Warhol's Prophecy

12

SHE HAD HEARD the doorbell, but hadn’t yet been able to reach the door in time to open it.

Hailey muttered to herself as she padded across the hall towards the scattered letters lying on the mat. She picked up the correspondence quickly and scanned the addressees, then she opened the door itself.

The postman was already making his way down the street, but once he heard her door open he waved back cheerily to her.

The package in the porch stood almost two feet tall: wrapped in shiny red paper, topped by an enormous silver bow.

There seemed to be no label on it, and for a moment she wondered if it had been delivered to the wrong house. But, as she bent to retrieve it, she spotted a small tag attached to the bottom.

MISS R. GIBSON, it announced. Then their address.

Hailey picked up the parcel, surprised at how light it was.

Becky had already wandered out into the hall to see what was happening. She was dressed in her school uniform, ready for her first day back after half-term.

‘What is it, Mum?’ she said, looking at the large package.

‘You’d better open it and find out,’ Hailey told her. ‘It’s addressed to you.’

Becky’s eyes widened in delight, a huge smile spreading across her face.

They took the package back into the kitchen, Hailey looking on with a combination of curiosity and delight as her daughter pulled open the immaculately wrapped parcel.

She wondered where Rob had ordered it from.

Would flowers for her follow later that morning?

Nice touch. Away for a couple of days, so send a present. Good psychology.

‘Mum, look,’ Becky said delightedly, as she pulled the last of the wrapping paper free.

The teddy bear was about eighteen inches tall with big blue eyes and an inviting stitched-on smile. It wore a school-cap and a little knitted scarf.

‘He’s lovely, darling,’ said Hailey, smiling.

Even cleverer, Rob: the teddy was wearing the same colours as Becky’s school uniform.

As Becky lifted the bear to cuddle it, Hailey noticed the label hanging around its neck. She reached across and flipped open the small card.

TO BECKY.

MAKE SURE HE DOES HIS HOMEWORK.

LOVE, ADAM.

Adam?

Hailey frowned slightly as she read the label again.

‘I’m going to put him in my bedroom,’ Becky said.

‘Later, darling,’ said Hailey. ‘We’ve got to go now, or you’ll be late for school.’ She sat the bear on the kitchen table. ‘He’ll be here when you get home.’

Becky shrugged, then scurried into the hall to fetch her coat.

Hailey looked at the bear.

Then at the label.

LOVE, ADAM.

This bear couldn’t have been cheap.

What a lovely thought.

She picked up her car keys, seeing her reflection momentarily in the big blue eyes of the bear.

A lovely thought.

Hailey shepherded her daughter out of the house, after ensuring she had all the necessary paraphernalia for her return to school. Then she followed her out, pulling her own jacket around her shoulders.

As she reached the end of the path, the phone in the hall began to ring, but she decided to leave it for the answering machine.

The caller left no message.