Page 50 - Mobile Magic

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‘Yes, yes, transmit but cannot control! These buttons you press - the worm things you call letters and numbers - they show which wave to send - must study - must learn to control.’
‘You mean you have to learn to read? I love reading! I can tell you about letters and numbers and words.’ Saffron said eagerly.
‘No, No, it is not that! I must know which symbol matches each frequency. If I can learn this I have control - then we can send signal to particular place. I learn to listen with T.V. - now must learn by listening to cellular telephone,’ said Mobo.
‘I don’t have one, but I’ll see if I can borrow someone’s mobile. Chuckie’s got one - bought it with money he earned at the takeaway. I don’t think he would lend it to me, but I’ll ask anyway.’
The rain had eased outside. The bird was hopping along the ornate base-rail of the bed, which Saffron’s maternal grandfather, who was a wood-turner, had made for her. Mobo was looking very impatient and fidgety.
‘Ronnie, Ronnie, I must leave - must find food for Telara - am too long away. You find mobile phone and bring to Green Mountain.’
Before she could answer, the silence of the house was broken by a door slamming and the sound of someone swearing loudly. As footsteps thundered towards her door, Mobo flew up in alarm - straight out the gash in Saffron’s window screen. She watched him, a tiny speck, disappear over the suburban rooftops towards his home.