remote cards

Father and daughter in the book store coffee shop. Her hair is red, with blue bows, and she is dressed in black, except for her trainers, which are white, with pink stripes. He is bald, his head shaven to compensate, stubbled all over, black jacket, a hint of green T showing at the collar, with blue jeans. “Get me a hot chocolate,” she says. “You’ll not drink a hot chocolate,” he tells her. “I will,” she insists. “You won’t.” “If I don’t finish it, I’ll give you the money for it,” she bargains. He gets her a hot chocolate. She finishes it. Shows him the empty paper cup. He points out the thin film at the bottom, barely ml of fluid. So she balances the cup, upside down, on her face, until it drains, to keep him happy.