The Eden Effect by David Finchley Page B

the newspaper and TV coverage. At least they had the decency to edit the pictures. But one of the bystanders took a video of the aftermath with their camera and uploaded to YouTube and as they say, it went viral on the Internet. It took three months before the whole thing disappeared from the media. You have no idea how many times I saw the pictures and read the stories in those three months. It was one long nightmare.’
    â€˜I was only ten years old, but I was mature for my years. I decided after that never to read a newspaper, never to watch TV. I don’t have a smart phone or a computer. Probably an overreaction and after all those years you’d think I’d get over it but I haven’t. So, there it is. A lot of years and a lot of counselling allowed me to keep my sanity. At least I think I’m sane.’
    Martin stopped. Arthur said nothing.
    â€˜How did I end up in Eden?’ Martin continued. ‘It wasn’t straight away. I knew of no other family apart from my grandparents, so I was made a ward of the state and spent the next eight years in foster homes. I have to tell you, Arthur, those foster parents are saints. I could not have wished for a better life. I finished my schooling, did quite well in VCE but had no idea what I wanted to do next. It was just after my 18th birthday when out of nowhere a relative appeared. I have no idea how they found me. Harry Grant was my grandfather’s cousin. He and his wife, Nancy came to see me. My foster parents, John and Kathleen were delighted. Not because they wanted to get rid of me. They were happy for me because I had connected with family. Harry ran a dairy in Eden. This dairy, Arthur. Harry and Nancy took me in. They were in their late sixties and Harry was keen to retire. He taught me the dairy business. I did not know what I wanted to do after school, but running a dairy was not on the list. I found I quite enjoyed it. I slowly took over from Harry and this allowed Harry and Nancy to travel, something they had yearned to do for years. Their last few years were happy ones. I would get postcards from all over the world. From places I never heard of. Nancy died first. That broke Harry, and not long after he was gone. In his will he left me everything. Harry and Nancy never had children, so the dairy became mine and despite their extensive travelling there was still a very nice sum of money in the bank that I inherited too.’
    â€˜That was twelve years ago, Arthur. And I’m still here. And that’s all I have to say about that.’
    Arthur did not know how to respond or even if it was appropriate for him to do so. What was it with the people of Eden? Did they all have such horrible stories? First Natalie, now Martin. No one wonder he felt at home in Eden, Arthur thought, although his experiences paled into insignificance compared to theirs.
    â€˜Martin, I don’t know what to say. I don’t know if I’d come out this as sane as you are. I feel a bit silly complaining to you about my life. I appreciate you telling me. It can’t have been easy.’
    â€˜I now understand why the media ban, Martin. I don’t want to sound insensitive, but surely you need to know something of what is going on in the world. I mean, there are laws being passed, elections to vote in. You’re part of society.’
    â€˜Hold on, Arthur. Let me explain. Yes, I am part of society and yes I do know what is going on around me. I don’t live in a vacuum and I do get the news that is relevant to me. Of course I do. But I don’t feel I need to know all the news that media want to foist on me. I know my own situation is unusual. Unique, maybe. That’s my hang-up and after all these years I’m still working on it. I still have counselling but it’s a slow process.’ Martin paused.
    â€˜But let’s leave me out of it. Let’s looks at the bigger picture. Look at the society we live in. Look at the media