Jamaica, 11:00AM, Thursday 31st May, 2022
Joe reached into the pan and stole a small dumpling. The hot, sticky syrup ran down his finger and burned.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
His mother reached over and cuffed his ear, rebuking him like he was still a naughty teenager. His aunt howled with laughter and then cuffed him on the other ear.
"Hey, that's not fair!"
"'Fair', he says. Steal my dumplings again, and you'll get more than a cuffed ear next time," his aunt said, pointing her wooden spoon at him, a menacing glint in her eye.
Danny came into the kitchen followed by his younger cousins. They hadn't left his side since the minute they'd arrived, and Danny was enjoying being the "awesome" older cousin.
"Dad, can I come with you to the site today?" he asked.
"Don't see why not?"
"Can we come too, Uncle Joe?" chorused the three little ones.
"Not today, guys, as it's an important day for us, but I'll take you tomorrow."
Joe navigated the jeep down the rugged track towards the village with Danny sat beside him.
"I love coming back here, Dad," Danny said, his eyes taking in the rich and colourful sights of the Island.
"Me too. I know your Gran is happy to be home. It'll be a job pulling her away again."
Joe continued to drive and the roads became narrower and in a greater state of disrepair. The area they were driving to was one of the most remote and impoverished areas of the Island. It also happened to be the same village his family originated from. His mother had only just turned nineteen when she had left with Joe's father and while she'd spent the last forty-five years living in the UK, this was still her home. It meant the world to her coming back every year to visit with her sisters. The jeep turned a bend, and the village came into sight.
Four hours later, Joe connected his laptop to the power cable. He opened up his email and began to type.
To: Fiona McCallister
Re: Up and running
Message:
Just a quick message written on a laptop powered by a turbine, floating on a balloon. It works! Have attached picture.
Will call you later when I've combed through the data.
Love,
Joe
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