Moon Tiger

Claudia contemplates how, in an autopsy, her body would reveal certain details about her story, but would conceal others. She also considers the longer history that her body reveals—evolutionary history.

For Lisa’s eighth birthday, Claudia and Jasper take her to the zoo. They see two monkeys having sex. When Lisa asks what they are doing, Jasper shies away from the question while Claudia answers in a direct and straight-forward manner. Lisa’s perspective reveals that she is fascinated and mystified by Claudia’s explanation.

Lisa turned eight in 1956. Claudia recalls that she was writing a column for the newspaper at that time. Claudia joins in protests and political outrage when the Soviet Union forcibly quashes a rebellion in Hungary. She feels helpless but writes about it in the paper. In response to one of her articles, a man calls her from Budapest. The man is calling about his son, Laszlo, who is a student in London. The man does not know how else to reach his son; he hopes that Claudia will convince Laszlo to stay in London rather than return to a violence-stricken Hungary.

Claudia reaches out to Laszlo.