Sunday, 1 May 1988, Montreal

[noteful]

Spring in Montreal is short, mild, less than terribly predictable, and welcomed with open arms. 1 May 1988 dawns slightly overcast, but the clouds burn off, and it hits a quite comfortable (by Montreal standards) 12°C.

No one really takes any notice of the three girls who cut across the McGill campus and spend a couple hours rambling around the park on Mont Royal. There's nothing all that remarkable about them . . . except, of course, that one of them is, on some version of Earth or another, being born 1800 miles away today, and one has metal claws in her hands and recovers from injuries almost before she receives them.

They stop for a quick lunch and then ride the Metro down to Old Montreal. They wander down cobblestoned streets and in and out of little shops, past churches and museums and the city hall.

When shadows start getting long and the temperature starts to drop, they turn down a side street.

"I know the best place for dinner," Meg says. "It was in one of those off-the-beaten-path guide books last year, so of course the path beats right to the door now, but I don't think we'll have any trouble getting a table."

There's a small crowd in and around the doorway, but Meg goes past them and waves to a tall man in a white chef's jacket. "Bon soir, Sylvain," she calls.

The man comes over, smiling. "Meg. Bon soir. Trois?"

"Oui, si tu--," Meg starts, but he cuts her off with a wave of his hand.

"Pour toi, bien sûr," he says, and lead them over to a comfortable table in the corner of the restaurant.

"Sylvain, these are my friends, Parker and Laura. They're visiting from the States and I couldn't let them leave without bringing them for the best food in Montréal. Parker, Laura, this Sylvain Gagné."

Sylvain bows slightly. "Bienvenue à Montréal, mesdemoiselles. I hope you will enjoy your visit, and your meal. Alice will be right with you."

"Merci, Sylvain," Meg says, and turns back to Parker and Laura. "Sometimes, it helps to be dating the owner's favorite nephew."

Comments

[parkerlee]

"Guidebooks are useful. Natives are interactive."

And generally cuter, if not as portable.

"It is. But it can be fun to just wander around and look at the sights. Like we've been doing today. Don't you think?"

[noteful]

Except that the guidebook just weighs down your bag, whereas the native guide can be talked into carrying it.

"Well, to be completely fair, half the places we went today I knew about because a native showed me how to find them."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I used to ask Mr. Simmons for directions. A lot."

Beat.

"He knows a lot of interesting places. Pam does, too."

[parkerlee]

"The cycle perpetuates itself," Parker agrees, taking a complacent bite of her crepe.

"They're in San Francisco? Where do you like to go there?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X rattles off a few locations in her neighborhood, including a cafe, the hardware store, and the diner.

"I have quartered the rest of the city. But it is not the same."

She's not exactly a homebody, but -- she does not feel a need to go far afield.

"Chinatown and Japantown are interesting, too. But it is easier if you speak the language."

And, you know, if you know people already. X has a way of getting around.

[noteful]

"It's always easier if you speak the language," says Meg.

"I have a couple of classmates who speak little or no French, and . . . well, it's Montreal, it doesn't limit you the way it would out of the city, but does limit you."

[parkerlee]

"Definitely."

"When I was in Barcelona I tried to stick with Spanish, but it's a pretty international city. In a pinch you could generally find someone who spoke English to some degree."

"Once you got outside the city? Not so much."

"You miss a lot when you don't know the language."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I do not have that problem very often," X says.

Except maybe in parts of Africa. And Eastern Europe.

[noteful]

"Being outside the city? Or not knowing the language?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Not knowing the language."

X's response is prompt.

"I am good at learning them."

[parkerlee]

"How many do you speak?" Parker asks curiously.

She's fluent in Spanish, and can speak some passable, basic French. But she can't say that learning languages is second nature, or anything.

[cutting_edgex23]

Farsi, Spanish, French, Japanese, English, Russian, Cantonese and Mandarin, maybe a few more --

X has been well-programmed.

"Ten."

[noteful]

"Goodness," says Meg. "That makes my two look like something of an underachievement."

A pause.

"Do you have a favorite?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X is quiet for a long time.

A very long time.

And then, quietly --

"Japanese."

It's only truth.

[parkerlee]

"That's cool."

Japanese is a hard language to learn. Parker has never ventured out of Romance Languages, but she's seen the text books of classmates who are taking Japanese and Mandarin.

They're intimidating.

"I sort of defaulted into Spanish. It was the class that fit into my schedule in middle school, and I've just stuck with it ever since."

[noteful]

"French was kind of the logical one for me," Meg says.

Even before she knew she was going to come to Montreal for university.

"With Quebec being the next province over and all."

[cutting_edgex23]

"My sensei spoke Japanese. To me."

Beat.

"When I was small."

Since they are all sharing stories -- it is polite.

Right?

[parkerlee]

Parker smiles.

"No wonder it's your favorite."

Some things from childhood are comforting. No matter where you were brought up.

At least, that's what Parker hopes it is for Laura.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes," X says.

And this time it is not at all as quiet.

This is probably a good thing.

[noteful]

"It's a good reason," says Meg.

The not-at-all-as-quiet is reassuring, too.

[parkerlee]

Parker kind of wants to know more about Laura's sensei. If he was a nice guy. If he taught her any kid stuff in addition to Japanese.

But she's a little hesitant to ask, in case it leads to bad memories. Laura would probably just answer matter-of-factly even if it did. But it's not the sort of thing Parker likes to do to a friend.

"If I ever need translation help, I now definitely know where to go."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I am good at it," X says.

Helpfully.

Parker would only have to ask.

[parkerlee]

Parker doesn't doubt that for a moment.

If for no other reason than that Laura does not embellish.

"I'll keep it in mind. You never know."

[noteful]

"You never do," Meg says.

"You know, I kind of feel like we should start planning our next . . . can I use the word adventure?"

Hopefully, it will not involve dragons.

Or having to rescue 494 from . . . well, anything.

[cutting_edgex23]

"You can," X says promptly.

And then goes quiet. Just for a few seconds.

Long ones.

The set of her shoulders is suddenly a little tighter, a little more awkward.




"I have been invited to a prom."