While Visiting Babette is an intriguing novelette that sends the reader down a rabbit hole reminiscent of wonderland. Unlike Alice’s experiences, the various characters are human albeit with habits and outlooks that remain unexplained. This never detracts from what is a largely surreal snapshot of life inside a locked facility as experienced by the inmates. Staff exist in the background but rarely warrant a mention.
The titular Babette lives in this facility and has done for several years. She is visited by her cousin, Ina, who until a fateful Tuesday had, before proceeding, checked in at the building’s registration desk. On this day she is running late. Knowing the location of Babette’s room she makes her way straight there. Seating herself on the floor (chairs are banned since a resident used one as a battering ram to break a window) Ina waits for her cousin to intuit she has a visitor. There is no rush. The cousins know each other well, Babette often able to read Ina’s thoughts before they are vocalised in conversation.
Ina and Babette are both orphans. For a time, during their childhood, they lived with an aunt. They reminisce. And then the unexpected happens.
Babette offers advice but to no avail.
“Ina and Babette had not finished visiting. Until prevented, Ina had been in no hurry to leave.”
There follows a period of time during which Ina gets to know other residents. She is less sanguine than Babette, easily irritated by those they interact with. Their world is one of doors and windows, of ponds and insects. There are games and stories, most of which make little sense except to the players. And yet the reader is carried through each of their thoughts and pursuits. Moments of violence are mostly tempered with a dash of piquant humour.
The denouement is fitting and provides a satisfying ending.
Original but also engaging. A rare little story that rewards careful reading.
While Visiting Babette is published by Sagging Meniscus.
