The Sweetest Dream

Frances was angry to the point where one is dispirited with it: what was the point, ever, of being angry with Joh

‘I’ll serve the pudding,’ said Frances, her voice dull with rage.

On to the table now went plates of sticky delights from the

Cypriot shops, concoctions of honey and nuts and filo pastry, and dishes of fruit, and her chocolate pudding, made especially for 'the kids'.

Colin, having stared at his father, and then at his mother: Why did you let him sit down? Why do you let him...? now got up, scraping back his chair, and pushing it back against the wall with a bang. He went out.

‘I feel this is a real home from home,’ said Comrade Mo, consuming chocolate pudding. ‘And I do not know these cakes? Are they like some cakes we have from the Arab cuisine?'

'Cypriot,' said Joh

They were all listening, fascinated: no one could say that Joh

'Oh, I thought he was going now – at once?’ said James, and now Comrade Mo 's eyes rolled in enquiry to Joh

' So, you didn't tell Andrew you were going to Africa?' asked Frances, to elicit the reply, ' Keep them guessing. ‘And Joh

'Who?' Rose wanted to know.

'Obviously, Rose, the CIA,' said Frances.

'Oh, yes, the CIA,' said James, 'of course.' He was absorbing information, as was his talent and his intention.

' Keep them guessing,’ said Joh

' Or perhaps,’ said Frances, ' what your left hand does. '

Ignoring her: ‘You should always cover your tracks, Comrade James. You should never make things easy for the enemy. '

' Perhaps I shall come to Cuba too?’ said Mo. ' Comrade Fidel is encouraging links with the liberated African countries. '

‘And even the non-liberated ones,’ said Joh

‘What are you going to Cuba for?' asked Daniel, really wanting to know, confronting Joh

James said to him, ' One should not ask that kind of question, ' and looked to Joh

' Exactly,’ said Joh

‘I want to see a country that has known only slavery and subjection build freedom, build a new society. Fidel has done miracles in five years, but the next five years will show a real change. I am looking forward to taking Andrew and Colin, taking my sons, to see for themselves... Where are they, by the way?' For he had not noticed their absence until now.

' Andrew is with Sylvia,’ said Frances. ‘We are going to have to call her that now. '

‘Why, has she changed her name?'

'That is her name,' said Rose, sullen: she continually said she hated her name and wanted to be called Marilyn.

‘I have only really known her as Tilly,’ said Joh

'Doing homework,' said Frances. A likely story, though Joh

Joh

' Can you go to Cuba, just like that, as a tourist?' asked James, evidently disapproving of tourists and their frivolity.

' He's not going as a tourist,’ said Comrade Mo. Feeling out of place at the table, while his comrade-in-arms stood in front of them, he got up and lounged there by Joh

Comrade Mo said, ' A friend of Fidel's is in Kenya for the Independence celebrations, and he told me that Fidel wants to invite Joh

‘No, it was you. He said Comrade Joh

Joh

‘No,’ said Comrade Mo, not noticing apparently that Joh

‘Oh, Frances, ' breathed Sophie, clasping her hands together, her eyes melting with pleasure, ' how wonderful, how absolutely wonderful.'

' Frances's line seems rather more to be advice on family problems,’ said Joh

He went on like this for some time, repeating the exhortations that sounded like promises. You will transform the world ... it is your generation on whose shoulders the responsibility will fall... the future is in your hands... you will live to see the world a better place, a glorious place, and know that it was your efforts... what a wonderful thing to be your age, now, with everything in your hands...

Young faces, young eyes, shone, adored him and what he was saying. Joh

'He is a great man,' he concluded in a soft, reverential voice, gazing severely at them. 'Fidel is a genuinely great man. He is pointing us all the way into the future. '

One face there showed an incorrect alignment to Joh

'But, Comrade Joh

‘And now goodnight,’ said Joh

His unsmiling but comradely nod excluded Frances, to whom he directed a cold glance. Out he went, followed by Comrade Mo, who said to Frances, ' Thanks, Comrade. You've saved my life. I was really hungry. And now it seems I have a meeting. '