DAY 25, A RADIO SHOW WITH SURPRISES, and the mayor of London, again, book 4, building

 The next morning, the Campaigns & Negotiations Team focused on writing their upcoming speeches. After some hours, Skye (care) said. ‘Isn’t today supposed to be a pause day?’ ‘We pause to have time to think,’ Navarro replied, ‘and thinking is what we’re doing. You could say, the people on our project have been on pause for months.’ Several people chuckled and Dennie said: ‘I always thought pauses felt more refreshing.’ ‘Ah, my friend,’ Navarro returned. ‘You’re a little spoiled by good company. You must have forgotten how exhausting empty words and gestures are.’ ‘You win,’ Dennie returned with a smile. At eleven, the team were asked to turn on the radio. ‘Welcome to the late morning show on radio seven. I am your host Phoenix Dragonfly, and this is Dragonfly Time. There’s a fun lineup of guests this morning, and you might discover that they have something in common. My first guests are members of the notorious town project we keep hearing about, and who, yesterday, delivered an impressive fight against a barrage of bullshit which was hauled at them from all sorts of people who have started sweating and swearing at the thought that they finally might be held to account — not by our government, unfortunately — but by a group of people who set out to rethink, well, everything, and who want to build a town to test their ideas instead of simply lobbying for something that might or might not work. I have no idea whether we can truly reshape how we live on this planet and with each other, but I’ll take the mad explorers any day over pretentious, self-serving lobbyists. Anyway, enough talk from me. With me now are two talented musicians and composers. A really young guy from London and a slightly intimidating, impressive guy from Bucharest. It’s an honour to have them on the show today. Welcome Kyle and Bertok.’ ‘Who are they?’ Marita (economics) whispered. ‘My son,’ Jack whispered back, surprised. ‘Kyle is my son and Bertok is a member of our Romania Team.’ ‘So good to be here,’ Bertok said. ‘Thanks for having us, Phoenix . Much appreciated!’ ‘Well, you promised the world premiere of your new song. I couldn’t say no to that, could I?’ ‘That’s what we were counting on.’ ‘Tell me about the song.’ ‘We wrote it to surprise and support the Campaigns & Negotiations Team,’ Kyle said. ‘Oh?’ ‘We didn’t get on the team,’ Bertok added. ‘So we had to find another way to help. Can I talk to the team directly?’ ‘Sure, sure. Go ahead.’ ‘Hi, everyone on the Campaigns & Negotiations Team,’ Bertok said. ‘We miss you! We send our love” You’re doing a great job. And Alice, I love you! This song, this song is for you and for the town. You once said, you have music in your veins, but you can’t figure out how to translate it into an actual song. But I think your song is the town. And it will be fantastic. Kyle, you say something.’ There was a chuckle from Kyle, then he said: ‘Alice, I agree with Bertok. Though you’ll probably say that the town is created by everyone, and it is, but it is also your song. We used some of the material you, Bertok and I worked on last year, and we put together an album.’ ‘Yes, we did,’ Bertok said. ‘We’ll start a tour of the UK, today. A different club every night until the thirtieth of March because on the thirty-first, we’ll be in London and hope to play in Hyde Park.’ ‘Wow!’ the radio host, Phoenix Dragonfly, said. ‘That’s quite something. Your song is the town. Wow! That’s poetic. Let’s hear the song.’ The amazing thing about the song was that it unfolded, starting with a single guitar and growing into a rock/pop symphony of sounds, beats and melodies. It was fun, uplifting, and as far as most of the Campaigns & Negotiations Team were concerned, it was a hit, and a love song. Phoenix Dragonfly had more surprises in store. His next guests were Penelope, head of the Narratives Campaign, and a group of comedians who had started their UK tour for the town project last night and who dissected the world’s most beloved narratives: superman will save us, growth is the ticket, they are the enemy, competition is in our blood, all is lost, the truth is always right and a lot more. In the course of the next weeks, the comedians would cover eight locations a night between them, and on the final day of March, they, too, planned to join the town project teams and to perform all day in the streets of London and in front of the House of Parliament for as long as it would take to win the case for the town. After another song by Bertok and Kyle, Phoenix Dragonfly asked, a grin audible in his voice: ‘Have you guessed the theme of today’s show? Let’s see, maybe our next guests will give you another clue. With me now are Kim, the town project’s landscape architect, Jason, the project’s lead architect, Roger, the head of the project’s Crafts Team, Daria and Noel, programmers for the project, Tilly, head of the project’s Sports and Martial Arts Team. Yeah, they really have that team. And there is Megan, the head of the project’s Agriculture Team, plus Rose, a member of the project’s paper ripples news, and Davie, both children of our very own Jack Harris.’ ‘Hi, Dad!’ Davie chipped in. ‘Davie tells me that he’s very active in his school for the town, but that’s not why he’s here, today. But before we get into this, there are some more people. And, yes, it’s really crowded in here. Let me see. Ah, there is Seth, a business experts with a long list of responsibilities. And we have Beatrice, head of the Admin Team, and Leo, Alice Adler’s personal assistant who acts as her eyes at the prospective building site. And over there is Bülent with two small children. Bülent is a writer and the husband of Emine Hamdi, the formidable lawyer of the Campaigns & Negotiations Team, we hear so much about. Speaking of spouses, we also have Nitis and his son Kuruk. ‘Hi, mum!’ Kuruk piped up. ‘Husband and son of Isabel, the artistic director of the fun campaigns we’ve been enjoying over the last week. And we have Steven, a member of the Education Team. Wow! Welcome to you all. It’s great to have you here. You told me, you don’t want to talk about the town project. So what’s this about? Who wants to make a start?’ ‘I will,’ Noel said. ‘Hi, there. I said we should have done a video call. I’d love to see all your faces. We’re all here to support you and to tell you, you’re doing great. Keep at it. Andy and Alice, special vibes to you.’ ‘And from me,’ Daria chipped in. ‘I’m the oldest here. I go next,’ Roger’s deep voice announced. ‘I hope you’re hearing this, especially Constance, Jack, Troy, Alice and Navarro because I know you best. I was so angry when those bleeding bastards tried to shred you, yesterday, and so proud to see how you and all teams turned the tide. Keep going! We can do this! Who is next?’ ‘Me, Kuruk, Beatrice and Bülent,’ Nitis said. ‘This is for all of you, but in particular for our partners. Isabel, my love, I am so proud of you and your work. We miss you! But we wouldn’t have it any other way.’ ‘Go get the town, mum,’ Kuruk called, chuckling and added. ‘I love you, mum.’ ‘John, I love you,’ Beatrice said. ‘We’re really busy at Jellybridge to support you all. Alice, you’re doing great. Don’t let anyone get to you.’ There was a noisy inhale, then Bülent said: ‘Emine, you are my love and my pride. We miss you, but don’t worry about us. Keep getting the bad guys like you always wanted.’ ‘This is Jason, Rose and Davie. You were all fantastic, yesterday. And, of course, Hayley, we’re proud that you represent our team. Great work! And Jack, this here is your special support group.’ ‘I love you, Dad,’ Rose said. ‘I’m super proud of you.’ ‘I love you, too, Dad,’ Davie said. ‘We will get our town. I know it! And Alice, we love you, too. And all the others. You’re really cool. Are you next?’ ‘I’m now,’ Tilly said. ‘This is a big hug and kisses for Skye. You rock, my friend! And a noisy high-five for you Alice because you don’t like hugs and kisses. At least not from me.’ Tilly chuckled and added: ‘I’m the lucky one who sees you lot at the workouts, but I just wanted to say this in public: I studied self-defence most of my life, but what you lot delivered, yesterday, were masterclasses in non-violent combat. And also kudos to Jazz and her security team for keeping us all safe. Kim, you’re up.’ ‘Alice, whatever they throw at you, always remember that we have your back. And to the whole team, you’re fantastic! Thank you, for doing this for all of us. Leo?’ ‘Erm, yes. Alice, Rohana, Andy, I’m incredibly proud of you all, and since yesterday, I just know that we can win this. Megan?’ ‘This is a big hug for Dana and more hugs for every single one of you — except Alice and John, nudges to you both. Don’t forget to breathe at times. But also don’t slow down. You can win this! Steven?’ ‘This is for my dear friend and boss Robin. It’s a privilege to know you and to be part of your Education Team. Your compassion and wisdom are amazing. And Alice, thank you for bringing us all together. Thank you that you never stopped fighting for us, for the town, and that you never gave up on humanity. I wish there was time to name every single one of the team, but we’re over time already. You’re all impressive! And we know that the future of the town is in the best possible hands. Seth?’ ‘I’ll keep it short. This is for John, my best friend. I’m so proud, mate. And for Alice, you turned my world upside down and I love the view. Thank you for all you’ve given us. And for the team, look after each other. Keep going! Don’t forget to breathe! You’re doing great! We love you! Over and out.’ ‘Wow!’ Phoenix Dragonfly exclaimed. ‘That was quite something. The studio team here sends their support, too. Go get the bad guys. I love that. What we need now is a bit of a break to let everything sink in and give these wonderful people a chance to empty the studio again, and that means? Yes, you guessed it right: MUSIC! And guess who is performing another world premiere song?’ When Bertok and Kyle hit the drums and guitar again, Navarro whispered: ‘Sammy didn’t come.’ ‘No one came for me either,’ Dennie said. Alice put a hand on Dennie’s shoulder. ‘Ah, I wish I could say, I’d have gone to the show for both of you. But I think, I’d have stayed out of it like Sammie. It’s so sweet and uplifting, my eyes are wet, my nose snotty but—’ ‘Not your thing?’ ‘Nope. Though, maybe after today, I’d just do it, for the support. Eyes closed.’ ‘I couldn’t do it,’ John said, a tear shimmering in his eyes. ‘Too many people in a crammed space and too sentimental. But …’ ‘Yeah, me too,’ Alice said. ‘My next guest is the beautiful Geraldine from Scotland. Thanks for joining me.’ ‘Thank you. It’s great to be here.’ ‘Geraldine is the head of the Your Powers Campaign, and you wanted to make an announcement, and then I get to ask you some questions?’ ‘Yes. I’d like to start with the announcement. Maybe we’ll get first reactions while we speak.’ ‘Good point. Go ahead then.’ ‘For all of you who haven’t heard, the town project got massively attacked, yesterday, by several campaigns which aimed at discrediting the town project and members of our Campaigns & Negotiations Team. My team published a list of companies and individuals who financed the attacks. And we ask you, the public, to use your powers and vote on the Hub Campaign Square whether or not you approve of this or that attack.’ ‘Wow! Do you really know who financed—?’ Alice didn’t hear the rest because she had to leave. Apparently, the mayor of London insisted on her presence, at once. On the drive to the mayor’s office, Any, the head of THE, told Alice that a group of Hub users had also reacted to the anti-town campaigns and had announced a spontaneous march for the town project. ‘When?’ ‘Tomorrow. In London. The opposition responded quickly and announced a counter march, taunting the campaign team with “This is what your day off looks like?”’ Alice smiled lopsidedly. ‘They have a point.’ When Alice entered the mayor’s office, he shot up and called angrily: ‘One day! I only had one day without having to see you!’ ‘You missed me?’ ‘I’m not having rallies on my streets! I am intrigued by your project, but you’re going too far.’ Alice twitched the corner of her mouth. ‘I don’t have anything to do with the march. I first heard about it from your office. I only know what my team could find out in the meantime, and that is that the people involved met on our Hub’s Campaign Square. We managed to reach one of them, before I got here, and this person told us that they don’t want to involve us. They want to be their own voice. And they are not doing this for us exclusively but for a better future.’ ‘You have nothing to do with this?’ ‘Nope. This is organised by Hub users who want the town to happen.’ ‘You’re giving me a headache!’ Alice chuckled. ‘I know that feeling.’ ‘How am I supposed to deal with those Hub users?’ ‘Isn’t it the job of a mayor to find out what the people need and sometimes even what they want?’ ‘I should let it happen?’ ‘What do you have to lose?’

© Charlie Alice Raya, book 4, building, 2025