The start of the sea festival means I do not have to set an alarm. All the lights and gold on the cars rolling past my window are more than enough to get me up long before the sunrise.
Deni stayed in my room last night, which was nice. Glad Mum did not mind. Although no room for them in the bed. At first they tried to shut down facing the wall. I explained they could sleep on the camping mattress, and once we had it inflated Deni lay down with their shoes still on. I decided not to comment further.
The sea festival is a big deal for Mum, and maybe I was selfish inviting a new person within our traditions. But having Deni here changed the flavour rather than ruined the recipe. They still helped us hang up dried flowers, and put the squid silhouettes on the door.
Maybe their conversation was stilted at first. Then Deni found one of Mum's prototypes. One she had been working on for the sea festival.
This one flies up to the corners of your room, and set up decorations during the night. You leave your hangings in the netting on the sides, and by the morning you have a room fit for any celebration.
'We could have just...put this out..and then…job done. All this…work this morning…was pointless..brilliant..stuff.'
Mum smiled.
'I don't think Venus would ever let me use this in our own home.’
She was right.
By the time we sat round the table for lunch, Mum had laughed at Deni four times. She only wrinkled her brow when Deni's sleeves soaked up a good chunk of the tomato sauce.
After the hot cherry, we had our usual minute's think about the animals. Mum's hand was warm in my right hand, Deni's cold in my right. I thought of the Butter Mouse. All her dreams. I realised those dreams were stored in my computer, less than ten feet away.
When I opened my eyes up, Deni was looking at me.
I got them oil for a present, and did not expect anything in return. But as we said goodbye, they handed a greasy parcel of old packaging. Inside was a single screw on a piece of thread.
It now hangs from my neck. I do not think I will ever take it off.
Clip: An almost static view of an unknown landscape. All those thousands of beings living different lives. Mind-blowing and beautiful.