Of Time and Place

The day is Saturday, in the present time of climate change. The place is a residential courtyard of fifteen houses. For some, this day may have only the merit of work-free routine, others may be pre-occupied or laid low with the burden of living, as the past drags itself into the future. Sometimes a day can be of life-changing significance, shattering or raising expectations, re-mapping the future. How well do we know ourselves? How well do we know each other? How well do we know our neighbours? How well do we know the world we live in? Today, is Mrs. Wilkes birthday. Well-satisfied with her eighty years on earth, she looks forward to the family celebrations. Today, the new resident arrives in Maple Court. He is made welcome and settles in. No one knows his real name, and no one knows what he has hidden in the attic.