The medium seems to be getting something finally.
Ahh no, that’s not right. Nooo. Really? Who the hell is this Laurence guy? That’s not a message from your wife. That was my message to Amy.
Now it looks like there’s a queue for messages getting through.
I guess this is why you don’t hear of people communicating with the dead much.
It’s really not that easy. I guess while I’m waiting I can try to get rid of that avatar, find something slightly more sensible.
On the other hand, it does kind of resemble a raccoon, and it does seem to be making Amy think of Marvel and Rocket.
So maybe that’ll make her realise I am here and trying to make contact.
I have the added problem of having to compete with others too.
Really, you’d think some of what they’re saying could wait.
Jeez, was that thing about the watch really urgent?
I’ve got important stuff to say here. Ah, finally, I’m getting another turn.
Here goes. No, no, no. That’s not what I said.
Is it really too much to ask that they’d found a medium who can actually hear?
Right, think solutions. There must be a way to turn up the volume and brightness in this app.
Then maybe there’s a chance something might get through to her.
That’s it. Max volume, max brightness. Okay, let’s try again. ‘Amy, it’s time to move on!’
What?! No! Come on! That was definitely right. I’m sure I pressed all the right buttons then. Elsie, you must have heard that one! But apparently not. She’s saying that the spirits have gone quiet and it’s time to draw it to a close.
Well, I’m not usually one to give up, but this is completely futile.
To be fair, in hindsight perhaps I shouldn’t have skipped the ‘How To Get Started With Earthcomms’ tutorial.
But there was no time to spare. So now I need to get my head around this app somehow, and I need to work out a strategy to make sure I win that game of chess tomorrow.
Because it looks like I’m definitely going to need to try again with this app, and next time contact Amy direct, after the fiasco with this séance.
This is going to have to be my mission, for however long it takes.