‘So what did you think?’ I said as the credits rolled.
‘It was ok,’ said Lee, disabling the viewer over his eyes.
‘Come on,’ I said, disabling mine as well. Pixels scattered into place, forming the living room around me. ‘Just be honest.’
‘It was fine, Grandad,’ said Lee. He picked up his Smart and sat back on the sofa.
I continued to stare at the boy.
Lee sighed, putting down his Smart. ‘It was just a bit… 2D. You know. It just felt so old.’
‘It is old,’ I said. ‘It came out in 2024.’
‘I told you I don’t like anything before 2040.’
‘It’s a classic,’ I said, crossing my arms. ‘Everyone needs to see classics. I’m trying to educate you.’
‘I said it was fine,’ said Lee, rolling his eyes.
‘We didn’t have the same graphics back then. You can’t hold that against it. It was all real effects. Isn’t that impressive?’
‘Well…’ said Lee, tapping his chin, ‘I did like the clothes. Quite a cool vintage.’
‘What did you think of the story?’
‘It was a bit confusing,’ said Lee. He frowned. ‘The gender stuff threw me.’
‘The girls are girls, and the boys are boys!’ I said, raising my voice. ‘It’s not that hard!’
‘You’re so embarrassing sometimes, Grandad.’ Lee blushed. ‘You can’t go around saying things like that.’
‘I just don’t get it,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘When I was your age, you were either a boy or a girl. And that was that. It was so much simpler.’
‘And more insensitive.’
All this talk of gender made my blood boil. I thought about arguing further, but I knew I wouldn’t get anywhere.
‘It was a different time, that’s all.’
An awkward silence lapsed between us.
‘What’s coffee like Grandad?’ said Lee, eventually.
‘It’s delicious,’ I said with a smile. ‘Bitter like chocolate, but savoury.’
‘What does it do to you?’
‘It makes you feel alive. I can get you some if you like?’ I winked. ‘Just don’t tell your parents.’
Lee leaned in. ‘You have a dealer?’ he said in a hushed voice.
‘Of course! I’ve been addicted to the stuff since 2013.’
‘Have you tried to get… therapy?’
‘Bah,’ I said, waving my hand. ‘An old man like me needs some simple pleasures.’
‘I can’t believe they drank coffee right out in public like that,’ said Lee. ‘In the cafe scene. They would have been dead by thirty.’
‘Nobody knew the risks back then,’ I said. ‘But it’s not that bad. I’m still here, aren’t I?’
‘You’ve been lucky,’ said Lee. He looked down at his feet. ‘That’s what Dad says.’
‘Don’t always listen to your dad.’
Lee giggled, sighed and then went back onto his Smart.