Kids Can Fly: A Real Mother

key, and went into her house. She shut the door and threw her jacket on the back of a wooden chair. She went to her kitchen and switched the jug on. It began to boil. She made herself a steaming cup of coffee. She went to the lounge and switched the television on, then she returned to the kitchen and added white sugar, two spoons, to her a cup.

From a room in the ground floor of the Holo-City, Barbara's parents watched her on a screen.

"She's working too hard," said Christine.

"Don't be silly," her husband Travis scolded, "She can't feel tired, like she used to. She's not even there!"

"I know. I just forget. Look at her though! She's leaning on the bench like she used to do. And she still has her coffee the same way - she won't have to worry about those extra calories now! She could have ten spoons of sugar and it wouldn't have any effect."

"You're not going to cry again, are you? I knew we shouldn't have come."

"Its all right. I can cope with it now, its just that. . . seeing her again, so alive ... I miss her..."

"I miss her too dear," said Travis, putting an arm round his wife's shoulders.

"I wish I could go to her. Tell her we're OK. Can we do that?"

"She wouldn't hear us. You know what Mr. Coverdale told us. It's just a computer image, like the TV at home, only a bit more complicated. They don't even know they are there."

"But wouldn't she see me if I stood right in front of her?"

At that moment, Trent Coverdale came into the room.

"Sorry to leave you," he said smiling, "When the phone rings, I have to answer it. We're a bit short on technicians round here this week. I have to fill in sometimes."

"That's quite all right," said Travis, "We understand."

"So," said Trent, "You've been watching your daughter. What do you think of her?"

"She looks fine. Just like she always was, before she died. We don't know how to thank you enough."