While he had electricity, most of the base’s functions were not operational. He retrieved the can opener from where he had thrown it, cursing himsel... for his lack of composure, and started opening the tins.A few minutes later the can opener was again discarded in anger. Not one of the cans was edible, there wasn’t a morsel of food in this entire outpost that he could eat. His stomach gurgled in protest as he rested his hooded head in his hands, the reality of his desperate situation hitting him. It was me who took of my old shoe and fitted the first of one of the new pairs the lady has put down next to me. “Please tie the shoe for me Daddy”, I asked in a baby-girl-voice. Not only did he bend down and tie the first shoe but he also took it off again and fitted the next one on my request. We must have spent at least an hour with Daddy fitting one shoe after the other on my feet. During this whole process I often felt his fingers touching my ankle or toes or some or other part of my. ’ I then walked forward and looked down a long corridor. I smiled that long forgotten smell of dust on every crevice of the walls. I felt my soul ache for the past as I looked upon all the pictures of it. My body felt a longing I hadn’t felt in years. I went to a wall and took down a picture. It held an old school teacher standing next to a young child. The child held a plaque against his chest. Its fingers curved round it softly and he had the smallest smile on him. I placed the picture back. No news on your familia,” Susan said sadly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get your hopes up. Too late, I know.” But the mood was broken and the emotional young girl didn’t try to hide her latest heartbreak.“It’s OK. I’m going to my room now, tia,” she said softly.Susan could only nod as the girl, lower lip out in an exaggerated pout left her room. But Susan had no time to talk to the mercurial young prodigy because she had to get ready for what she hoped would be a profitable night for all.